How can I change the keyboard layout of another local user?

Question

Is there a way to change the keyboard layout of another local user account, when I'm logged into Windows XP as Administrator?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Looks like I'll have to answer myself.. the following batch script copies the current user's keyboard settings to another user's account and to the default user (which is used at the login screen).

That way one can setup the keyboard settings as administrator and then easily copy them to one or more other user accounts.

Hope it'll be of some help to someone..

@echo off

rem synchronize the keyboard layout to the "User" user
reg load HKU\lulli "c:\documents and settings\user\ntuser.dat"
reg delete "HKU\lulli\Keyboard Layout\Preload" /va /f
reg copy "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Preload" "HKU\lulli\Keyboard Layout\Preload" /f
reg delete "HKU\lulli\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" /va /f
reg copy "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" "HKU\lulli\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" /f
reg unload HKU\lulli

rem synchronize the keyboard layout to the default user (login screen)
reg delete "HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload" /va /f
reg copy "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Preload" "HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Preload" /f
reg delete "HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" /va /f
reg copy "HKCU\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" "HKU\.DEFAULT\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes" /f

Answer 2

keyboard settings exist in the registry for global use (HKLM) and local use HKCU where each user can have their own settings including custom settings to edit the CAPS LOCK key code to say the SHIFT KEY CODE so that it never activates. (useful for fat fingered folks)

COntrol Panel > Regional Settings > Language and keyboard settings are per user unless unspecified then same as admin setup for global on install (HKLM)