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From: liber@darth.PGH.PA.US (Eric Liber)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: NUMLOCK
Keywords: NUMLOCK,SCROLL LOCK,CAPS LOCK
Message-ID: <523@darth.PGH.PA.US>
Date: 12 Nov 89 04:25:04 GMT
Organization: Darth Software, Pittsburgh Pa.
Lines: 18

The numlock, scroll lock and caps lock lights and system status are recorded
and set by the byte at 0040:0017 the bits of the byte have the following 
meaning:

	bit 0 - if set (=1) then the keyboard is in a permanent shifted state
 	bit 1 - ?
	bit 2 - ?
	bit 3 - ?
	bit 4 - scroll lock  - 0 = off  1 = on
	bit 5 - num lock  -    0 = off  1 = on
	bit 6 - caps lock -    0 = off  1 = onn

the only rational way to make the machine boot with numlock off is to create
a small program that you can include in your autoexec.bat to reset bit 5 of 
the byte.  These can also be helpful if you need to assure the setting of one
of these in an application program.
good luck
Eric (the red baron) Liber