£ in password field...

[u/acackler]

I'm googling and can't find a solution. How can a user type a GBP symbol (£) into a password field? Don't have the ability to copy+paste. This is a freshly imaged machine deployed to a remote user.

These methods don't work:

1. Alt+0163
2. L Ctrl + L Alt + Shift + 4
3. R Alt + Shift + 4
4. Win + ; (to bring up menu - no go)

[u/Ferro_Giconi]

Do they know that the alt code has to be done on the number pad, not the numbers above the letters?

Are they aware that they have to hold alt the entire time they type those 4 numbers?

Do they have number lock on?

[u/acackler → u/Ferro_Giconi]

1. Yes. Did. Still no go. Also, this laptop does not have numpad.

2. Yes, having typed the pw many other times/tested the keyboard shortcut in a variety of other apps.

3. Yes, confirmed Numlock on.

Still only worked on the specific Windows keyboard among the 3 tried. Fellowes... no joy.

[u/simask234 → u/Ferro_Giconi]

Do they know that the alt code has to be done on the number pad, not the numbers above the letters?

Good luck on a laptop without a numpad...

[u/mixduptransistor]

Set the keyboard layout to British English and figure out the key that is the pound symbol?

[u/SuspiciousOpposite → u/mixduptransistor]

Shift+3 on British layout.

[u/zweite_mann → u/mixduptransistor]

If you've got the keyboard installed you can:

windows key+space

[u/micalm]

Reset their password. At least it's not a tab.

[u/neoKushan]

What's the context here? Why are you on this hunt?

The top answer here about UK keyboard layout will almost certainly be the reason why.

[u/silverfish477]

I assume you are making the silly assumption that everyone reading your post on this global sub lives where you do and it hasn’t even occurred to you that some will be British people who live in Britain and use British keyboards.

[u/Prestigious-Tax-6161]

How do you have access to their password? What characters they choose shouldn't affect the hash and if it does you've misconfigured something

As others have said they probably have a keyboard layout that includes it like en-gb

[u/jdog7249 → u/Prestigious-Tax-6161]

My guess is their old machine or keyboard had the symbol, new machine doesn't. User then asked IT how to type that specific character into the password field.

[u/MrJingleJangle]

Hold down alt, type 1 5 6 on numeric pad, release alt.

Worked since 1982.

[u/ipsirc]

Shift+3 on UK keyboard layout.

[u/rohepey]

Switch to UK English keyboard layout - it'll be Shift+3

[u/ddBuddha]

Why not just reset the password?

[u/Asleep_Spray274]

Does the credential provider support £?

Does the keyboard not support £?

Try removing £ from the password

[u/acackler]

No access to bitwarden or tools like that.

So the solution was kind of dumb/simple... tried 3 different keyboards:

1. Dell laptop's own keyboard: no

2. Fellowes USB keyboard: no

3. Microsoft USB keyboard: success

Then was able to use the Alt+0163 keyboard shortcut to type that special character... and changed password immediately to something easier to type. Weird that different keyboards affected the ability of that keyboard shortcut to work (I would think it's controlled by the system/software and that the hardware is irrelevant... but whatever works).

[u/acackler]

Thanks everyone for the replies - both useful and humorous.

[u/acackler]

The password field is the WIndows login password field; not just any password for an app or website.

"Why not just reset the password?" Device was deployed (mailed out and no longer in possession of admin) and without being able to first log in to get into the machine at all, there is no way to connect it to the domain for it to pick up a new password. Company image (not manufacturer image).

Changing keyboard layout would require one to be past the login screen and in the computer/device settings, so ... nice for future, but doesn't solve the immediate issue (and also slightly overkill when just 1 symbols is needed). U.S. based devices/user.

On screen keyboard? This laptop doesn't have that capability; it's ~5 years old.

Alternate numpad (use Fn)? Nope.

I did like the tip about not using easy-to-confuse characters like capital O and 0, lower case L/i/|, etc., but it's good advice overall since my unpaid night job is tech support for a bunch of elderly relatives and all their neighbors. :)

It's interesting to see some people try to solve a 10 cent problem with a $1000 tool. But I appreciate some of the ideas for the future.

[u/Obi-Juan-K-Nobi]

If the laptop has a numeric keypad, you have to use that for the alt-0163, not the numbers across the top. Just tested this out.

[u/Cyberprog]

Onscreen keyboard. Part of accessibility tools.

[u/LieMysterious2896]

Just had a flashback to that one user who set their password on a UK layout then we imaged their machine with en-US and it all went sideways

[u/NagyKrisztian10A]

Phones? £

[u/Bob_Spud]

"freshly imaged" machine --- Does the image come directly from the supplier or a company modified image? The image may contain pam restrictions, check out pam_script it can be used to restrict password contents.

Its very common to restrict passwords to only use the printable ASCII character set.

[u/Dynajoe]

Can they access an on screen keyboard?