very weird problem with keboard

just installed windows 7
for the hash (#) key, when i press shift + 3 i get this symbol �
and for backspace i get #.. for the squiggly line next to 1 i get �
keyboard problem? hwo can i fix?
Answer #1
You’ve set your keyboard to a UK English layout most likely. Go to ‘Control Panel->Region and Language’ and in the tab labelled ‘Keyboards and Languages’ click the button labelled ‘Change Keyboards’. In the window that pops up, change the selection in the drop down box to read EN-US (I am assuming you have a US layout given that you have tilde and hash in the locations you mentioned). Then hit apply and you should be ready to go.
Answer #2
Just throwing this in there since I searched google for changing keyboard layout. You may still be using whatever keyboard layout you’re using in first post during the Welcome Screen. To change that, just go to Administrative tab in the window that pops up after clicking “Region and Language.”
Answer #3
he thanks guys.. got it working!
one more question instead of making a new thread
is this update safe to install??
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 – November 2010 (KB890830)
ppl have said it removes activation?
Answer #4
I don’t think this one does. There is an update that introduces a Windows Genuine Advantage thing but I don’t remember it being the MSRT. Check the description, if it doesn’t say anything about ‘genuine’, ‘validation’ or ‘activation’ then you’re probably safe. Worst case scenario, if you do lose your activation due to an update, there are a million tools to help you remove the WGA software and get your computer running with activation again.
Answer #5
KB971033 is the one to look out for, do not install it