In recent weeks a new problem has surfaced on my work PC. The number keys along the top of the keyboard, not the numeric keypad, occasionally stop working. Strangely it is not the entire row of keys, only the 1/! to 0/) that stop working. The `/~ key to the left and -/_, =/+ and backspace keys in the same row still work. Both the shifted and un-shifted modes stop working.
I don't believe it is a hardware or firmware fault with the keyboard but some kind of software issue as it is resolved by a reboot. I know that there is an option that can prevent the keys on the numeric keypad from working as normal while controlling the mouse pointer but not of anything that could affect the normal number keys.
Does anyone have any ideas of what might be causing it?
To clarify why I don't think it is a hardware fault, this is happening infrequently; only three times in the last while and each occurrence has been at least a week apart. I don't see how the keyboard would work fine for ages then suddenly exhibit this behaviour only to work fine again after a reboot.
Update: The problem seems to be related to a bug in the Windows 10 PowerToys application. See accepted answer for link to GitHub issue.
Best Answer
I had the same problem and it seems to be the FancyZones part of Microsoft Powertoys that somehow makes the number keys stop working. I solved the problem by closing Powertoys and reopening it.
Hope this helps
Found Issue #410: PowerToys steals my number keys! that confirms this is likely what caused my problem.