Similar problem in Fast Tracker 2 with Caps Lock,
where keypress is detected only if led is off.

I'll post the current code 😀

1#if 0
2        case 58:p_capslock=true;break;                                  /* Caps Lock */
3        case 186:p_capslock=false;break;
4        case 69:p_numlock=true;break;                                   /* Num Lock */
5        case 197:p_numlock=false;break;
6        case 70:p_scrolllock=true;break;                                /* Scroll Lock */
7        case 198:p_scrolllock=false;break;
8        case 82:p_insert=true;break;                                    /* Insert */
9        case 210:p_insert=false;a_insert=!a_insert;break;
10#endif

The #if 0 disables the code. So the * locks are ignored.

Will be fixed in time.

I used to have a seriously bizarre key problem with Pinball Dreams on my old 286 that put me off NumLock for life. If the program was started with NumLock on, it ran unbearably slowly, however if it was off it ran fine. I never did figure out why, but it made me happy for the numlock=off config.sys setting...

Hope this is what's wrong with bioforge.

bioforge = pharlab= wrong.
I still don't get their keyboard routine. It makes little sense to me 🙁
Will trying though.

well I fixed the keyboard problems of bioforge.
let's hope more games benefit from it.

It helps! Jagged Alliance and Xargon (escape key in-game).