John & Sarah
Re your keyboard differences in US. Does the computer not come with a "character map". Using windows if you go to Start - Programs - accessories - character map. It tells you all the keystrokes needed to produce certain characters. My daughter uses it often as she is studying both French and German so needs all the various accents and funny letters (ß is one you can't really replicate any other way).
Might not work on your your computer but you never know.

Babblin Boo