i'm in the uk, uk keyboard, but even if i set it to us or uk keyboard
in both places
cltrl panel..lang..regional options..uk
regional options..languages.details..uk

I still get the same problem.
There are 2 bar symbols ALT+124 | and ALT+179 ¦

I can't really remember which it should produce, but it produces
nothing.

To get ALT+124
I think with US settings, I would type on my uk keyb ALTGR+`
And with UK settings , I type on my uk keyb SHIFT+\

I know ALT+179 is an extended ascii symbol and not much use. But
still, it should be attainable from the keyboard, shouldn't it?! My
UK keyboard shows a bar above \ and a bar on the ` key (top left of
keyb, below esc). They are 2 different bars , but only Shift+\ is
producing the bar. I think it's producign an ALT+124 btw 'cis it works
as a pipe in a dos window.