Apostrophe confusing me

[Helen McCall]

I've installed the latest pidgin on two xp home computers and one xp 
professional.  On the professional I can't type the apostrophe key (') 
in messages - absolutely nothing happens.  If I press the key twice in 
quick succession I get this ´ which isn't the same key, not sure what it 
is, but the spell checker doesn't like it, doesn't consider it an 
apostrophe.  As I change between computers it's annoying me.  Can anyone 
give me any ideas what the problem might be?  I'm using an ASUS notebook. 
Thanks
Helen