Here are two ways to make accent marks. The international keyboard is the one I use:
Windows users have several options; in my opinion, the international keyboard is far and away the best.
International keyboard (Win XP)
Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
Double click Regional and Language Options
Click Languages
Click Details
Click Add
Pick English (United States - International)
Click OK in each dialog window.
Using the international keyboard:
The international keyboard maintains the QWERTY layout, with the following changes/additions:
To type accent grave (à, è, etc.), type ` then the vowel.
Accent aigu (é), type ' (single quote) then e.
Cédille (ç), type ' then c.
Circonflexe (ê), type ^ (shift + 6) then e (or another vowel).
Tréma (ö), type " (shift + ') then o.
NOTE: To type any of these symbols by themselves (e.g., single or double quotes) rather than above a vowel, type the symbol then hit the space bar. For example, to type c'est, type c then ' then space then e s t
To type French quotation marks « » use ctrl + alt + [ and ], respectively.
The minor disadvantage of the international keyboard is that it takes a little while to get used to typing a space when you actually want to type ' or ". More info from Microsoft
Troubleshooting the international keyboard:
Step one: Double-check the above steps, and make sure that you click OK for each dialog.
Step two: Look in the lower-right corner of your computer desktop, where you should see a little box telling you which keyboard you are using. Make sure it says US - International.
Step three: If you are plagued by strangeness such as cést when you try to type c'est, re-read the note between numbers 5 and 6 of Using the international keyboard, above.
International keyboard (Win 95, 98, ME, NT)
Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
Double click Keyboard
Click Language
Click Properties, Settings, or Details (whichever you see)
Click Add
Pick English International or United States International
Click OK in each dialog window.
Read Using the international keyboard and, if necessary, Troubleshooting the international keyboard, above.
International keyboard (Win 2000)
Open your Control Panel (via Start menu or My Computer)
Double click Keyboard
Click Input Locales
Click Change
Click Add
Pick English International or United States International
Click OK in each dialog window.
Read Using the international keyboard and, if necessary, Troubleshooting the international keyboard, above.
Or you can use this method:
To type a character hold down the ALT key while typing the number; on releasing the ALT key, the character appears on the screen. Check that Number Lock is on.
128 = Ç
129 = ü
130 = é
131 = â
132 = ä
133 = à
134 = å
135 = ç
136 = ê
137 = ë
138 = è
139 = ï
140 = î
141 = ì
142 = Ä
143 = Å
144 = É
145 = æ
146 = Æ
147 = ô
148 = ö
149 = ò
150 = û
151 = ù
152 = ÿ
153 = Ö
154 = Ü
155 = ø
156 = £
157 = Ø
158 = ×
159 = ƒ
160 = á
161 = í
162 = ó
163 = ú
164 = ñ
165 = Ñ
166 = ª
167 = º
168 = ¿
169 = ®
170 = ¬
171 = ½
172 = ¼
173 = ¡
174 = «
175 = »
179 = ¦
181 = Á
182 = Â
183 = À
184 = ©
187 = +
189 = ¢
190 = ¥
198 = ã
199 = Ã
207 = ¤
208 = ð
209 = Ð
210 = Ê
211 = Ë
212 = È
213 = i
214 = Í
215 = Î
216 = Ï
222 = Ì
224 = Ó
225 = ß
226 = Ô
227 = Ò
228 = õ
229 = Õ
230 = µ
231 = þ
232 = Þ
233 = Ú
234 = Û
235 = Ù
236 = ý
237 = Ý
239 = ´
241 = ±
243 = ¾
244 = ¶
245 = §
246 = ÷
247 = ¸
248 = °
249 = ¨
250 = ·
251 = ¹
252 = ³
253 = ²
For the Euro sign (€), hold down the AltGr key while typing the number 4