E key opens Explorer, R opens Run, etc.

[TFeroz]

It's been happening on and off for the past 4 years with my computer. Sometimes certain keys suddenly won't work - instead, they'll serve as shortcuts to other things. I have no idea how it gets turned on, so I have no idea how to turn it off. So I have to restart my computer.

What is it? Where is it located and how do I stop it and return my keyboard to normal operating? Next time this happens, I wanna be ready.

I'm working on Windows 98, if that helps.

d minimizes everything
e opens explorer
f opens find files
m minimizes everything
r opens run

No, I'm not changing operating systems. I'm sticking with 98

 

[satrow]

It sounds like your "Windows" key is sticking. If a good cleaning of the keyboard doesn't fix it, buy a new one?

 

[TFeroz]

That's not the problem -- restarting fixes the problem 100% of the time, so there's something wrong with the computer itself. I've used other keyboards and other computers (all with 98) and occasionally had this problem with all of them, and I've never had any other key "stick" before.

 

[G0AOZ]

How often does it happen?

After what time period once you've restarted the PC, does the problem return?

Will it happen if you just boot to the desktop and don't run anything?

Have you checked what's in Startup, and does it happen in Safe Mode?

Maybe worth scanning for viruses, trojans and adware etc.

It's been suggested by Satrow that you change the keyboard. Surely it's worth swapping out even just on a temporary basis?

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[TFeroz]

It happens about once a month. It's not a serious problem, but it's really annoying when it happens, especially if I'm working with a lot of files.

"Will it happen if you just boot to the desktop and don't run anything?"

If I don't run anything, I really would have no way of knowing

"Have you checked what's in Startup, and does it happen in Safe Mode?"

I've checked and I trust all the files listed there. Even went to msconfig.

"Maybe worth scanning for viruses, trojans and adware etc."

I do this every few weeks, and it never finds anything that solves this problem. I have Avast! virus scanner (auto-updating) and Ad-Aware SE 1.06 (I update about once every two weeks).

"It's been suggested by Satrow that you change the keyboard. Surely it's worth swapping out even just on a temporary basis?"

I doubt that would fix it. Like I said, I've used a lot of different keyboards and different computers in different places, and still got this problem from time to time. The only thing in common was Windows 98.

 

[micker377]

Normally, if you hit your "shift" key 5 times real fast, you will put the computer into "Accesibility Mode". Have you checked to see if "Sticky Keys" is selected?

 

[TFeroz]

I just tried hitting shift five times and each time I tried, nothing happened. I can't check for StickyKeys because my control panel is missing the Accessibility Options for some reason.

 

[Kemisco]

Hi TFeroz,

Are you by any chance using a keyboard adapter? For example, a USB to PS/2 or the old IBM PS/2 to the modern PS/2? I have an old keyboard with the old (large) IBM PS/2, and when it's reduced to the modern PS/2, it acts up on only one of my computers: the Z character always trades places with another character. It's weird. Several of my other keyboards with the old IBM PS/2 don't have that problem on that computer; only that keyboard in particular.

GOAOZ has a pretty good idea. It may not hurt to try a swap, just to pin-point the problem.

Kemisco

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Take your computer outdoors when blowing out the dust; it's mostly skin dust. A clean computer is a cool computer.

 

[xwb]

Does clicking on Ctrl-Esc (alternative to the Windows key) or Esc get you out of it?

 

[madonnac]

CTRL+ALT+Left Shift+F12 used to reset the keyboard

Failing that press the key that windows thinks is held down, and the problem should go away