Possible keyboard mapping problem

[marvy42]

I use Win7-64. My keyboard is an old, old IBM Model M, made in 1989 [don't laugh, it works perfectly and I love it; I hate the quiet, mushy ones and have never found a use for the Windows key]. However, in the past couple of weeks, the ESC key has stopped working. Of course, I initially chalked it up to an ancient keyboard giving up the ghost, but I swapped it out for another I had and, once again, the ESC key is the only one not recognized. I haven't downloaded any new drivers (unless there's one in the normal Microsoft updates). So far, anything needing ESC has offered an alternative means of dismissal, but one day my luck will run out. Any ideas?

 

[DSummZZZ]

What happens if instead of pressing <Esc> you use <Alt><27>?
For example, while holding down the <Alt> key, on the numeric keypad type 0027, then release the <Alt> key. You should get the same result as if you had pressed the <Esc> key. If not, I would suspect on OS or configuration issue, maybe even a driver issue rather than problems with your old friend, the keyboard.



-Dave Summers-

Even more Fox stuff at:

http://www.davesummers.net/foxprolinks.htm

 

[marvy42]

Alt+27 had no effect. Since I go through a KVM switch in order to use the keyboard with two computers, I checked the other unit and the ESC key worked just fine (that one has XP). That rules out the keyboard. I haven't downloaded any drivers in ages, so I doubt it was something I inadvertently did (famous last words). I haven't changed the Win7-64 configuration in a long time either. That leaves Microsoft Updates. Tomorrow morning, I'll try removing the bunch I installed on October 10 and see if that has any effect. Not sure what I'll do if one of them is the culprit, but I'll fall off that bridge when I come to it. Thanks for your answer.

 

[IndianaSkinny]

Not that I would assume the KVM could be the problem, but have you eliminated it from the mix by connectiong the keyboard directly to the PC? Just a thought.

 

[xwb]

Is there anything that you've done like(keytweak which will remap the keys?

Check your regional settings: it may be that your keyboard has switched to a different country where the mapping of the escape key is somewhere else.

 

[marvy42]

No, I've never remapped my keys. Actually, I found the problem. I uninstalled the four Microsoft updates that I'd loaded on October 10, and the ESC key worked again. I reinstalled them and the culprit turned out to be 2852386. With it there, the ESC key doesn't work; with it uninstalled (again), all is fine. It has to do with a facility for deleting old backup Windows files for updates that you're never going to uninstall. However, I never used that facility; I just installed the update. Now it's gone and my keyboard is OK.

Thanks for your help, everyone.