Flying computer useless due to annoying problem- help?

[Speed]

Ok, so starting last night, all of a sudden, if I pressed "r" on the keyboard, it would bring up the "run" window, if I press "e" on the keyboard, it brings up the "computer" window, etc. I restarted the computer, and it was fine after that. So today, it started doing it agian. I restarted the computer, and it stopped. Then it started doing this a third time. So I restarted again... and now the problem is permenent. I can't use anything on the keyboard because some goddamn window will pop up. Supposedly it thinks one of those goddamned windows keys is stuck down.

 

Here's the real problem: I have two different keyboards, and it does it on both of them. It also does this with all of my hardware removed from the USB ports except for the keyboard. I restart, and it does it from the get-go. FInally, I replaced the motherboard with another, brand-new motherboard I had around (don't ask), and it STILL is broken. Everything else is perfectly normal except for the keyboard being completely useless due to an apparent stuck windows key. Am I just going to have to do a reformat? Does anyone know what the hell is going on?! Right now, I'm trying a system restore. If that doesn't work, a virus scan.

 

BTW, both keyboards are USB.

 

I already googled for the issue, with no luck. All the other people who have had a similar problem, everyone tells them to "try a different keyboard" :mad:, or "turn off sticky keys" (I think I did that ages ago).

 

Ah yes,

OS: Vista Home Premium 64 bit

AMD Phenom X4 2.8GHz

ATI Radeon HD5850 (the Grey Screen of Death edition)

8Gigs DDR2

 

Edit: System restore did nothing.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Speed

[Speed]

Ok, so I may have fixed it. I have this REALLY annoying keyboard with these ^#ING buttons on the side that bring up things like window calculator or outlook. Unfortunately, unlike the windows key, I haven't yet figured out a way to rip these buttons out of my keyboard. That may have contributed to the problem starting. I THINK the problem MAY be fixed, I stuck a pen down into the right windows key- where it used to be, and deppresed the little stub thing in there a few times, and now I can actually TYPE without @$#$ing windows popping up. What makes absolutely no sense is why it would persist through multiple restarts and system restore.\

 

But to be honest, I would be surprised if this problem didn't come back. It dissappeared and came bak already multiple times...

Edited May 1, 2011 by Speed

[Kuky]

I cam accorss this once while back and it was some combinations of keys pressed that would enable these hotkeys... I have no idea what they were but you could google for something like that. Could it be you have some HOTAS profile configures that with certain buttons pressed enabled these windows shotcut keys.

[Speed]

(this was posted from my "flying" machine)

no, ompuer is definaely no fixed. I an' een use some keys on my keyboards now. WF

 

WHAT IS WRON WI

 

eery keyboard as is problem

 

Looks like maybe ime for reforma

 

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

 

:gun_rifle::crash:

Edited May 1, 2011 by Speed

[Speed]

(this is posted from my laptop)

OK something in my windows install appears corrupted. I can type a key, it will work, and then 5 seconds later it will no longer work. Then I hit it again, 5 seconds later, and it will do something competely random, like launch black shark. Then, five seconds after that, they key will work again.

 

You see the results of me trying to type above ^^ half the keys on the keyboard no longer work. And this is the same with multiple keyboards. Is that it? I just need to reformat?

Edited May 1, 2011 by Speed

[Kuky]

Do you possibly have different language/keyboard settings enabled? I really don't know what else it can be... I guess you can take same "solution" as me when I am out of ideas and nothing seems to work... and do windows reinstal :noexpression:

[Speed]

Do you possibly have different language/keyboard settings enabled? I really don't know what else it can be... I guess you can take same "solution" as me when I am out of ideas and nothing seems to work... and do windows reinstal :noexpression:

 

 

Yea, already checked the different keyboards settings, including the language settings, there is no problem there. I am on US English.

 

I ran windows safety scanner. Despite a different virus scanner running continuously, it found 8 "infections"- some of which it only "partially" removed :huh: Two of which included trojans.

 

Removing them did nothing.

 

A friend of mine found a website that included instructions on how to disable all windows shortcuts. This has provided a mostly-working bandaid solution- mostly working because, despite the registry entry that is supposed to disable windows keys, spacebar still occasionally brings up the goddamn Vista tools thingie.

 

Still, no matter what I do, some letters on the keyboard, such as t, h, do not work in internet explorer, but do in Google Chrome. I believe that those keys are associated with the windows button in some way.

 

Going to start preparing for a full reinstall of windows. If that doesn't fix the computer, I may just have to buy a new one :cry:- because if reformatting doesn't fix it, and I've replaced the motherboard- what else is there that could be the problem except the processor? Luckily, I do have a mostly-empty 1GB external drive... I just better be careful and scan it before, and after.

 

Gonna reinstall Vista 64 bit as there's no way in hell I'm going to pay $180 for the marginally-improved Windows 7. It may be improved over Vista, but it's not $180 improved over Vista.

 

Oh well, on the bright side, if there is one, my computer did need a reformat.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Speed

[bumfire]

Seems to me that its either your keyboards or your windows installation, I know you said that you tried two keyboards, but try another, ps2 prefferably.

 

If you have tried a new mobo, the only thing it can be is Windows or keyboard, it wont be your cpu, it wont be your memory, it wont be your dvd drive, it wont be your video card, it wont be your harddrive/s, so that only leaves your windows install OR your keyboards and mouse.

 

You have ruled out faulty ports since you replaced the mobo so, I would try a brand new keyboard, ps2 version and with only that connected try again with a format and reinstall of windows. Dont plug the mouse in, when filling in boxes durign the reinstall, use TAB to change to a different box/field.

 

EDIT:

 

You might also want to change mouse aswell to see if the mouse/keyboard combo is the cause.

 

Also, did you update your bios on the motherboards lately and if so, did the problem start after that ? if it did, roll back to the previous bios, if you havent updated your mobo bios, see if their is a newer bios available for your mobo.

 

I cant see that having any effect unless the motherboards that you tested/used were the exact same model with the exact same bios firmware. If both mobo's were the same then that could mean that a certain mobo bios caused the problem ? or it could mean that the mobo/bios combo doesnt like your keyboard, which if its a usb keyboard can be quite common, hence the reason why its better to use a ps2 keyboard as they suffer from less compatibility problems than usb keyboards do.

 

"IF" and I say "IF" lightly, if your Vista version isnt legit, which I have no reason to doubt you, and I dont care either way, but if it isnt legit, then problems like these can crop up due to the spyware and other crap that is hidden in these so called ultimate windows versions that float about the net that come pre-cracked. If thats the case a legit OS may very well fix the problem if its just caused by that. <----- please do not take that as me saying that you use haxed software, as I am only saying "IF" not that you "DO' use warez.

 

Also what keyboard/s do you use, as on certain keyboards, some buttons once pressed act as modifiers, which inturn would mean that if you tried to type something, the keys would act as whatever the modifier wanted them to do, example Ctrl+c = copy, so pushing C on its own would copy something.

 

Maybe you have a stuck modifier on your keyboard/s and just dont know it ?

 

To be honest tho, if some keys work in one program but dont in another, to me it seems like it is just a software related bug that has been caused possibly by your spyware/viri crap that you caught, so I reckon a format would cure it, as you know the keys are working, but just not working in certain apps.

Edited May 2, 2011 by bumfire

[Speed]

The two motherboards are different, by different manufacturers too.

 

My windows is legit, bought it with the new computer. If I was getting pirated windows, I wouldn't be stuck on Vista, now would I? :) Vista sucks.

 

It can't be some kind of stuck key on the keyboard, as that would require both keys on both keyboards to have gotten stuck independently. So incredibly unlikely as to be ruled out. Furthermore, the windows keys on both keyboards were removed so that it is impossible to strike them without sticking something long down into the hole where they used to be (I HATE THAT @#$#ing KEY AND ALWAYS HAVE!!!!!).

 

No bios update has been done, either way, it wouldn't effect both motherboards.

 

The weirdest thing is how it keeps turning off and on, off and on.

 

As far as PS2 keyboards and mice, I don't have any, as I bought my mice and keyboards so that they would be compatable with laptops. I have three corded, USB mice and two corded USB keyboards. No wireless crap.

 

Very good point about trying a different mouse. The mouse I have been using is an optical mouse with five buttons, so I suppose it could be starting to die, and possibly sending erroneous signals to windows. I will try a different one tonight.

 

Please note that they keyboard was still acting up and not working even with a mouse disconnected though, but I don't remember if I tried to unlock the windows key while the mouse was disconnected (basically, a windows key is getting stuck down, but I can temporarily unstuck it by striking (usually) the right windows key).

 

Thanks for all the help. Is there some kind of windows repair I can try?

 

BTW, I also uninstalled my keyboard drivers through device manager and let windows reinstall them, no luck.

[Speed]

BTW, the trojan microsoft safety scanner is only able to "partially" remove is called "Trojan:Win32/Bumat!rts", which appears to be just kind of generic name Microsoft Safety Scanner is assigning it. I've definately got to keep trying to remove this, but each scan takes four hours to complete! :cry:

[Kuky]

mate, if you can see you have Trojans in your system better don't worry about this and just reinstall OS again. I don't trust even antivirus software and if you haven't reinstalled OS for a long time and have been installing/uninstalling many programs from the net... you're due to one, and see it on the bring side... you'll hit 2 flies in 1 go ;)

[Speed]

I think it may have been the mouse! While I did in fact try using the computer without the mouse and still had the issue, I may have tested that before I had figured out I could un-stick the windows button by poking it a few times. So the windows button may have just been stuck down the entire time of my no-mouse test. So I tried one of my other USB mice, a newer one in fact, I disabled the registry entry that was disabling the windows key, restarted, and I haven't seen the problem crop up once since.

 

*Crossing my fingers*

[Druid_]

Time to buy an apple?:music_whistling: ... jk

[MackTheKnight]

if you're still struggling to remove the virus/trojan, try these two apps:

 

Malwarebytes (malwarebytes.org)

Trojan remover (Made by simply super software)

 

The combination of these two apps has saved many of my clients machines from a rebuild due to virus infection.

 

Hope it helps,

Mack

[Speed]

Reformatting did not work.

 

Both keyboards I have are still showing the same problem. It's like the windows key is being held down. After reformatting, I can't even enter my user name "John" because "h" is associated with some F*CKING windows command.

 

Must be some kind of hardware problem.

 

Remember, I've tried two different motherboards, both had the same problem. Two different USB keyboards both had the same problem.

 

Time to buy a PS2 keyboard I guess.

 

I'm about to come unglued at this goddamn @$#$ing problem. I just want to chuck the computer out of a tall building and see how many bullets I can put in it before it hits the ground.

 

The weirdest thing was that I plugged one of the USB keyboards into a laptop and it started doing it there too, but I was able to fix the problem on hte laptop permenently by tapping the windows key a few times.

 

Is it possible I really just had some kind of simultaneous failure of TWO USB keyboards, one of which I wasn't even using?

 

Hopefully, Walmart will have one I can buy.

[Speed]

It's defiantely not the keyboards. I went out and purchased a new keyboard; unfortunately, only USB keyboards were available. Anyway, I plug in the USB keyboard, and it still doesn't work. It acts as if the windows key is being held down.

 

So, after changing the motherboard, reformatting, buying a new keyboard... the only thing I have left to blame is either the processor, the front USB ports, video card, the memory, or the hard drive. None of which makes any sense. But if you eliminate all other more likely explanations, then the explanation must lie in the remaining possibilities, however unlikely. I will try disconnecting the front USB ports now and see what happens.

 

By the way, this problem happens no matter what USB port I plug into.

 

Anyone know of a forum where I can ask these questions to computer experts? I'm pretty much near to the point that I will have to buy a new computer if I cannot get this resolved soon.

[Druid_]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216893 disable windows key.

 

Very strange problem & not one I have heard of before. I know you are tech savy but after a format & re-install of vista (without doing any microsoft updates), it is obviously a hardware problem.

 

When I first built PCs most of my problems were due to the VGA card but times have changed somewhat.

 

I can only suggest what I think you have already done, which is to disconnect everything from the machine except for a USB keyboard (even the mouse) which is plugged directly to a motherboard USB slot. Even disconnect any non-OS extra drives you may have in the machine. Run a memory checker like memtest & check for bad sectors on the HDD. If it still doesn't work then it has to be the VGA card or a faulty power supply. Once you have replaced those and it still doesn't work then get off the grid, move to another country & buy an apple. (you are in the twilight zone).

[Kuky]

very sorry to hear your troubles Speed, I have really no idea what the issue is, if after OS reinstall and new keyboard still does it I am out of ideas.

 

Just one more blind guess, in BIOS in chipset settings there should be an option to enable/disable legacy USB devices, have you tried changing that... could there be some BIOS settings... I really don't know any more and I'm sorry I can't help more... don't know, could you bring your PC to the store where you bought the motherboard since you said you replaced yours... if they are dedicated PC shop they will likely have service as well, maybe ask them have a look at it, for them would be easy to try different components, see which one is mucking up... good luck

[bumfire]

The weirdest thing was that I plugged one of the USB keyboards into a laptop and it started doing it there too, but I was able to fix the problem on hte laptop permenently by tapping the windows key a few times.

 

Then you say

 

It's defiantely not the keyboards.

 

I am confused, if its not the keyboards then why are the same symptoms showing on different pc's when you plug the boards into them ?

 

Unless something is physically damaging your keyboards then I am at a loss.

 

Buy a ps2 to usb connector, then plug your usb keyboard into that and bingo your usb keyboard becomes ps2, I have one here you could have if you cant find one and you normally get one when you buy a usb keyboard and mouse, they are green lookign things with a usb connector at one end and a ps2 at the other.

 

if the keyboards are showing the SAME problem on a totally different computer then that points to the cause.

 

Maybe your computer is killing/damaging your usb ports/keyboards, or maybe its just shit keyboards that you are buying ??? I dunno but its doubtful all 3 boards would suffer the same problem from new unless they were from a single manufacturers bad batch. But if its showing the same symptoms on the laptop as it is on the desktop, then as mentioned above either your keyboards are the root cause or either your pc is damaging your keyboards, which if it is, then I would look at your psu.

 

Also, when you formatted, did you install any software on the desktop that is also on the laptop ? as maybe a certain software app is the cause ? but i suspect that its either the keyboards that are faulty due to bad manufacturing, or the way you use them, maybe too hard on the keys ??? or your desktop is damaging them somehow. I would tend to go with this one.

 

And as Kuky mentioned, make sure ALL usb items are enabled in your bios, especially legacy usb, but you can also test with that option disabled and see if it has any effect as maybe your keyboard doesnt like the legacy usb setting either enabled or disabled.

 

Also if you want, try plugging in some usb devices and see if they all work correctly, if those items are having problems also, then that could point to the usb ports that are at fault, which could then lead back to your psu.

 

Its a weird ass problem you are suffering from and without actually testign it out for myself, I dont think I have any other ideas to add to what I have already said in this thread, maybe reset your bios and reconfigure or update it is about it from me.

 

Oh, do you run with a APC ? or do you just run with the pc connected straight to the mains ? as maybe you have dirty power and their has been some damage caused to your pc ?

 

EDIT:

 

TBH, after reading everything through again, I am begining to suspect that something in your pc is causing damage, you say that both motherboards show the same problem, all keyboards are affected and some have been plugged into your laptop and show the same symptoms. if this was me I would A, get my electricity, especially the wall socket that the pc is connected to tested by an electrician or someone who has the tech experience and if that comes back all good, then B, start looking at your psu with a multimeter and also test to see what the usb ports are pumping out.

 

My wall socket killed and damaged many items in my rig over a long time without me even thinking it was the wall socket, so maybe its worth a look see ?

Edited May 10, 2011 by bumfire