Function keys changed

[MikeR]

XP Pro SP3.

This morning I installed the Sun VirtualBox. I didn't create a VM.
Then I notice that function keys aren't acting properly in any application.
F1 still brings up Help.
F3, instead of a repeat find deletes the line the cursor is on in several editors. In
Notepad, it does nothing.
F5 in Notepad opens a file open dialog instead of Date/Time.
In Delphi, F1 and F3 act as described, the rest of the F keys don't do anything.

I un-installed the Sun VB, rebooted, and no difference.

I'm running Avast, Spybot S&D and MalwareBytes.

Event viewer(system) shows the following. I think this happened at the reboot.

Error
The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer FLOGGER that
believes that it is the master browser for the domain on transport
NetBT_Tcpip_{2E72BA47-98C5-4BA6-9. The master browser is stopping or an election is
being forced.

Warning
A request has been submitted to promote the computer to backup when it is already a
master browser.

Warning
The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser master
\\FLOGGER on the network \Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{2E72BA47-98C5-4BA6-96AD-569523FCF5E8}.
The data is the error code.

Flogger is my laptop, on my local network. I don't have a clue what a master browser
is or why FLOGGER is one.

Suggestions are welcomed.

Mike

 

[Alister]

XP Pro SP3.

This morning I installed the Sun VirtualBox. I didn't create a VM.
Then I notice that function keys aren't acting properly in any
application.
F1 still brings up Help.
F3, instead of a repeat find deletes the line the cursor is on in several
editors. In Notepad, it does nothing.
F5 in Notepad opens a file open dialog instead of Date/Time.
In Delphi, F1 and F3 act as described, the rest of the F keys don't do
anything.

I un-installed the Sun VB, rebooted, and no difference.

I'm running Avast, Spybot S&D and MalwareBytes.

Event viewer(system) shows the following. I think this happened at the
reboot.

Error
The master browser has received a server announcement from the computer
FLOGGER that believes that it is the master browser for the domain on
transport NetBT_Tcpip_{2E72BA47-98C5-4BA6-9. The master browser is
stopping or an election is being forced.

Warning
A request has been submitted to promote the computer to backup when it is
already a master browser.

Warning
The browser was unable to retrieve a list of servers from the browser
master \\FLOGGER on the network
\Device\NetBT_Tcpip_{2E72BA47-98C5-4BA6-96AD-569523FCF5E8}. The data is
the error code.

Flogger is my laptop, on my local network. I don't have a clue what a
master browser is or why FLOGGER is one.

Suggestions are welcomed.

Mike

Rest assured, the error message you quote has absolutely nothing to do with
whether your function keys work correctly.

On any Microsoft network running Netbios over TCP/IP (which is the default)
the Browser service acts as a "telephone directory" keeping a list of all
the machines on the network by Name and IP address. However each computer on
a workgroup has an equal chance of being the Master Browser - i.e. the
machine that keeps the definitive list, and occasionaly the machines will
fight over which is going to be the master browser. You can force one
machine to be the master, and for others not to try to be, by registry
changes, but I really wouldn't bother about it as it is perfectly normal
behaviour, and in a network of your size (two or three machines, i'm
guessing) it really isn't an issue.

As regards your function keys, the only thing I can think of is that you
have a keyboard with a "function lock" - some microsoft keyboards have this
facility which allows you to remap the function keys - and that you have
pressed the function lock key by mistake. I have never come across any issue
with the function keys caused by a software install. Windows 2000, XP and
2003 Server have the ability to remap incoming keystrokes through a registry
entry. "Remapping" keystrokes means to reassign what key refers to what
character or function, allowing (for instance) the left Shift key to be
treated as the left Ctrl key. Windows interprets keystrokes through keyboard
scan codes..Editing them is not easy, however, so I doubt that you could
have done it without noticing It may be that that part of the registry
has become corrupt.

Alister

 

[MikeR]

Rest assured, the error message you quote has absolutely nothing to do with
whether your function keys work correctly.

On any Microsoft network running Netbios over TCP/IP (which is the default)
the Browser service acts as a "telephone directory" keeping a list of all
the machines on the network by Name and IP address. However each computer on
a workgroup has an equal chance of being the Master Browser - i.e. the
machine that keeps the definitive list, and occasionaly the machines will
fight over which is going to be the master browser. You can force one
machine to be the master, and for others not to try to be, by registry
changes, but I really wouldn't bother about it as it is perfectly normal
behaviour, and in a network of your size (two or three machines, i'm
guessing) it really isn't an issue.

As regards your function keys, the only thing I can think of is that you
have a keyboard with a "function lock" - some microsoft keyboards have this
facility which allows you to remap the function keys - and that you have
pressed the function lock key by mistake. I have never come across any issue
with the function keys caused by a software install. Windows 2000, XP and
2003 Server have the ability to remap incoming keystrokes through a registry
entry. "Remapping" keystrokes means to reassign what key refers to what
character or function, allowing (for instance) the left Shift key to be
treated as the left Ctrl key. Windows interprets keystrokes through keyboard
scan codes..Editing them is not easy, however, so I doubt that you could
have done it without noticing It may be that that part of the registry
has become corrupt.

Alister

Thanks, Alister.
That was a very clear, concise explanation.

The problem was indeed the keyboard. It's a Microsoft wireless, and does have a
funcion lock key. I must have pressed it by accident, so thanks also for the nudge in
that direction.