CTRL+D Minimizing All Windows

[benb]

Hi,

One of our users has a strange problem on his laptop (XP Pro SP2). About 2
weeks ago he noticed when in Visio 2003, that CTRL+D wasn't duplicating
objects anymore, instead it would minimize all windows. I had a quick look
at the time, rebooted his machine, tested with and without scroll lock on,
but neither made any difference, double checked his disability settings, but
couldn't find anything wrong. At the time I got caught up in other things,
but have had another look today, as it's causing him some irritation, (it's
one of his most used quick-keys), and found it's not just a Visio problem.
No matter what application you're in CTRL+D minimizes all windows, i.e if
you're in Excel it doesn't fill down.
It seems that Windows thinks CTRL is the Start key, which if you press with
D is a shortcut to Minimize all Windows. What could be causing this?

Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated

Ben

 

[Elmo]

Hi,

One of our users has a strange problem on his laptop (XP Pro SP2). About 2
weeks ago he noticed when in Visio 2003, that CTRL+D wasn't duplicating
objects anymore, instead it would minimize all windows. I had a quick look
at the time, rebooted his machine, tested with and without scroll lock on,
but neither made any difference, double checked his disability settings, but
couldn't find anything wrong. At the time I got caught up in other things,
but have had another look today, as it's causing him some irritation, (it's
one of his most used quick-keys), and found it's not just a Visio problem.
No matter what application you're in CTRL+D minimizes all windows, i.e if
you're in Excel it doesn't fill down.
It seems that Windows thinks CTRL is the Start key, which if you press with
D is a shortcut to Minimize all Windows. What could be causing this?

Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated

A few things to try:

- Open Device Manager and remove the keyboard. Restart and let the kb
be found and reinstalled.

- Try a different kb.

- Try the other Ctrl key as a test.

 

[benb]

A few things to try:

- Open Device Manager and remove the keyboard. Restart and let the kb be
found and reinstalled.

- Try a different kb.

- Try the other Ctrl key as a test.

Hi Elmo,

Thanks for the reply.

I tried the things you suggested, removed the keyboard and rebooted, no
difference, the other ctrl key is also affected, using either +D minimizes.
I didn't get to try a new keyboard, this is a laptop with only USB ports, no
PS/2, and we don't have any USB keyboards at the moment. I will do when we
find one. Do you have any other suggestions?

Cheers

Ben

 

[Elmo]

Hi Elmo,

Thanks for the reply.

I tried the things you suggested, removed the keyboard and rebooted, no
difference, the other ctrl key is also affected, using either +D minimizes.
I didn't get to try a new keyboard, this is a laptop with only USB ports, no
PS/2, and we don't have any USB keyboards at the moment. I will do when we
find one. Do you have any other suggestions?

One recent post on a laptop kb problem suggested that the kb be
unplugged, then plugged back in; this cleans the contacts. I believe on
that one laptop, the plug was easily accessible under the battery.

 

[Ben]

Hi Elmo,

I've spoken to the user again, we've not tried removing the laptop keyboard
yet, will do tomorrow, however he has tried a USB keyboard, which was still
the same, this sounds more like a software setting, rather than hardware
issue, however I will remove/clean the laptop keyboard tomorrow and report
back.

Cheers

Ben

 

[Elmo]

Hi Elmo,

I've spoken to the user again, we've not tried removing the laptop keyboard
yet, will do tomorrow, however he has tried a USB keyboard, which was still
the same, this sounds more like a software setting, rather than hardware
issue, however I will remove/clean the laptop keyboard tomorrow and report
back.

Cheers

Ben

Unless the Sticky Keys Keyboard Accessibility feature is on, I guess
it's a setting within Visio.

 

[Ben]

Unless the Sticky Keys Keyboard Accessibility feature is on, I guess it's
a setting within Visio.

Joe,

I thought it might have been a Visio setting, but the same thing happens in
Word, Paint ,Excel etc. If I'm in Excel, and highlight a cell, and drag
down, then press CTRL+D which should be 'Fill down' in Excel, it just
minimises all windows again.

Ben

 

[Elmo]

Joe,

I thought it might have been a Visio setting, but the same thing happens in
Word, Paint ,Excel etc. If I'm in Excel, and highlight a cell, and drag
down, then press CTRL+D which should be 'Fill down' in Excel, it just
minimises all windows again.

According to the many posts I've looked at, there's no way to change the
XP key assignments, short of software.
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=change+xp+shortcut+keys&qt_s=Search

The blue Fn key on laptops can be used to change some keys.. maybe
something along that line, but I would think an led would show the
current character set had changed, and I wonder if this could affect the
USB KB..

A system restore or other Windows repair might be in order.

G'luck with this one!