Strange keyboard problem

[bhsafe]

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2. I recently had a very strange problem
show up on my laptop. The system is a Sony Vaio SZ480N. I did a clean
install of Windows XP Pro and have installed all the updates.

The problem first showed up as non-functioning keys. "c", "t" and "n"
were the ones I noticed first. Later "f", "l" and "v" stopped working.
It seems to happen after I use a modifier key with the letter key,
like CTRL-C for coping text. It seems that the modifier key sticks.

It isn't the keyboard hardware. I have used both the built-in and an
external keyboard to the same results. It happens in all programs,
indicating it isn't a program that I have running. I have shut down
all the programs when I am experiencing the problem, it doesn't go
away. Toggle Keys and Sticky Keys are both disabled. I have found that
it acts like toggle keys because if I hit the stuck key again, it
turns it off.

I am using Synergy 1.3.1 to run two systems from the same computer. I
am also using Logitech SetPoint 3.3bt for the keyboard and mouse on
both systems. The problems occurs on both computers. It seemed to
start one day when I had to use the Windows key to access the start
menu because Internet Explorer 7 was hiding the start menu.

Any help would be appreciated. And no, I don't have a virus or
spyware. I already checked.

Thanks.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

I would test that with the "ON-Screen Keyboard" you will find in
Start.../Accessories/Accessibility/..

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in
:

[...]

The problem first showed up as non-functioning keys. "c", "t" and
"n" were the ones I noticed first. Later "f", "l" and "v" stopped
working. It seems to happen after I use a modifier key with the
letter key, like CTRL-C for coping text. It seems that the
modifier key sticks.

It isn't the keyboard hardware. I have used both the built-in and
an external keyboard to the same results. It happens in all
programs, indicating it isn't a program that I have running. I
have shut down all the programs when I am experiencing the
problem, it doesn't go away. [...]

Are you sure *all* the programs aren't running? A lot of things are
running that you might not be aware...

Boot into Safe Mode (F8 at startup) and see if it still does it in Safe
mode. If not, use a program like msconfig to control which programs
start up at boot and zero-in on the one that's giving you problems.

HTH,
John