Tab Key being pressed even with unplugged keyboard

[OutlookGuy]

I left my PC for a moment, and when I returned I noticed that my internet
browser was slowly selecting different links on a web page one link at a
time, as though someone was slowly tapping the Tab key. When I closed the
browser, it tried to do the same thing to the toolbar of my desktop.

I unplugged the keyboard to see if a key was stuck, but it still happened.
I then decided to reboot the PC without having any keyboard plugged in at
all, and it still happened (tab key being pressed). Realizing that it wasn't
related to the keyboard, I plugged the keyboard back in and rebooted. At
first, the problem seemed to go away, only to return later (but with the tab
key being pressed less often). Any idea what could be causing this, or if
there is a way I can disable the Tab key function in Windows XP altogether
until I can figure the problem out?

 

[smlunatick]

I left my PC for a moment, and when I returned I noticed that my internet
browser was slowly selecting different links on a web page one link at a
time, as though someone was slowly tapping the Tab key. When I closed the
browser, it tried to do the same thing to the toolbar of my desktop.

I unplugged the keyboard to see if a key was stuck, but it still happened. 
I then decided to reboot the PC without having any keyboard plugged in at
all, and it still happened (tab key being pressed).  Realizing that it wasn't
related to the keyboard, I plugged the keyboard back in and rebooted.  At
first, the problem seemed to go away, only to return later (but with the tab
key being pressed less often).  Any idea what could be causing this, or if
there is a way I can disable the Tab key function in Windows XP altogether
until I can figure the problem out?

What type of keyboard are you unpluging from your PC? Only USB type
keyboard can be "plugged in / unplugged" while the PC is powered on.
If you did this with a different keyboard (aka PS/2) then you could
have damaged the keyboard connector, or chip, on the motherboard.

PS/2 keyboard - small round connector

USB -- square connector

 

[Malke]

I left my PC for a moment, and when I returned I noticed that my internet
browser was slowly selecting different links on a web page one link at a
time, as though someone was slowly tapping the Tab key. When I closed the
browser, it tried to do the same thing to the toolbar of my desktop.

I unplugged the keyboard to see if a key was stuck, but it still happened.
I then decided to reboot the PC without having any keyboard plugged in at
all, and it still happened (tab key being pressed). Realizing that it
wasn't
related to the keyboard, I plugged the keyboard back in and rebooted. At
first, the problem seemed to go away, only to return later (but with the
tab
key being pressed less often). Any idea what could be causing this, or if
there is a way I can disable the Tab key function in Windows XP altogether
until I can figure the problem out?

What kind of keyboard and mouse? Wireless? If wireless, is there someone
else nearby with identical wireless hardware? If you are using wireless
devices but the answer to the second question is "no", remove the wireless
mouse entirely and see if that solves the issue. If it does, replace the
mouse.

Malke

 

[OutlookGuy]

What kind of keyboard and mouse? Wireless? If wireless, is there someone

else nearby with identical wireless hardware? If you are using wireless
devices but the answer to the second question is "no", remove the wireless
mouse entirely and see if that solves the issue. If it does, replace the
mouse.

The mouse is a wireless HP one that came with the PC. Originally I had a
wireless HP keyboard, but a month ago it simply stopped working (odd because
it was new). I bought a Microsoft wired keyboard, which apparently connects
from a USB to a round plug that you use in the back of the PC (the keyboard
port). The problem hasn't happened for a few hours, so I can't test anything
by removing the mouse.

 

[Malke]

The mouse is a wireless HP one that came with the PC. Originally I had a
wireless HP keyboard, but a month ago it simply stopped working (odd
because
it was new). I bought a Microsoft wired keyboard, which apparently
connects from a USB to a round plug that you use in the back of the PC
(the keyboard
port). The problem hasn't happened for a few hours, so I can't test
anything by removing the mouse.

Sure you can. Remove the mouse and take it far out of the room. Remove the
transmitter. Now attach a plain vanilla mouse - can be either USB or the
old ps/2 style. You must shut down the computer to attach a ps/2 device;
USB devices can be plugged in while the computer is running.

I've seen this type of behavior with a faulty wireless mouse.

Or live with things until something goes wonky again. ;-)

Malke

 

[smlunatick]

The mouse is a wireless HP one that came with the PC.  Originally I had a
wireless HP keyboard, but a month ago it simply stopped working (odd because
it was new).  I bought a Microsoft wired keyboard, which apparently connects
from a USB to a round plug that you use in the back of the PC (the keyboard
port).  The problem hasn't happened for a few hours, so I can't test anything
by removing the mouse.

Did you uninstall any HP drivers that might have been installed?
Wireless keyboard / mouse have "enhanced" drivers that may add
functions and may not be compatible with the Microsoft keyboard.

 

[OutlookGuy]

Did you uninstall any HP drivers that might have been installed?

Wireless keyboard / mouse have "enhanced" drivers that may add
functions and may not be compatible with the Microsoft keyboard.

I didn't uninstall any HP drivers at the time.

The problem eventually fixed itself at one point, the tab key stopped
working. But then today I had to reboot my PC in safe mode to run some
antivirus programs, and the tab key started pressing itself in safe mode. I
rebooted a few more times, even unplugged the keyboard, no luck. I let the
PC sit for a while, eventually the tabbing stopped. But now, if I press a
letter key on the keyboard and hold the key down, it takes a long time for
the letters to type out. If I press the backspace key and hold it to delete
those letters, it takes a long time. Has anyone seen these problems before?

 

[Rock]

I didn't uninstall any HP drivers at the time.

The problem eventually fixed itself at one point, the tab key stopped
working. But then today I had to reboot my PC in safe mode to run some
antivirus programs, and the tab key started pressing itself in safe mode.
I
rebooted a few more times, even unplugged the keyboard, no luck. I let
the
PC sit for a while, eventually the tabbing stopped. But now, if I press a
letter key on the keyboard and hold the key down, it takes a long time for
the letters to type out. If I press the backspace key and hold it to
delete
those letters, it takes a long time. Has anyone seen these problems
before?

Have you tried a different key board?

 

[OutlookGuy]

Have you tried a different key board?

I've tried a different keyboard, the problem still exists. The problem
doesn't seem to be relative to any keyboard. Even if I reboot the PC with no
keyboard plugged in, the problem can still happen. The problem also didn't
start with a keyboard being plugged in or unplugged while the PC was on, it
just happened out of nowhere. Windows is simply telling itself that keys are
being pressed, even if no keyboard is plugged in.