Vista 64 thinks windows key is pressed

[90bay]

I have Vista 64 Ultimate installed.
Sometimes when I am typing, vista acts as though I have pressed the windows
key along with the letter I typed and I get the result of that combination
(e.g. u gets the ease of access centre).
I changed keyboards but the problem persists. It happens a few times a day.
If I press the windows key by itself once it happens, it seems to fix things.
Has anyone else run into this?

 

[90bay]

I checked and do not have sticky keys enabled.
Last night I installed SP1 so I will see if that solves the problem. The
problem does not come up consistently.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

If the key is broken, Brink's solution is the best one as usual .

There's a chance it's just dirty. I would buy a can of air and blast the
key. Also, turning over the keyboard, and 'burping' it can help. Vacuum
cleaner, whatever. Most keyboards will actually let you pry up the key and
clean under it. It snaps back on, in a lot of cases.

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Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[David Shen [MSFT]]

Dear Customer,

Thanks all for posting.

Based on the description, this issue only happens occasionally. I
understand that you have installed Vista SP1. Let us monitor this issue for
a while. If this problem continues, let us perform the following
troubleshooting steps:

Suggestion:
===============

1. You may try Brink's solution to check if the issuer re-occurs.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/77881-windows-hotkeys.html

2. You may try to perform a clean boot in Windows Vista to disable all the
third party application, and see if the issue re-occurs. In this way, we
can isolate the influence of additional applications and services. As you
know, many third party applications or services may interrupt the proper
operation of Windows.

Please refer to:

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;929135

3. If the problem still exists, it is recommended you replace the
problematic keyboard with a new one. In this way, we can isolate any
hardware issues.

If anything is unclear or you have any updates, please feel free to let me
know. I am glad to be of assistance.

Hope it helps. Thanks.

David Shen
Microsoft Online Partner Support

 

[90bay]

I installed SP1, the problem continues. It happens a few times a day.
I don't think it is a physical issue with the keyboard but I did switch to a
new keyboard just in case. Most of the time the problem happens when I am
using IE 7. It has also come up when I was using Remote Desktop to access
another computer.

I will try some of the suggestions.

The only other issue I noticed with SP1 was that Quicktime didn't work
anymore. I had seen somewhere that SP1 did this. Once I reinstalled
Quicktime, it worked fine (installed version 7.41).

 

[David Shen [MSFT]]

Hi 90bay,

Based on the description, the issue seems to be occurred unexpectedly.
Here are some suggestions which may be helpful.

Suggestion:
===========

Option A.

1. Open Registry Editor with "regedit"
2. Expand the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11C
E-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Check whether there are any improper filter drivers besides UpperFilters.

Option B.

If the problematic keyboard is USB keyboard, connect it to the computer
directly without USB hub, or you may try PS2 keyboard if possible. If the
computer is a laptop, please use the built-in keyboard. Then check if the
issue reoccurs.

Option C.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Open Registry Editor with "regedit"

3. Click Continue for UAC prompt.

4. In Registry Editor, Expand the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explor
er

5. In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New and click
DWORD (32-bit) Value.

6. Type "NoWinKeys" and press Enter.

7. In the right pane, click "NoWinKeys" and click "Modify".

8. Type 1 and click OK.

Hope it helps. Thanks.

David Shen
Microsoft Online Partner Support

 

[90bay]

Thanks David

A-here is the registry key you asked about, UpperFilters is the only filter:

Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 26/01/2008 - 11:49 AM
Value 0
Name: Class
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Keyboard

Value 1
Name: ClassDesc
Type: REG_SZ
Data: @%SystemRoot%\System32\SysClass.Dll,-3002

Value 2
Name: <NO NAME>
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Keyboards

Value 3
Name: Installer32
Type: REG_SZ
Data: SysClass.Dll,KeyboardClassInstaller

Value 4
Name: IconPath
Type: REG_MULTI_SZ
Data: %SystemRoot%\System32\setupapi.dll,-3

Value 5
Name: UpperFilters
Type: REG_MULTI_SZ
Data: kbdclass

Value 6
Name: NoInstallClass
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 1


Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 02/03/2008 - 12:10 AM
Value 0
Name: InfPath
Type: REG_SZ
Data: keyboard.inf

Value 1
Name: InfSection
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID_Keyboard_Inst

Value 2
Name: InfSectionExt
Type: REG_SZ
Data: .NT

Value 3
Name: ProviderName
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Microsoft

Value 4
Name: DriverDateData
Type: REG_BINARY
Data:
00000000 00 80 8c a3 c5 94 c6 01 - ...£Å.Æ.

Value 5
Name: DriverDate
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6-21-2006

Value 6
Name: DriverVersion
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6.0.6001.18000

Value 7
Name: MatchingDeviceId
Type: REG_SZ
Data: hid_device_system_keyboard

Value 8
Name: DriverDesc
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID Keyboard Device


Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 02/03/2008 - 12:10 AM
Value 0
Name: InfPath
Type: REG_SZ
Data: keyboard.inf

Value 1
Name: InfSection
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID_Keyboard_Inst

Value 2
Name: InfSectionExt
Type: REG_SZ
Data: .NT

Value 3
Name: ProviderName
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Microsoft

Value 4
Name: DriverDateData
Type: REG_BINARY
Data:
00000000 00 80 8c a3 c5 94 c6 01 - ...£Å.Æ.

Value 5
Name: DriverDate
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6-21-2006

Value 6
Name: DriverVersion
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6.0.6001.18000

Value 7
Name: MatchingDeviceId
Type: REG_SZ
Data: hid_device_system_keyboard

Value 8
Name: DriverDesc
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID Keyboard Device


Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0002
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 02/03/2008 - 12:10 AM
Value 0
Name: InfPath
Type: REG_SZ
Data: keyboard.inf

Value 1
Name: InfSection
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID_Keyboard_Inst

Value 2
Name: InfSectionExt
Type: REG_SZ
Data: .NT

Value 3
Name: ProviderName
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Microsoft

Value 4
Name: DriverDateData
Type: REG_BINARY
Data:
00000000 00 80 8c a3 c5 94 c6 01 - ...£Å.Æ.

Value 5
Name: DriverDate
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6-21-2006

Value 6
Name: DriverVersion
Type: REG_SZ
Data: 6.0.6001.18000

Value 7
Name: MatchingDeviceId
Type: REG_SZ
Data: hid_device_system_keyboard

Value 8
Name: DriverDesc
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HID Keyboard Device




B-keyboard connected directly to USB port on computer, no PS2 connector

C-I added the NoWinKeys entry as suggested, will see what happens

Key Name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 04/03/2008 - 6:28 AM
Value 0
Name: NoActiveDesktop
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0x1

Value 1
Name: NoActiveDesktopChanges
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0x1

Value 2
Name: ForceActiveDesktopOn
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0

Value 3
Name: NoWinKeys
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0x1


Paul

 

[90bay]

Hi

I added the key suggested.
The effect is that
some Windows Key combinations do not work, e.g. E
some do, Windows key still functions as a start button, L still works as
does U (ease of access centre)
So far, I have had one incident of typing a key and getting the response
that I would expect if I had pressed it with the windows key, that was for
the U key.

Paul

 

[Chupacabra]

I have Vista 64 Ultimate installed.
Sometimes when I am typing, vista acts as though I have pressed the
windows
key along with the letter I typed and I get the result of that combination
(e.g. u gets the ease of access centre).

Are you running VMWare by any chance? This happens to me occasionally, but
only when running a VM under VMWare Workstation. Hitting the Windows key
twice seems to clear things up when it does happen.

 

[90bay]

No, have never installed vmare on this machine.I did install virtual pc on
this machine but it is not running-Vista is running directly. I checked
services and I didnt see any service running for it (the way virtual server
would have a service running).
Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Chupacabra]

No, have never installed vmare on this machine.I did install virtual pc on
this machine but it is not running-Vista is running directly. I checked
services and I didnt see any service running for it (the way virtual
server
would have a service running).
Thanks for the suggestion.

I run Vista as the host OS, but use VMWare to run XP, 2003 Server, etc.
It's when I run XP or 2003 inside of VMWare that I get the sticky Windows
key issue in the host OS, which is Vista. Often times after using Windows+L
to lock the workstation, then when I come back the Windows key can sometimes
behave "stuck" until I tap it a few times.

 

[David Shen [MSFT]]

Hello 90bay,

Thanks for your reply.

Based on this issue, I still think this is unexpected behavior of keyboard.
I'd like to recommend you boot the system into Safe mode and monitor if the
issue re-occurs.

To use Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On
a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems,
you can press the F8 key when the Boot Menu appears.

2. Select an option when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and
then press ENTER.

3. When the Boot menu appears again, and the words "Safe Mode" appear in
blue at the bottom, select the installation that you want to start, and
then press ENTER.

Hope it helps. Thanks.

David Shen
Microsoft Online Partner Support

 

[David Shen [MSFT]]

Hello 90bay,

How's everything going?

I'm wondering if the suggestion has helped or if you have any further
questions. Please feel free to respond to the newsgroups if I can assist
further.

David Shen
Microsoft Online Partner Support