weird happenings with keyboard

[Richard]

Hi,

I have a PS/2 keyboard hooked upto a (composite) PS/2 (one for keyboard, one
for mouse) to USB adaptor which is then plugged into my laptop (as it
doesn't have a PS/2). For ages I have had a combination of the following
issues:

* whilst typing, caps lock light goes on or off but doesn't affect the
casing, except it is the reverse (so CAPS is on but when I press 'a' I get
'a' not 'A')
* random characters get misseddddddddddddddd out
* letters 'stick' and repeat, as above
* it affects the mouse, so if i click the mouse pointer inside some text, it
highlights a chunk of text
* ctrl-alt-del even stops working for a while, and i have do strange
combinations of keys to get it working again
* if i am in msn messenger and sending messages, the enter key doesnt send
the message, nor does clicking the 'send' button, but it simply goes to a
new line in my message

The keyboard was old so I figured that was the cause. I have just bought a
Microsoft Natural Multimedia keyboard, but I am still the same problems.

Could the above issue be related to a driver, or the composite USB dongle I
am using, or the laptop/usb socket?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Richard

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I have a PS/2 keyboard hooked upto a (composite) PS/2 (one for
keyboard, one for mouse) to USB adaptor which is then plugged into my
laptop (as it doesn't have a PS/2). For ages I have had a combination
of the following issues:

* whilst typing, caps lock light goes on or off but doesn't affect the
casing, except it is the reverse (so CAPS is on but when I press 'a' I
get 'a' not 'A')
* random characters get misseddddddddddddddd out
* letters 'stick' and repeat, as above
* it affects the mouse, so if i click the mouse pointer inside some
text, it highlights a chunk of text
* ctrl-alt-del even stops working for a while, and i have do strange
combinations of keys to get it working again
* if i am in msn messenger and sending messages, the enter key doesnt
send the message, nor does clicking the 'send' button, but it simply
goes to a new line in my message

The keyboard was old so I figured that was the cause. I have just
bought a Microsoft Natural Multimedia keyboard, but I am still the
same problems.

Could the above issue be related to a driver, or the composite USB
dongle I am using, or the laptop/usb socket?

Yes, of course. To troubleshoot, make one change and test after each.

1. See if there are updated drivers for your motherboard from the laptop
mftr.

2. Change out the composite USB dongle for a known-working one.

3. See if things work well when you just connect a single usb
keyboard/mouse device. You might want to try a usb hub if you only have
one usb port.

4. If nothing works in that usb socket, you know it is the laptop's
motherboard.

I'm going to guess it is the composite usb "dongle"; you have to do the
logical troubleshooting to find out though.

Malke