Windows consumes ctl-spacebar?

[Bill Cohagan]

I've got an emacs like editor (Epsilon) that uses the ctl-spacebar chord for
one of its commands (set-mark); however this key combination seems to have
stopped working on my laptop. I've verified it's not the physical keyboard
by trying an external keyboard -- and the combination still doesn't work.

I've also downloaded and run a keyboard diagnostic (Passmark's "Keyboard
Test") which runs within Windows. It reacts to other key combinations
(ctl-alt, ctl-z, etc.) and confirms that the combination is being seen.
However with ctl-spacebar it registers only the ctl key.

Finally, I'm running some apps on a remote machine using Remote Desktop.
When I open the remote machine's window fullscreen then ctl-spacebar *does*
work on the remote machine's Epsilon. If I reduce the RD to a window on my
laptop however the ctl-spacebar does *not* work on the remote Epsilon.

So, based on all of these experiments I conclude that Windows (Windows XP
SP2) is somehow swallowing that key combination.

I've looked at the keyboard driver in hardware manager and don't see
anything suspicious. I do have an additional keyboard driver installed for
"Microsoft Keyboard Elite for Bluetooth", but the problem is there whether
I'm using the laptop's keyboard or the external Microsoft keyboard. (I have
to insert a Bluetooth USB "thumb" in order to use the external
keyboard/mouse and the ctl-spacebar problem persists with or without that
USB device inserted.)

So, how might I troubleshoot this problem? All suggestions will be
appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Bill

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

No, windows does not by default consume ctrl-spacebar:
start/run, type:
HH mkMSITStore:%windir%\Help\keyshort.chm::/keys_general.htm

Remote Desktop does have a way to redirect keystrokes
(quote from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300698/ )
You can redirect Windows key combinations, such as, ALT+TAB and CTRL+ESC, if
you select the appropriate setting. This feature can be configured on the
Local Resources tab on the Remote Desktop client.

 

[Bill Cohagan]

Mark
Thanks for the response. My point regarding Remote Deskop is that it
ctl-spacebar DOES work as expected; i.e., the application reacts to that
combination as I expect it to.

I tried the help file you pointed me too and, like you, don't see that it
defines any function for ctrl-spacebar. Any idea how I might further
troubleshoot this? SOMEBODY is consuming that key combination and it's not
the hardware; otherwise the Remote Desktop case wouldn't work.

Bill