Windows XP typing automatically

[Mike B]

I have a Toshiba Sattelite Laptop running windows XP home edition.

When I open explorer or office applications the cursor automatically runs as
if someone is holding down the space bar.

When you hit certain characters more than one will display, example if you
type the letter E a 3 will also appear next to it.

Any advice?

thanks Mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a Toshiba Sattelite Laptop running windows XP home edition.

When I open explorer or office applications the cursor automatically runs
as
if someone is holding down the space bar.

When you hit certain characters more than one will display, example if you
type the letter E a 3 will also appear next to it.

Any advice?

thanks Mike

Could be a faulty keyboard. Try an external keyboard.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I have a Toshiba Sattelite Laptop running windows XP home edition.

When I open explorer or office applications the cursor automatically runs
as
if someone is holding down the space bar.

When you hit certain characters more than one will display, example if you
type the letter E a 3 will also appear next to it.

Any advice?

thanks Mike

This has something to do with voice recognition or similar that is set up in
the keyboard options.. Go to Regional and Language settings in Control
Panel, and remove anything that isn't the basic keyboard language..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Pegasus (MVP) wrote...


I have a similar thing with a Dell Inspiron 1100. Occasionally when
typing, say
in Word or any editor for that matter, the cursor will suddenly move up or
down
and across left or right to a new position on the screen.

Also, the key with the '/" symbols appears to have swapped with the `/~
key.

ie. I press the key with the tilde symbol and one of the " or ' characters
are
typed.

The swapped keys I s'pose we could put down to a damaged keyboard or a
process
controller chip, damaged ribbon cable or whatever, but the cursor randomly
relocating itself on the screen???

The laptop is 5 years old now and has seen moderate use. It's also running
Windows XP Pro SP2.

Again a test with an external keyboard might tell you if your internal
keyboard randomly generates an arrow up/down key stroke.

A more likely explanation for the symbol swap is an incorrect keyboard map.
Have a look in the Control Panel / Keyboard. Too see a map of all keyboards,
go to http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/reference/keyboards.mspx. You must
use Internet Explorer to see the maps. I would run the following test:
1. Find a keyboard map that gives you symbols other than /~ on the problem
key.
2. Select it via the Control Panel.
3. Check with some other key if it has been selected.
4. Check the /~ key.
Does the swap condition persist?

 

[Elmo]

Pegasus (MVP) wrote...


I have gotten the laptop off my daughter.

I had a look at the keyboard mapping at the Microsoft website. The US
International and the normal US ones seem to be the same as what I'm using.

Anyway, in my other message I got the key swapping wrong.

If I press Shift 2 I get the " symbol. If I press Shift ' I get the @ symbol. If
I press the 2 key I get the 2 symbol. Same for the ' key which is next to the
Enter key.

I found the problem. It's got a UK keyboard map.

What twigged me to the problem was one of the keys displaying a pound (english
currency) symbol instead of the hash (#) symbol.


The settings are under "regional settings" not "Keyboard". I only have the
ability to change the hardware driver for the keyboard and to change the repeat
delay and related settings under the "Keyboard" option.

Thanks for your help on that particular problem, folks. It's appreciated.

I still haven't figured out why the cursor places itself at random spots on the
screen when typing in a document. I might have to dismantle the keyboard on the
laptop and give it a clean.

The touchpad vibrates as you type and places the cursor wherever the
contact is made on the touchpad membrane.

 

[Elmo]

Elmo wrote...


Hmm. That's one option. I shall test it and see if this does it.

And if so, is there any way to disable it (the keypad, that is)?

Look in the Control Panel to see if there's a touchpad control that
might let you disable it, or use the Device Manager to open Properties
for the touchpad, and under "Device Usage", change to "Do not use this
device (disable)".

 

[SoCalCommie]

Elmo wrote...


I had a look last night. I can't find any reference to the touch pad in
Device
Manager or in Control Panel.

I thought that there used to be a Dell utility that loaded which
controlled such
things. But for some reason it's not currently running or installed on the
machine.

Anyway, I played with it last night to see if I could reproduce the cursor
moving around the page. In fact, when it started doing it to me I was
typing a
message in Agent (as I'm doing now). The cursor suddenly jumped from the
text
editor field into the "From" field where my username and email address is
and I
was overtyping that before I realised that it had occured.

Now, the only way to get the cursor up there is to move the mouse pointer
to
that field and click in it.

So, maybe somehow the palm of my hand is resting on the pad as I type and
then
the button on the pad is pressed or something.

Whatever, it's been difficult to reproduce. I placed pressure on various
parts
of the laptop where my hands rest. But nothing, so far.

Reboot and go into BIOS settings. You can disable the touchpad there if you
don't wish to use it.

 

[alanglloyd]

Pegasus (MVP) wrote...

If I press Shift 2 I get the " symbol. If I press Shift ' I get the @ symbol. If
I press the 2 key I get the 2 symbol. Same for the ' key which is next tothe
Enter key.

I found the problem. It's got a UK keyboard map.

What twigged me to the problem was one of the keys displaying a pound (english
currency) symbol instead of the hash (#) symbol.

<snip>

After years of having 'color', 'center', 'appear momentarily', 'that'
instead of 'which', etc etc in the programs I use, you'll forgive me
if I have a ironic smile on my face. The UK strikes back, perhaps <g>.

Alan Lloyd