3-sec delay kb to document

[Braveheart]

MS Office Word 2003, Win XP SP3
I have one user who is having a 3-second delay between typing and text
appearing in the document. Quite aggravating. We have scanned for virus,
keylogger, and spyware, and found nothing. Does anyone have any other
suggestions? Is there a Word 2003 repair function? Thank you,

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Is the problem happening only in Word?

If the problem isn't just in Word, is a wireless keyboard being used? Often,
cell phones and other electronic devices can interfere and cause delays.

If the problem is just in Word, what happens if you start Word in safe mode
(hold down the Ctrl key while starting Word, and click Yes to starting in
safe mode)?

If starting in safe mode eliminates the delay, the next place I would check
would be to see if there are any add-ins that might be running interference.
A corrupted Data key in the registry or a corrupted normal.dot can cause a
variety of problems (that go away when starting in safe mode), but I've
never seen either of those cause this particular problem.

The other thing that can cause delays (but not just in Word) is when there
isn't enough space for the virtual memory file that Windows creates, so you
end up with thrashing and hashing as Windows tries to shuffle things around.

 

[Braveheart]

Thanks, Herb.
Yes, it is only in Word that this happens. There are no wireless devices on
that machine. If I start a new document in safe mode it does not occur.
Existing documents opened in safe mode have the delay/lag, whether opened
from the locql or network drive. I don't see any add-ins running. The virtual
memory seems fine - it shows as one block on the disk map. I'm scratching my
head as to why it would occur in existing documents, but not in a new
document1.doc created with the normal.dot template.
-BH

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

So... operating in safe mode... if you create a new document based on
Normal.dot, it's fine. But, if you close it, and then reopen it, it now
exhibits the problem? (Still in safe mode)

Or... is it only older documents that exhibit the problem?

What happens if you close Word, rename Normal.dot, and then try (not in safe
mode) to open an existing document? Does the problem persist?

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Braveheart]

Herb, thanks again.
In normal mode, I renamed normal.dot, created a new file and it was fine. I
saved it to the local hard disk and it was fine with typing a few words.
Once I tried to typing sentences, fine, but when I just started typing
randomly I experienced the issue again.

For sh*ts and giggles, I tried renaming normal.dot again and opening an old
file. Again, experienced the lag. If I open any of these files on another
machine, they are fine. I noticed that the spellcheck was running in teh
tray while the delay was experienced. I wondered if the spellcheck be slowing
it down, so I disabled it, but it still showed as running in the tray.

I also tried switching out the keyboard, since it is a replacement with
bells and whistles, but a spare generic kb still experienced the problem.

If you have any other suggestions, I would appreciate your thoughts.
-BH

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

My next suggestion would be to try creating a new Windows user profile--Word
will automatically create a new Normal.dot for the new users, as well as a
brand new battery of other settings (including registry). If the new user
you create doesn't exhibit the problem, then my guess would be that the
issue is a settings corruption in the profile you're currently using (I've
never successfully fixed such an issue... the only work-around I've found is
to create a new user profile and switch to using it).

If a new user profile does not fix the problem, then there might be a
damaged file. There is an Office 2003 repair function... I believe you can
get there through the Control Panel (probably in Programs and Settings or
Programs and Features, depending on which version of Windows you're using...
I've forgotten exactly what it's called). When you click on Office 2003, one
of the options should be Repair, or you might need to click Change first.
There might also be access to repair in the Help or Help About menu... I
haven't run Word 2003 in quite a long time, though, so I don't remember what
it's called or exactly where it is.

I’m still wondering, however, if there might be an add-in or a trojan you're
not aware of... something that's monitoring keystrokes & running
interference.


--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Braveheart]

Thanks for your assistance, Herb. I'll have to try what you suggested, and
look for a trojan or keylogger. It did not show up with the normal battery
of scans. Other than trying the repair, I am out of ideas.
BH