"Sticky" Alt key

[ArcticWolf]

I have an issue with my PC, now I'm not sure if it's a h\w or s\w problem so
I apologise in advance if this question is in the wrong section. I'm running
XP home, IE7 (problem was with IE6 as well), and Office2003.

My keyboard permanently acts as if the Alt key is pressed down. For
example, I cannot double-click an icon on the desktop because it just gives
me the properties box. When ever I'm in an Office application (word) I
cannot type anything, as when ever I do, it pulls down the menu from the top.
If I press 'F' then 'O' it will bring down the File menu and the Open File
box. It's as if the Alt key is permanently pressed. I've check all the
'sticky keys' options and it's nothing to do with that.

I tried uninstalling my keyboard via Device Manager and that seemed to fix
the problem for about 5 minutes after reboot, but the problem still persists.
I also have a supervisor password set pre boot-up and the only way in which
I can get to type anything in, is to rapidly press F8 whilst the system is
starting.

My PC is pretty much disabled as I cannot do anything with it so any advice
and/or suggestions for a fix would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

AW

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

It is a hardware problem.. either take apart and clean it or get a new
keyboard..

 

[ArcticWolf]

Thanks for the swift reply Mike. I feared that was going to be the answer
and as it's a laptop which has just (un)conveniently expired it’s manu's
warranty I guess it’s gonna cost me! Oh well...

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

But first you'll turn it upside down and use a can of compressed air on the
keyboard right?



| Thanks for the swift reply Mike. I feared that was going to be the answer
| and as it's a laptop which has just (un)conveniently expired it's manu's
| warranty I guess it's gonna cost me! Oh well...
|
| "Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User" wrote:
|
| > It is a hardware problem.. either take apart and clean it or get a new
| > keyboard..
|

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

Compressed air on a laptop keyboard?.. would take hours to find the
keytops..

 

[ArcticWolf]

I don't think I made myself clear. It is not a problem with the actual
physical key itself. They actual key on the keyboard is fine...there is no
unwanted material obstructing it. I can press the key fully down and it
retracts no problem. I wouldn't waste your time with a keyboard cleaning
query. I've used this laptop for 2+ years and have never experienced this
sort of problem before with it (infact never with any PC/laptop/server...) I
am also a IT professional with 10+ years computing experience and know when a
keyboard needs to be cleaned.

The issue I have is that although the key is working fine, my applications
when opened are in (what seems to be) "alt" mode where by all applications
'act' as if the Alt key is permantly 'pressed down'. Open a word doc and try
typing in the word "force" with the Alt key pressed and your result is what
happens to me EXCEPT I do not have the Alt key depressed.
When you hover your mouse over 'file' on the menu bar it highlights it in a
blue box, it also does the same when you press the Alt key. So, when I open
a word doc it does this constantly, it flickers 10-20 times a second...as if
the alt key is being pressed rapidly - it's almost like 'rapid' fire on a
joypad - except the rapid fire is for my alt key.

Is this still a keyboard failure even though I can still open files just by
pressing F then O (as in force) when I first open up word??

Many thanks for your patients.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

You definitely require a visit to your local friendly laptop service
center..

 

[l8ralligator]

I think it may have something to do with installing IE7. I've got a
similar problem on my dell laptop since IE7 has been installed. In
fact, IE7 seems to be the only app that the problem shows up in.

It is almost like sticky keys is enabled or something similar, but I've
disabled sticky keys completely. And yet, IE7 seem to react as if the
ALT key is being "tapped". If I manually press either "ALT" key, it
stops for a while... until I happen to press ALT again, or open a new
tab, or use certain options in the "tools" menu. Very strange indeed.

I've even tried plugging in an external keyboard and had the same
results.

Once I've got the imaginary "tapping" of the ALT key to stop, if I
press "alt" (to enable the menubar), I cannot click ANYTHING except a
menu item on the menu bar. I cannot click the address bar, the search
bar, another tab, or even a link on the current page. Pressing ALT
again gives me control of the mouse and keyboard again.

As far as I can tell, it all seems to be related to IE7. I'm going to
install it on my desktop tomorrow and see if I can reproduce the
problem to confirm it.

 

[ArcticWolf]

IE7 - I never thought of that. I downloaded the 'beta' version and have
installed the latest windows update but still get the problem. I will try
uninstalling IE7 tonight and see if that resolves the issue. As a side note
this issue didn't start immediatley after the IE7 install, but has happened
since the d/l and it never happened before.

Thanks for the heads up, your suggestion is somewhat better than the MVP who
suggested I clean my keyboard...if everything was so simple eh!!

If you can let us know how you get on with your desktop that would be
appreciated.

Regards,

AW

 

[GrahamL]

I've had exactly the same problem you describe and it is certainly not a
dirty keyboard problem - in my experience it ONLY happens when using Office
applications. Not sure whether it started happening immediatelly after I
installed IE7, but I certainly have it installed and it's making Word etc
very hard to use - particularly Word. I suspect because I use the Alt key
more often than with Word than with other Office aplications. Might be
triggered by using/touching (accidentally or otherwise) the Alt key but I'm
not sure. Did uninstalling IE7 improve matters?

Cheers

GrahamL

 

[GrahamL]

Thanks for the feedback, albeit rather dispiriting! After my last post I did
uninstall IE7 and while that hasn't solved the problem completely, I do think
it''s not as frequent. Trouble is, I can't really be sure what triggers it.

Cheers

Graham L