Word 2000 - It thinks my Left Alt key is down when it isn't.

[Phil]

Please help me diagnose this problem...


I just upgraded from Windows 95 to Windows 2000, in the process going
from Microsoft Office 2000 SP-1 to Microsoft Office 2000 SP-3.

Now, after I do certain things in Word 2000 (pasting using Alt-E-P,
inserting a table, etc.), Word sometimes thinks my Alt key is still
down. I can't type anything in this locked state, because with the
Alt key supposedly down, I end up either inputting commands I don't
want to, or selecting text when I didn't want to.

I've discovered that only pressing the *Right Alt* key releases this
lock, and allows me to continue normally. (Switching to another
application and then back might also do it.)

This Alt locking thing happens about 50% of the time. The same exact
action doesn't always cause this problem when repeated. There is
apparently no "algorithm" to Office 2000, in the sense of a computer
program following a predefined list of steps to reach a reproducible
result.


Meanwhile, in Excel 2000, I selected a column of data and went
Alt-Edit-Find (Alt-E-F). The "Find" dialog box came up, and the
cursor was blinking inside the "Find what" textbox, but the keyboard
was locked and I couldn't type anything. Couldn't do anything except
close the find box. I pointed around and tried Replace and closed
that, and a few minutes later I tried "Alt-Edit-Find" again, and it
worked fine.

Please tell me what you think may be causing these problems. I
appreciate your help very much.

Thank you,
-Phil

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Phil wrote:

If this is happening throughout all applications (including those outside
Office) then you probably have a defective keyboard.

--
Mike Williams - Office MVP http://www.mvps.org/faq/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup - not by email!
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If something doesn't make sense, it could be worse e.g.
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[Phil]

If this is happening throughout all applications (including those outside

Office) then you probably have a defective keyboard.

It's not the keyboard! I am using a different keyboard now; same
problem.

Are there any settings in Windows 2000 (as opposed to in an Office
app) that could cause this problem/conflict/error? Could something in
Control Panel | Keyboards help me?

Thanks,
-Phil