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CTRL/ALT/DEL and Windows Key no longer working at all...



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 20th 05, 07:19 AM
werewolf_359
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default CTRL/ALT/DEL and Windows Key no longer working at all...

Hello. Just today I noticed that anytime I try to use either the CTRL/ALT/DEL
key combo, nothing at all is working/happening. Normally the little window
that shows what programs are running should appear at that time, but not it
isn't. Just as well, it looks like the Windows key on the keyboard has also
stopped working, which I think is coincidental with the CTRL/ALT/DEL problem,
as I noticed neither working the first time I went to use them earlier today.

I'm not sure exactly how long ago this actually started, or what is causing
the problem. Last time I remember using them, (with them working properly at
the time, too) was approx. 1-2 weeks ago. I haven't knowingly made any
changes the system, settings, etc., nor have I added or removed any programs
during that time. Also, using System Restore to go back as far as July 1st (A
time I know for sure that the problem wasn't happening) had no effect
what-so-ever.

So far I can still use the rest of the computer and keyboard, etc. normally,
only those 2 things seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm not sure how to
correct this problem, as I've tried some searching thru here and other places
but haven't yet found anything specificly dealing with this. Is there anyone
here that would know what things I can do, (or try to) to correct this
problem? Thanks in advance.
  #2  
Old July 20th 05, 10:17 AM
Mike M
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

If your Windows key isn't working then it is quite possible that one or
other of the Ctrl or Alt keys or even both is not working and that what
you are seeing is the result of a failing keyboard. Rather than using
system restore to try and fix what could well be a mechanical or
electrical hardware problem I would suggest try to borrow another keyboard
from a friend and eliminating the actual hardware from the problem.
--
Mike Maltby



werewolf_359 wrote:

Hello. Just today I noticed that anytime I try to use either the
CTRL/ALT/DEL key combo, nothing at all is working/happening. Normally
the little window that shows what programs are running should appear
at that time, but not it isn't. Just as well, it looks like the
Windows key on the keyboard has also stopped working, which I think
is coincidental with the CTRL/ALT/DEL problem, as I noticed neither
working the first time I went to use them earlier today.

I'm not sure exactly how long ago this actually started, or what is
causing the problem. Last time I remember using them, (with them
working properly at the time, too) was approx. 1-2 weeks ago. I
haven't knowingly made any changes the system, settings, etc., nor
have I added or removed any programs during that time. Also, using
System Restore to go back as far as July 1st (A time I know for sure
that the problem wasn't happening) had no effect what-so-ever.

So far I can still use the rest of the computer and keyboard, etc.
normally, only those 2 things seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm
not sure how to correct this problem, as I've tried some searching
thru here and other places but haven't yet found anything specificly
dealing with this. Is there anyone here that would know what things I
can do, (or try to) to correct this problem? Thanks in advance.


  #3  
Old July 20th 05, 10:32 AM
Joan Archer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Have you tried with a different keyboard to see if the problem is with the
keys, they could be broken or perhaps dirt has got underneath and is
stopping them making contact.
Joan


werewolf_359 wrote:
Hello. Just today I noticed that anytime I try to use either the
CTRL/ALT/DEL key combo, nothing at all is working/happening. Normally
the little window that shows what programs are running should appear
at that time, but not it isn't. Just as well, it looks like the
Windows key on the keyboard has also stopped working, which I think
is coincidental with the CTRL/ALT/DEL problem, as I noticed neither
working the first time I went to use them earlier today.

I'm not sure exactly how long ago this actually started, or what is
causing the problem. Last time I remember using them, (with them
working properly at the time, too) was approx. 1-2 weeks ago. I
haven't knowingly made any changes the system, settings, etc., nor
have I added or removed any programs during that time. Also, using
System Restore to go back as far as July 1st (A time I know for sure
that the problem wasn't happening) had no effect what-so-ever.

So far I can still use the rest of the computer and keyboard, etc.
normally, only those 2 things seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm
not sure how to correct this problem, as I've tried some searching
thru here and other places but haven't yet found anything specificly
dealing with this. Is there anyone here that would know what things I
can do, (or try to) to correct this problem? Thanks in advance.



  #4  
Old July 20th 05, 12:27 PM
Joan Archer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Morning Mike, you must have been doing your post while I was composing
mine and you got there before me g
Hope you're OK and the weather is being a bit kinder to you.
Joan

Mike M wrote:
If your Windows key isn't working then it is quite possible that one
or other of the Ctrl or Alt keys or even both is not working and that
what you are seeing is the result of a failing keyboard. Rather than
using system restore to try and fix what could well be a mechanical or
electrical hardware problem I would suggest try to borrow another
keyboard from a friend and eliminating the actual hardware from the
problem.



  #5  
Old July 20th 05, 12:42 PM
Mike M
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Joan Archer wrote:

Morning Mike, you must have been doing your post while I was composing
mine and you got there before me g


So it would appear. g

Hope you're OK and the weather is being a bit kinder to you.


Not too bad thanks. I hope you're all keeping well and out of too much
mischief,

Mike

  #6  
Old July 21st 05, 06:47 PM
\(yet another\) Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

There's some malware out there that disables the process viewer so that it
can't be shutdown (easily).

Steve

"Joan Archer" wrote in message
...
Have you tried with a different keyboard to see if the problem is with the
keys, they could be broken or perhaps dirt has got underneath and is
stopping them making contact.
Joan


werewolf_359 wrote:
Hello. Just today I noticed that anytime I try to use either the
CTRL/ALT/DEL key combo, nothing at all is working/happening. Normally
the little window that shows what programs are running should appear
at that time, but not it isn't. Just as well, it looks like the
Windows key on the keyboard has also stopped working, which I think
is coincidental with the CTRL/ALT/DEL problem, as I noticed neither
working the first time I went to use them earlier today.

I'm not sure exactly how long ago this actually started, or what is
causing the problem. Last time I remember using them, (with them
working properly at the time, too) was approx. 1-2 weeks ago. I
haven't knowingly made any changes the system, settings, etc., nor
have I added or removed any programs during that time. Also, using
System Restore to go back as far as July 1st (A time I know for sure
that the problem wasn't happening) had no effect what-so-ever.

So far I can still use the rest of the computer and keyboard, etc.
normally, only those 2 things seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm
not sure how to correct this problem, as I've tried some searching
thru here and other places but haven't yet found anything specificly
dealing with this. Is there anyone here that would know what things I
can do, (or try to) to correct this problem? Thanks in advance.





  #7  
Old July 23rd 05, 08:26 PM
werewolf_359
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thanks, everyone, for all help and suggestions. This site was for some reason
unavailable for a couple days after posting this, so I had been working on
trying to fix the problem in the meantime. Eventually, I'm glad to say, I did
finally manage to get the problem fixed, and now the problem keys m,ention
have been working fine once again .

Initially I thought maybe it possibly WAS something virus or spyware related
, so I tried a bunch of anti-spy and virus tools I have (Adaware, Spybot,
AVG, Etc.), as well as some web-searching on the subject, however only minor
typical things were found (and subsequently removed), none of which was
causing the problem.

So then, thinking maybe the problem was with the keyboard or it's related
entries on the PC, I disconnected it and removed it's designation in the
Device Manager, Rebooted once without the keyboard plugged in, then rebooted
again with it plugged in normally. Gladly, this seems to have fixed the
problem. Not sure "exactly" what it was, though causing it. I had checked
it's plug-in connection initially and it seemed fine. Only other thing I can
think of is either it's registry entry had gotten somehow corrupted. Whatever
it was, at least it seems to OK for a while now again, at least. Thanks again.
"werewolf_359" wrote:

Hello. Just today I noticed that anytime I try to use either the CTRL/ALT/DEL
key combo, nothing at all is working/happening. Normally the little window
that shows what programs are running should appear at that time, but not it
isn't. Just as well, it looks like the Windows key on the keyboard has also
stopped working, which I think is coincidental with the CTRL/ALT/DEL problem,
as I noticed neither working the first time I went to use them earlier today.

I'm not sure exactly how long ago this actually started, or what is causing
the problem. Last time I remember using them, (with them working properly at
the time, too) was approx. 1-2 weeks ago. I haven't knowingly made any
changes the system, settings, etc., nor have I added or removed any programs
during that time. Also, using System Restore to go back as far as July 1st (A
time I know for sure that the problem wasn't happening) had no effect
what-so-ever.

So far I can still use the rest of the computer and keyboard, etc. normally,
only those 2 things seem to be a problem at the moment. I'm not sure how to
correct this problem, as I've tried some searching thru here and other places
but haven't yet found anything specificly dealing with this. Is there anyone
here that would know what things I can do, (or try to) to correct this
problem? Thanks in advance.

 




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