WTF technical problem with cursor

[Bean]

Woke up this morning and now my comp's acting funny. I've deduced the problem to be the keyboard. Here's the details:

Have Windows XP, Using USB keyboard, USB mouse

Basic Problem:
When I click on Start and move the cursor over the menu, it starts highlighting things on its own very quickly. When I click to exit a program and it pops up with "are you sure" with yes no cancel options, it highlights each one very quickly over and over.

What I've tried:
unplugging stuff/replugging stuff. removing support software for mouse. Anything I can think of.

The reason why I believe it's the keyboard is because when I unplug the keyboard it stops. I don't have another keyboard to try to be sure. Anyone have a solution or have had a similar problem or do I have a messed up keyboard or something else?

Thanks in advance.

[DW_KarmaKat]

Woke up this morning and now my comp's acting funny. I've deduced the problem to be the keyboard. Here's the details:

Have Windows XP, Using USB keyboard, USB mouse

Basic Problem:
When I click on Start and move the cursor over the menu, it starts highlighting things on its own very quickly. When I click to exit a program and it pops up with "are you sure" with yes no cancel options, it highlights each one very quickly over and over.

What I've tried:
unplugging stuff/replugging stuff. removing support software for mouse. Anything I can think of.



The reason why I believe it's the keyboard is because when I unplug the keyboard it stops. I don't have another keyboard to try to be sure. Anyone have a solution or have had a similar problem or do I have a messed up keyboard or something else?

Thanks in advance.

Well....if it is the keyboard...it may be a stuck key. Or there's some foreign bit of whatever lurking under your keys. Are you prone to snacking while at comp? Pet hair, maybe?? If you've got some canned air or a compressor, give it a clean up and see if it helps.

Also...I presume that since both devices are USB that you've checked to make sure there aren't any IRQ conflicts?

KKat

[Bean]

Tried both of those :).

[KarnEvil9]

Any luck yet?

[DW_Hornet]

Step 1. Toss out window.
Step 2. Order new parts from newegg or any other quality e-tailer.
Step 3. Enjoy your new flawless hardware.
Step 4. Send hornet payment for his tech support.

I accept paypal, checks, credit cards, cash. Any form of payment is acceptable except monopoly money.

[Bean]

Any luck yet?

Nope. I'll be able to test another keyboard tomorrow to see if that solves the problem.

Send hornet payment for his tech support.

Hardy har har. Guess I'll give you some Life money for that wonderful support. I also live in a basement so throwing it out the window wouldn't do anything. It'd be more like pushing it out the window.

Odd thing is, the comp (including all parts) is not even a year old. Also, once in a while everything returns back to normal... but only for a minute or so. Was hoping to have some other wonderful insight.

[DW_Snaggle]

Hey Bean.

From what you are describing either the Tab key or one of the left or right arrow keys are stuck or failed closed. If you have any sort of mapping driver for the kbd that may also have started giving strange responses.

Even though you believe it's the kbd, it could also be a bad mapping in any sort of mouse driver.

Is the kbd PS/2 or USB? If USB, have you tried changing the port you are plugged into.
Similarly with the mouse.

Also, not sure if this will tell you anything, but when you see the focus moving, try pressing the Alt key. If it is a Tab being injected somehow you *should* see a the application chooser flash onto the screen....Maybe.

HTH

Snaggle.

[DW_e_aLpHa]

- I say here, lady KK has a good answer there , from the nature of a keyboard , that has keys wich are for pushing them and a bit of past xperience , your Keyboard has 1 outa 3 things -

1- What KK said ( easy to do )
2- Internal failure in your keyboard's chipset ( mostly imposible to fix )
3- Bad or broken contact on the USB cable, most rather keyboard end ( hard to fix but doable)

Best thing for you to do is get another one , since im afraid that to fix this you will need electronic knowledge and willing to open and void any waranties on your keys board , ( If so , The least you can do in this case is get a scredriver , open it and give a good clean , mostly around the movement keys area, ( and I mean the UT ones ) but under the plastic lining and right on the metal contacts for the keys )

[Bean]

what you are describing either the Tab key or one of the left or right arrow keys are stuck or failed closed. If you have any sort of mapping driver for the kbd that may also have started giving strange responses.

I notice that when it starts behaving strangely, I'm unable to press the right arrow key. This is odd since I don't use my arrow keys much at all. I'm not certain what you mean by failed closed either, but I have made sure that it's clean, blah blah blah. Both mouse and keyboard are USB and I've tried using different ports.

Even though you believe it's the kbd, it could also be a bad mapping in any sort of mouse driver.

My question to this is why after so many months would it start behaving strangely when I haven't made any changes to the system.

your Keyboard has 1 outa 3 things -

I wish there was more than 3, but I'm afraid that maybe it's number two...

Thanks for everyone's insight except Hornet. :clown:

Update: It hasn't done it for the last hour and I've changed nothing.... hmmmm

[DW_Snaggle]

Sounds like it's a 'stuck key' problem either with your right arrow or the 6 key (if you have NumLock turned off).

Now, the key doesn't have to be 'stuck' down for this to happen. When I said 'failed closed' it means that there is something causing the membrane area for the specified key to remain in contact even after the key itself returns to its normal position. This could be due to contamination or failure of the mechanism that keeps them separated when the key isn't pressed.

Older keyboards used springs. Newer ones use formed plastic sheets. You would be surprised how little there is inside a keyboard these days.

If it has 'fixed' itself, then it may have been something that lodged under/over the sheets causing the continued contact. Or it could've been a little bit of liquid that evaporated.

The one cause that I've skirted (but E has mentioned) is hardware failure. You may have an intermittent short. Or (and this is exceedingly unlikely) a bad keyboard processor.

The fact that it seems to have fixed itself is indicating a contamination issue that has gone away. Either due to time (evaporation) or you shaking something loose in the kbd while trying to see what the problem is.

Hope it stays 'fixed'. :cheers:

Snaggle.