keyboard woes

vfaulkner · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 10:10 AM

help1 my shift keys have been hijacked. i can't do any special characters or upper-case unless i use caps-lock on.
everything was fine last night and earlier this morning, but now that i have a paper to write...

nothing spilled and all connections good.

any ideas on how to fix//

[ i will be using insert...symbol for time being ]

thanks

ps- ctrl keys don't work, either....

Sualdam · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 04:52 PM

What kind of keyboard do you have?

Is it a fancy one (with special drivers) or just a plain old standard one?

The first thing I'd do (having one of the former types) is reinstall the drivers to see if that helped.

Second, try another keyboard if you can - might just be a mechanical/electrical problem in the keyboard itself.

(Actually, if you have a normal keyboard, maybe switch those around and try a new keyboard first :))

redcircle · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2003, 05:44 PM

reboot computer. go into safe mode. if it works fine in safemode it's a driver issue... Try unplugging the keyboard and plug it back in. Is is a usb keyboard?

vfaulkner · #4 (**permalink**) 12-13-2003, 12:50 AM

its a standard, parellel port, qwerty variety. no special drivers.

rebooting did not help. will be going to walmart in the morning as this is probably the only accessory piece that i don't have a spare laying around...

matauri · #5 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 01:06 AM

I have found that keyboards have a very short life anyway, maybe 3-4 yrs if you have a good one. The cheaper ones even shorter.

If its just one or a few keys, reinstalling drivers even if you had them, wouldnt be likely to do any difference (if a driver failed it would affect more than one key). You could always spend approx $5 on can of compressed air for cleaning keyboards, but probably your best bet is buying a new keyboard.

Unless you want all the cutesey functions of the more expensive keyboards, I would better spend the money on 2 generic ones so you always have a spare for occassions such as this.

Computers....money guzzlers !! ;-)

Cindy

vfaulkner · #6 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 09:21 PM

Thanks to you all!
I don't know what the problem was but a new keyboard fixed it!!
:-)

redcircle · #7 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matauri

I have found that keyboards have a very short life anyway, maybe 3-4 yrs if you have a good one. The cheaper ones even shorter.

Jeeze.. what kind of keyboards do you use? Are they made out of titanium? I think the longest I've had any keyboard last is 1.5 years.

Hopefully my new cordless one will last a little longer.

Sualdam · #8 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 03:41 AM

It won't! :)

I bought an Intellitype natural keyboard about 1.5 to 2 years ago and the keys are beginning to stick and 'miss' when I'm typing.

matauri · #9 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recircle

Jeeze.. what kind of keyboards do you use? Are they made out of titanium? I think the longest I've had any keyboard last is 1.5 years.

Yup..I usually get about 3-4 yrs out of my keyboards (Microsoft), and mine gets a fair bit of punishment too! The keyboard I am on now is over 3 years old, and only now am I thinking of getting a new one, but not because it is causing any dramas (just coz I want a new one!). We also have a Compaq one which is about 5yrs old & still working fine too, and the other Microsoft keyboards in the house are all over 3yrs old too.

I'm afraid I am a creature of habit, as long as I know where all the keys are in the dark & it lasts a long time, I will keep buying same brand.

And by the sounds of it...whatever keyboards you guys are buying wouldnt be ones I would buy if they only lasted 18months! :-)

Cindy

redcircle · #10 (**permalink**) 12-16-2003, 06:23 PM

I only buy logitech I try little to support anything related to M$. Especially on their hardware. Some company overseas makes the keyboard. M$ slaps their name on it and mark it up 50%. I have 3 logitech and haven't had a problem with em. One of them is like 4 years old but I haven't used it in 2 years.

Sualdam · #11 (**permalink**) 12-16-2003, 06:28 PM

redcircle, pleeeeeease.

Logitech marks up its stuff. It sure as hell doesn't sell it at cost price.

What on earth prompted a jibe at Microsoft (or two, if you include the brilliantly witty use of 'M$' that I've NEVER seen before - yawn!).

I'll do a deal, OK. You edit your post and I'll delete this one.

That way, future generations using WebProWorld won't see either of us as a pair of dolts ;)

matauri · #12 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 12:31 AM

Redcircle, I dunnoooo... you can not support microsoft all ya like, but when it boils down to it... If it works & it lasts, its GOOD. If I bought a crappy no name keyboard or hardware made by a 10yr old kid...if it worked well & lasted, its worth a million of the competition that doesnt.

If I can use 6 microsfot keyboards over my lifetime with an average span of 3-4yrs each one with hard punishment, they cant be THAT bad. You don't bite off your nose to spite your face ;-)

Sualdam, bickering testosterone filled males over microsoft... that dolt department already exists ! ...pro or no pro ;-)

Cindy

Sualdam · #13 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 05:09 PM

I know, Cindy.

You try and keep the 'Pro' in 'WebProWorld' and you get Microsoft jibes.

That reminds me. I don't like Gruyere. So I blame... Gruyere. That's why keyboards break.