keyboard's shift keys problem

about 15 minutes ago i was writing a post on another site and about 3 sentences in i went to make a capital i [by striking shift plus i] and it wouldnt work. moments before that i had used the shift key without a problem. i hit the shift key on its own and the help menu popped up for internet explorer. i repeated this several times and the same thing happened. i hit the other shift key to see if it worked and it gives me this;

EIS
{<ES{<ES{ES{<ES{ESES{ES{<ES{<ES{ES
{<SS

in that jumbled above i hit the right shift key 11 times. no enters or spaces were used. i restarted my computer several times and also switched the usb port it is plugged into but no luck. on the desktop, the left shift key acts as a right-click, bringing up the menu. right shift key does nothing.

i have to write a biology report tomorrow so any quick assistance would be greatly appreciated.

i have a compaq usb keyboard model sdm4540ul

thanks in advance.

ryan

Do you have an old PS2 keyboard to swap out with.
Just to prove the USB board good or bad .................

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Originally posted here by foxyloxley
Do you have an old PS2 keyboard to swap out with.
Just to prove the USB board good or bad .................

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im using the usb because i broke my other ps2 one, so no

edit

i was playing poker online and i was typing and i realized that if i hit the shift key and a letter several times, the right click window will pop up [because tehre is no help popup] and i can sometimes get a capital letter. this means that the functionality is stil there, it jsut doesnt work properaly

It is possable that one of the other keys are "Locked".. turn the keyboard upside-down and hit it Face down on the desk a few times.. this will clear out the dust bunnies, stationary tailings and forgotten meals..
if it is a locked key.. it should return to normal use for a little while.. give it a go..

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Originally posted here by Und3ertak3r
It is possable that one of the other keys are "Locked".. turn the keyboard upside-down and hit it Face down on the desk a few times.. this will clear out the dust bunnies, stationary tailings and forgotten meals..
if it is a locked key.. it should return to normal use for a little while.. give it a go..

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i am now able to type very well on the poker [i can hit shift and make capitals with no problem, etc.] but when typing here it still brings up the help menu

ES
{<

seems the right one didnt change it at all.

but it works better by a fair margin in the left side.

edit. problems are still around in the online poker area though

Does it by chance beep when you press the shift key?

You might have "sticky keys" turned on?

Press the shift key 5 times (without pressing any keys between) and it should pop up the sticky keys menu.

Though, the symptoms don't sound like it....

Just a random thought...

You can also uninstall the keyboard and reinstall it.

Right click over my computer and click on manage, then go to device manager, right click over your keyboard and uninstall it. Then reboot. (or you can scan for hardware changes to reinstall it without rebooting... but a reboot normally works better.)

Maybe the keyboard mapping got messed up?

i am hesitant to remove and reinstall the keyboard because i dont have the install disk and i remember it being a pain in the ass to do before. it has functioned properly for several months and this is the first time ive had a problem with it. as i said, both keys started to screw up in the middle of me typing [at the same time mind you] so i doubt it would be anything to do with drivers/installation.

Then can't you download the drivers before you uninstall it?

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Originally posted here by phishphreek80
Then can't you download the drivers before you uninstall it?

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no

Have you tried the keyboard on another computer?

What about a different operating system?
Like booting with a live linux distro (knoppix etc.) and seeing if you have the same problems.

If it works on a different os... or computer than the problem is most likely going to be software.

Phish~

Good thinking there...................also what happens if he boots into safe mode?

:)

ummm,

Interesting, he hasn't replied since 12:04am??? Pepsi and ritz crackers seems to always be the temporary death of my keyboards (the soda makes them stick and the ritz pieces won't let them push down). Gotta lurn how to use my lips I guess :)

Got three keyboards in the closet just waiting for the next go around. Plug a new one in and take the other one apart. If I'm quick enuf the Pepsi will still be good :D

~cheers~

There really isn't much you can do with keyboards and mice, you can try cleaning them, but if that doesn't help it's really best to just buy a new one, they're real cheap... Trust me, it's not worth yours or our time and effort trying to come up with a solution... unless it's some weird software problem...

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Originally posted here by Relyt
ummm,

Interesting, he hasn't replied since 12:04am??? Pepsi and ritz crackers seems to always be the temporary death of my keyboards (the soda makes them stick and the ritz pieces won't let them push down). Gotta lurn how to use my lips I guess :)

Got three keyboards in the closet just waiting for the next go around. Plug a new one in and take the other one apart. If I'm quick enuf the Pepsi will still be good :D

~cheers~

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I woke up this morning and it was working perfectly. I suspect it had something to do with what you said though, about the crums, etc.

It is just a shame that the solution, atleast the suspected solution, was so rudimentary and I didn't really get to apply any of the brainstorming you guys did. Well, other than the keyboard desk smashing. :rolleyes:

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other than the keyboard desk smashing.

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ahh.. also helps relieve stress... forgot to mention that.. :)