Weird keyboard issue

I just noticed this weird keyboard issue last night when trying to type an email.

certain shift keys do not seem to work in conjuction with other keys. Normally I use the left shift key, but sometimes use the right shift key for characters such as < >.

If I am trying to type a capital letter using the left shift key, the following keys refuse to print, nothing happens : TY{} , in order to get these capital letters to print I have to hold down the right shift key.

Now if I am holding down the right shift key the following letters refuse to print, nothing happens : XCVM<> . So to get those to print I have to hold down the right shift key.

the other keys seem to work in conjuction with both shift keys.

It would sound like one of the shift keys is messed up but that doesn't seem to be the case. I did a reboot but this didn't fix the problem.

Has anyone ever seen a case where the keyboard was messed up that did this or it's a hardward bug in the computer. this is an emachines and is 6 months old.

it's real frustrating trying to type because that has been the way I got used to typing.

I've got to put up some ink for my printer so I thought I'd try a new keyboard.

 

Have you changed the keyboard already? The Emachine may have special drivers for the Emachine keyboard and if you have changed, Windows will probably be trying to run the Emachine drivers for it.

A place to look is in Control Panel -> Keyboard. If you are using the Emachine keyboard, try rolling-back the drivers (highlight the listing, click Properties and go to the Drivers tab). Check if the description matches with the keyboard you are using.

If you are in Britain, you will not want to use standard US keyboard settings. Search in Help and Support for "keyboard layout ".

Check the keyboard manufacturer's website for updated drivers (Emachines?). Emachines may have "rebadged" the keyboard. Try putting the model number into a Google search and if you find one that is the same model, but different brand, check that it looks the same and try installing their drivers.

Matt

 

I haven't changed the keyboard. this problem just cropped up on it's own. I didn't notice it until I was trying to type an email using capital letters when my email started to look funny when I read it over and noticed characters missing.

I checked the control panel and my keyboard is listed under generic or something (natural maybe)?

I've got several older style keyboards but without the internet/email/search/volume buttons I could try and see what happens. I just have to dig it out to find it.

 

Well I shut my computer down for (physically unplugged it), went to beach for a few days, came back and the keyword seems just fine.

I would think a simple reboot would have done the trick but it didn't.

I don't see how letting the computer sit there for four days would fix a bad keyboard.

 

Hi, jseabolt.

Your keyboard wanted some "alone time" and was subliminally telling you to take a vacation.

 

I'm glad mailman has sourced the cause Just be careful that the other parts of the computer might start wanting to send you on a vacation as well!

I would get a new CMOS battery. If you open the case, you will see that it looks like a silver coin. That battery "holds" special information (CMOS settings) while the computer is powered off. That battery may be at a point where the information is just being held or some is being lost.

Once you replace the battery, look in the BIOS/Startup settings (check in the computer's User Guide/Manual) for a setting "Quick POST" (it can be different wording, look for either Quick or POST), set this for Disabled (full POST). Although it may take a little longer for the startup process, you should find that there will be less of these strange occurances and you will be able to add non-Emachine hardware without problems.

This may be a hunch, but it is worth investigating.

Matt
Edit: Powered off, powered on, I take it you are powering the computer off while changing hardware? The only hardware that can be changed while the computer is running is USB hardware (and maybe Firewire or Bluetooth, I am not familiar with those). You may be doing this, but beginners may not realize.