Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.

Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.

I've removed Agent pro tem (as the first program that showed a fault)
and I've performed two System Restores, back a day and a week
respectively.

AVG checks the whole machine every day and reports nothing and I'm
up-to-date with Spybot and Ad-Aware checks: again, nothing to report.


If anybody can understand my problem (well, this one, at least) and
offer a solution, it'll be virtual beers all round.  FFS, save me the
agony of rebuilding my five-year-old XP Pro installation.


-- 
Pip - a perplexed Pixie.

In article ,
Pip   wrote:
>Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.

Could you have a sticky key on your keyboard? You might be effectively
holding down the Windows key or something like that.

-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

Jim wrote:
> In article ,
> Pip   wrote:
>> Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.
> 
> Could you have a sticky key on your keyboard? You might be effectively
> holding down the Windows key or something like that.
> 

Indeed. Desktop search hotkey appears to be windows-shift-f by default.

-- 
/Simon

Pip wrote:

> Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
> can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
> in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
> recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
> enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
> won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
> address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.

You've tried a different keyboard presumably - simple things first etc.

-- 
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna  '03 Tiger 955i  '96 Tiger  '79 Fantic Hiro 250

Pip wrote:
> Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
> can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
> in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
> recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
> enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
> won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
> address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.
> 
> Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.
> 
> I've removed Agent pro tem (as the first program that showed a fault)
> and I've performed two System Restores, back a day and a week
> respectively.
> 
> AVG checks the whole machine every day and reports nothing and I'm
> up-to-date with Spybot and Ad-Aware checks: again, nothing to report.
> 
> 
> If anybody can understand my problem (well, this one, at least) and
> offer a solution, it'll be virtual beers all round.  FFS, save me the
> agony of rebuilding my five-year-old XP Pro installation.

Angle Grinder.


-- 
FZ1-N GS650GT Go-Ped Sport
BOMB#14 ibW#40 LotR#0 (RIP) BOTAFOT#157 BotM#3

* Whinging Courier wrote:
> Angle Grinder.

Gas Axe

On 30 Sep 2008 16:10:12 GMT, "Krusty" <dontwantany@nowhere.invalid>
wrote:

>Pip wrote:
>
>> Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
>> can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
>> in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
>> recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
>> enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
>> won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
>> address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.
>
>You've tried a different keyboard presumably - simple things first etc.

Yup.  No difference: still playing the daft lad.

-- 
Pip

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:06:11 +0100, Simon Wilson
 wrote:

>Jim wrote:
>> In article ,
>> Pip   wrote:
>>> Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.
>> 
>> Could you have a sticky key on your keyboard? You might be effectively
>> holding down the Windows key or something like that.
>> 
>Indeed. Desktop search hotkey appears to be windows-shift-f by default.

Thought of that, but no joy.

I just pulled a whole new trick - out of nowhere, up popped the start
menu and an Agent dialog box asking if I wanted to mark all messages
read - this accompanied by a rapidly repeated note, damned thing
sounded like a doorbell.  Got rid of that and an open Excel
spreadsheet started doorbelling, accompanied by two simultaneous lines
of letters (asasasasasasasasas ... ) writing themselves across the
sheet in rows 1 and 7.  Stopped that (after boggling a bit) by hitting
the spacebar and then closing (and not saving changes) the
spreadsheet.

I'm fucked, I think it's haunted.

-- 
Pip

Pip  wrote in 
news:p1l4e4tmau11ituspl10li5ic5isqi7dq9@4ax.com:

> On 30 Sep 2008 16:10:12 GMT, "Krusty" <dontwantany@nowhere.invalid>
> wrote:
> 
>>Pip wrote:
>>
>>> Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
>>> can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
>>> in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
>>> recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
>>> enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
>>> won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
>>> address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.
>>
>>You've tried a different keyboard presumably - simple things first etc.
> 
> Yup.  No difference: still playing the daft lad.
> 

have you got one of those doohickeys that convert PS/2 to USB or vice 
versa?

maybe your {whichever one you are using} channel is fucked. Try the other 
one.

I managed to introduce a random "fault" to my 3 year old box when fitting a 
new mouse. It came with a PS/2 adapter so I saw an opportunity to free up a 
USB slot. It seems the bios was monitoring that PS/2 channel for a wake-up 
call. I became a little pissed off with the machine waking up again after I 
had gone to bed, until the penny dropped.

-- 
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

Pip wrote:
> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:06:11 +0100, Simon Wilson
>  wrote:
> 
>> Jim wrote:
>>> In article ,
>>> Pip   wrote:
>>>> Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.
>>> Could you have a sticky key on your keyboard? You might be effectively
>>> holding down the Windows key or something like that.
>>>
>> Indeed. Desktop search hotkey appears to be windows-shift-f by default.
> 
> Thought of that, but no joy.
> 
> I just pulled a whole new trick - out of nowhere, up popped the start
> menu and an Agent dialog box asking if I wanted to mark all messages
> read - this accompanied by a rapidly repeated note, damned thing
> sounded like a doorbell.  Got rid of that and an open Excel
> spreadsheet started doorbelling, accompanied by two simultaneous lines
> of letters (asasasasasasasasas ... ) writing themselves across the
> sheet in rows 1 and 7.  Stopped that (after boggling a bit) by hitting
> the spacebar and then closing (and not saving changes) the
> spreadsheet.
> 
> I'm fucked, I think it's haunted.
> 

Power down. Unplug. Have a cuppa

Plug it in *without* keyboard.

Same issue?



-- 
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Catman wrote:
> Pip wrote:
>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:06:11 +0100, Simon Wilson
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> Jim wrote:
>>>> In article ,
>>>> Pip   wrote:
>>>>> Also, Windows Desktop Search keeps opening, unbidden.
>>>> Could you have a sticky key on your keyboard? You might be effectively
>>>> holding down the Windows key or something like that.
>>>>
>>> Indeed. Desktop search hotkey appears to be windows-shift-f by default.
>>
>> Thought of that, but no joy.
>>
>> I just pulled a whole new trick - out of nowhere, up popped the start
>> menu and an Agent dialog box asking if I wanted to mark all messages
>> read - this accompanied by a rapidly repeated note, damned thing
>> sounded like a doorbell.  Got rid of that and an open Excel
>> spreadsheet started doorbelling, accompanied by two simultaneous lines
>> of letters (asasasasasasasasas ... ) writing themselves across the
>> sheet in rows 1 and 7.  Stopped that (after boggling a bit) by hitting
>> the spacebar and then closing (and not saving changes) the
>> spreadsheet.
>>
>> I'm fucked, I think it's haunted.
>>
> 
> Power down. Unplug. Have a cuppa
> 
> Plug it in *without* keyboard.

"Keyboard not detected.  Press F1 to continue."

In article <gbu1e7$5u8$00$1@news.t-online.com>,
Tosspot   wrote:
>> Power down. Unplug. Have a cuppa
>> 
>> Plug it in *without* keyboard.
>
>"Keyboard not detected.  Press F1 to continue."

Turn on, keep pressing delete to go into the BIOS on startup.
Find the Halt On: All errors setting and change to Halt On: All except
keyboard

Then restart again.

-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:11:53 +0000 (UTC), wessie
 wrote:

>Pip  wrote:
>> On 30 Sep 2008 16:10:12 GMT, "Krusty" <dontwantany@nowhere.invalid>
>> wrote:
>>>Pip wrote:

>>>> Dropped a grenade in XP, it seems.  Now, I've had this before, but I
>>>> can't recall how to get out of it.  It's to do with typing: I can type
>>>> in native Windows apps (Word, notepad) as normal, but Agent will only
>>>> recognise alphanumerics (no return, backspace, delete etc) and I can't
>>>> enter text into, for example, the google search box and it certainly
>>>> won't let me enter a url into Firefox.  I can get text into IE's
>>>> address bar, but no spacebar or other functions.
>>>
>>>You've tried a different keyboard presumably - simple things first etc.
>> 
>> Yup.  No difference: still playing the daft lad.

>have you got one of those doohickeys that convert PS/2 to USB or vice 
>versa?
>
>maybe your {whichever one you are using} channel is fucked. Try the other 
>one.

The keyboard is a straightforward straight-into-the-USB type and I've
tried changing slots, to no avail.  I've also tried reloading the
(Windows) drivers, to no effect.  Now I've plugged in an old PS/2
keyboard straight into the appropriate connector and that doesn't work
at all - the NumLock light doesn't illuminate, even.

Oddities: the original USB keyboard seemed to have all the function
keys disabled: not just the Fx keys, but anything that does stuff -
but the letter keys worked.  Then the letter keys disabled themselves
except when they wanted to stick on and I'd get a never-ending row of
alternating asasasas ....  It doesn't want to do anything at all now,
neither does the PS/2 board.

It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.

-- 
Pip

In article ,
Pip   wrote:
>The keyboard is a straightforward straight-into-the-USB type and I've
>tried changing slots, to no avail.  I've also tried reloading the
>(Windows) drivers, to no effect.  Now I've plugged in an old PS/2
>keyboard straight into the appropriate connector and that doesn't work
>at all - the NumLock light doesn't illuminate, even.

It's possible that the PS/2 port may be disabled in the BIOS.

>Oddities: the original USB keyboard seemed to have all the function
>keys disabled: not just the Fx keys, but anything that does stuff -
>but the letter keys worked.  Then the letter keys disabled themselves
>except when they wanted to stick on and I'd get a never-ending row of
>alternating asasasas ....  It doesn't want to do anything at all now,
>neither does the PS/2 board.

What model of keyboard is it? There are some where you need to press a
button to enable the function keys (for instance my logitech one here
has a "Mode/F" key).

>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.

This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but a Linux Live CD might
give you pointers to whether it is hardware or software that is the
problem.

-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

In communiqué , Pip 
 cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.
>

Could it be the keyboard controller on the motherboard ?

-- 
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home:   Peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk             |
| Voxan Roadster     Gilera Nordwest * 2     Yamaha WR250Z       |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

In article ,
Pete Fisher   wrote:
>In communiqué , Pip 
> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.
>>
>
>Could it be the keyboard controller on the motherboard ?

It's a USB keyboard, there isn't a dedicated controller for it. That
said, it is perfectly possible that hardware problems are causing this -
I'd just concentrate on trying to rule out the software problems first.

I speak as someone who once dismantled a laptop on a client's desk to
fix an intermittent trackball issue (it was a long time ago when Toshiba
fitted trackballs to laptops) which later turned out to be a mouse
driver issue...

-- 
CB500 (blue + flies)

Pip wrote:
>
> It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
> but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.
> 

That or your I/O controller's up the swanee. Are all your other 
USB devices working correctly?

-- 
Alex
BMW R1150GS
DIAABTCOD#3  MSWF#4  UKRMFBC#6  Ibw#35  BOB#8
Windy's "little soldier"

In communiqué , Jim 
 cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>In article ,
>Pete Fisher   wrote:
>>In communiqué , Pip
>> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>>>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>>>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.
>>>
>>
>>Could it be the keyboard controller on the motherboard ?
>
>It's a USB keyboard, there isn't a dedicated controller for it. That
>said, it is perfectly possible that hardware problems are causing this -
>I'd just concentrate on trying to rule out the software problems first.
>

As you suggest, checking if the PS/2 port is disabled would be a good 
starting point. I was just thinking what it might be if the port wasn't 
found to be disabled.

>I speak as someone who once dismantled a laptop on a client's desk to
>fix an intermittent trackball issue (it was a long time ago when Toshiba
>fitted trackballs to laptops) which later turned out to be a mouse
>driver issue...
>

Driver issues, don't you just love them. The PC equivalent of "shit in 
the carbs".


-- 
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home:   Peter@ps-fisher.demon.co.uk             |
| Voxan Roadster     Gilera Nordwest * 2     Yamaha WR250Z       |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:40:40 +0100, Jim  wrote:

>In article ,
>Pip   wrote:
>>The keyboard is a straightforward straight-into-the-USB type and I've
>>tried changing slots, to no avail.  I've also tried reloading the
>>(Windows) drivers, to no effect.  Now I've plugged in an old PS/2
>>keyboard straight into the appropriate connector and that doesn't work
>>at all - the NumLock light doesn't illuminate, even.
>
>It's possible that the PS/2 port may be disabled in the BIOS.

It appears not.  A couple of reboots later and a bit of fiddling
around and I have full functionality restored.  The PC just didn't
recognise the connection to start with, I assume - but it's "installed
new hardware" now and all is well.
>
>>Oddities: the original USB keyboard seemed to have all the function
>>keys disabled: not just the Fx keys, but anything that does stuff -
>>but the letter keys worked.  Then the letter keys disabled themselves
>>except when they wanted to stick on and I'd get a never-ending row of
>>alternating asasasas ....  It doesn't want to do anything at all now,
>>neither does the PS/2 board.
>
>What model of keyboard is it? There are some where you need to press a
>button to enable the function keys (for instance my logitech one here
>has a "Mode/F" key).

Saitek Eclipse.  It wasn't just the function keys, it was all keys
that  perform a function (rather than producing a letter, iyswim) such
as spacebar, return, delete or backspace.
>
>>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.
>
>This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but a Linux Live CD might
>give you pointers to whether it is hardware or software that is the
>problem.

I assume it was well-intentioned and therefore not ridiculous - but
I'm running XP Pro because it does what I need it to do and I know
there'll be problems with Vista - let alone Linuxing the thing.

Cheers.

-- 
Pip: B12

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:50:07 +0100, "Alex Ferrier" <x@x.x> wrote:

>Pip wrote:
>>
>> It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>> but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.

>That or your I/O controller's up the swanee. Are all your other 
>USB devices working correctly?

Strangely, yes, they are.  Looks like a keyboard issue after all.

-- 
Pip: B12

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:51:53 +0100, Pete Fisher
 wrote:

>In communiqué , Pip 
> cast forth these pearls of wisdom
>>It must be a software problem, that won't sort with a System Restore -
>>but where do I look?  Nothing is showing as a problem anywhere.

>Could it be the keyboard controller on the motherboard ?

Keyboard controller in the keyboard, perhaps.  Could be that the
sprayed coffee has finally got to it ;-)

-- 
Pip: B12

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip 
 typed
>On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:40:40 +0100, Jim  wrote:
>
>>
>>This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but a Linux Live CD might
>>give you pointers to whether it is hardware or software that is the
>>problem.
>
>I assume it was well-intentioned and therefore not ridiculous - but
>I'm running XP Pro because it does what I need it to do and I know
>there'll be problems with Vista - let alone Linuxing the thing.

Thing about a Linux Live CD / DVD is that you can boot the machine from 
it without touching the Windows install on the HDD.

Fucking handy for eliminating hardware issues (amongst other stuff), is 
that.

Worth downloading and burning an image "just in case". Jim's was a good 
call.

-- 
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.

On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 23:20:13 +0100, Wicked Uncle Nigel
 wrote:

>Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip 
> typed
>>On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:40:40 +0100, Jim  wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but a Linux Live CD might
>>>give you pointers to whether it is hardware or software that is the
>>>problem.
>>
>>I assume it was well-intentioned and therefore not ridiculous - but
>>I'm running XP Pro because it does what I need it to do and I know
>>there'll be problems with Vista - let alone Linuxing the thing.
>
>Thing about a Linux Live CD / DVD is that you can boot the machine from 
>it without touching the Windows install on the HDD.

Without using the keyboard *at all*?  This also precluded doing
anything with the BIOS, of course.
>
>Fucking handy for eliminating hardware issues (amongst other stuff), is 
>that.

OK.
>
>Worth downloading and burning an image "just in case". Jim's was a good 
>call.

I'm not violently against *nix per se, but I don't want to try to run
it as a full-on OS as all the required man pages reads and configs
would bring out my inner geek and thus remove me further from ever
getting a life.

I'll grab one.  Recs?

-- 
Pip: B12

Pip wrote:

> On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 23:20:13 +0100, Wicked Uncle Nigel
>  wrote:
> 
> I'm not violently against *nix per se, but I don't want to try to run
> it as a full-on OS as all the required man pages reads and configs
> would bring out my inner geek and thus remove me further from ever
> getting a life.
> 
> I'll grab one.  Recs?

Don't do it - you'll only end up with an 's' key that only generates
'$', & you've had enough grief with fucked keyboard$ a$ it i$.

-- 
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna  '03 Tiger 955i  '96 Tiger  '79 Fantic Hiro 250

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip 
 typed
>On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 23:20:13 +0100, Wicked Uncle Nigel
> wrote:
>
>>Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip
>> typed
>>>On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:40:40 +0100, Jim  wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>This may sound like a ridiculous suggestion, but a Linux Live CD might
>>>>give you pointers to whether it is hardware or software that is the
>>>>problem.
>>>
>>>I assume it was well-intentioned and therefore not ridiculous - but
>>>I'm running XP Pro because it does what I need it to do and I know
>>>there'll be problems with Vista - let alone Linuxing the thing.
>>
>>Thing about a Linux Live CD / DVD is that you can boot the machine from
>>it without touching the Windows install on the HDD.
>
>Without using the keyboard *at all*?  This also precluded doing
>anything with the BIOS, of course.

Yep. Set the machine up to boot from the CD / DVD first, then the HDD.

You need to do that before the KB's fucked, of course...   ;^)


>>Worth downloading and burning an image "just in case". Jim's was a good
>>call.
>
>I'm not violently against *nix per se, but I don't want to try to run
>it as a full-on OS as all the required man pages reads and configs
>would bring out my inner geek and thus remove me further from ever
>getting a life.

Christ no, this is an "emergencies only" thing. No anorak required. In 
this case, boot it up and try to log on. If the keyboard is still doing 
weird stuff, it's hardware, right?

>I'll grab one.  Recs?

I'm out of date[1]. Seventeen evangelists will be along directly to 
confuse the fuck out of you.

I think my DVD is Linux Mint, but it's buried deep in a huge pile over 
----> there. Let me know if you need me to check.

[1] No change there, then.

-- 
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Krusty 
<dontwantany@nowhere.invalid> typed
>Pip wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 2 Oct 2008 23:20:13 +0100, Wicked Uncle Nigel
>>  wrote:
>>
>> I'm not violently against *nix per se, but I don't want to try to run
>> it as a full-on OS as all the required man pages reads and configs
>> would bring out my inner geek and thus remove me further from ever
>> getting a life.
>>
>> I'll grab one.  Recs?
>
>Don't do it - you'll only end up with an 's' key that only generates
>'$', & you've had enough grief with fucked keyboard$ a$ it i$.

<VBG>

$illy fucker.

-- 
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

My position was (and, to be honest, largely remains) one of complete ambiguity.