Tech Support > Microsoft Windows > Basics > key stuck in depressed mode
key stuck in depressed mode
Posted by nelle on November 9th, 2005


hi there,
as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed" mode. No
it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm always pressing it
although I'm not. I know this because: 1) continuous beeps issue at start up
like when you're pressing a key that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2)
everytime I start Word the insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly,
causing me to overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi using Ctrl,
Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have hit the combi cos
those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before the problem started 3
days ago. I've been trying random combis but none of them have solved the
problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).

Thanks for reading and very grateful for any help

Posted by MadDog on November 9th, 2005


Sounds like it's time for a new keyboard.

MD



"nelle" wrote:

> hi there,
> as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed" mode. No
> it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm always pressing it
> although I'm not. I know this because: 1) continuous beeps issue at start up
> like when you're pressing a key that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2)
> everytime I start Word the insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly,
> causing me to overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
> Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi using Ctrl,
> Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have hit the combi cos
> those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before the problem started 3
> days ago. I've been trying random combis but none of them have solved the
> problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).
>
> Thanks for reading and very grateful for any help

Posted by Shenan Stanley on November 9th, 2005


nelle wrote:
> as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed"
> mode. No it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm
> always pressing it although I'm not. I know this because: 1)
> continuous beeps issue at start up like when you're pressing a key
> that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2) everytime I start Word the
> insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly, causing me to
> overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
> Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi
> using Ctrl, Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have
> hit the combi cos those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before
> the problem started 3 days ago. I've been trying random combis but
> none of them have solved the problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).
>
> Thanks for reading and very grateful for any help


Easiest test - assuming this is not a laptop - plug a new keyboard in..
problem gone? Plug the old keyboard in a different computer - problem
follow it? Keyboard is FUBAR. Chunk it.

If it is a laptop - suck.
You will have to have it repaired. I hate fiddling with laptop keyboards,
personally.. All those small cheap plastic parts, sometimes little springs..
thin contact sheets, etc.. It's worth the cost just not to have to deal
with it at all. hah

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


Posted by Ken Blake, MVP on November 9th, 2005


nelle wrote:

> as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed"
> mode. No it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm
> always pressing it although I'm not. I know this because: 1)
> continuous beeps issue at start up like when you're pressing a key
> that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2) everytime I start Word the
> insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly, causing me to
> overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
> Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi
> using Ctrl, Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have
> hit the combi cos those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before
> the problem started 3 days ago. I've been trying random combis but
> none of them have solved the problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).



That sounds very much like a problem with the keyboard itself. If so, it's
worth trying to fix. Keyboards are cheap and you should probably just
replace it.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


Posted by Ken Blake, MVP on November 10th, 2005


Ken Blake, MVP wrote:

> nelle wrote:
>
>> as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed"
>> mode. No it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm
>> always pressing it although I'm not. I know this because: 1)
>> continuous beeps issue at start up like when you're pressing a key
>> that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2) everytime I start Word the
>> insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly, causing me to
>> overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
>> Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi
>> using Ctrl, Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have
>> hit the combi cos those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before
>> the problem started 3 days ago. I've been trying random combis but
>> none of them have solved the problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).

>
>
> That sounds very much like a problem with the keyboard itself. If so,
> it's



Sorry, typo. The word "not:" is missing here. It's *not* worth trying to
fix.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> worth trying to fix. Keyboards are cheap and you should probably
> just replace it.



Posted by Bruce Chambers on November 10th, 2005


nelle wrote:
> hi there,
> as in my post title, my "insert" key is permanently in "depressed" mode. No
> it's not having mood swings (!!), it just acts as if I'm always pressing it
> although I'm not. I know this because: 1) continuous beeps issue at start up
> like when you're pressing a key that you shouldn't be pressing, and 2)
> everytime I start Word the insert mode keeps flickering on and off rapidly,
> causing me to overwrite erratically when I intend to insert instead.
> Does anyone know if there's some combination of keys (some combi using Ctrl,
> Alt, Tab?) that locks other keys? I suspect I may have hit the combi cos
> those 3 function keys were in heavy use just before the problem started 3
> days ago. I've been trying random combis but none of them have solved the
> problem so far. (I'm running a Win XP).
>
> Thanks for reading and very grateful for any help



Is there any particular reason you haven't simply replaced the
defective keyboard?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
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