Keyboard does shortcuts instead of letters

Question

Keyboard does shortcuts instead of letters

Reported

Anonymous

Greetings all,

First time poster here - I've come across an issue I can't seem to solve myself.

Ever since yesterday (October 10th) typing on my keyboard activates shortcuts rather than typing letters. For example, pressing D minimizes everything, pressing S opens the start menu, etc. Any help resolving this issue would be appreciated.

Notably, this doesnt appear to be a hardware issue as the same phenomenon occurs with the On Screen Keyboard, even when my keyboard is unplugged. Furthermore, another keyboard when plugged in has the same issues.

Things I have tried:

•Restarting computer

•Unplugging and replugging keyboard

•Making sure Sticky Keys is off

•Using a different keyboard

•Checking for drivers from keyboard manufacturer (keyboard doesn't use them)

•Making sure Windows Update is complete and current

Things I've considered but haven't tried:

•Buying a new keyboard - mine are both a few years old

•Uninstalling Standard PS/2 Keyboard (not sure if it would help or what the repercussions would be)

•Doing something related to the Oct 10 windows update (I wouldn't know how to go about it)

Thanks for your help!

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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6 answers

Answer 1

Hi GRowe_ 11

It sounds like your Windows Key is stick in software/driver - Windows + C = Cortana, Windows + D = Desktop . . .

If that key is not physically stuck, please try this:

Open the Settings App

Go to Update & Security - Troubleshoot

Run the Keyboard troubleshooter

If that does not resolve this for you

Open Device Manager

Expand the Keyboards section

Right click your keyboard and choose 'Uninstall'

Then restart your PC

Answer 2

Hi DaveM,

Appreciate the response. I tried both those options to no avail - troubleshooter detected no issues with the keyboard, and uninstalling the keyboard under device manager and restarting has not improved the situation.

The windows key is definitely not stuck down; both windows keys work just fine (open the start menu when depressed), and the issue happens on a different keyboard as well as the on screen keyboard.

I'm beginning to suspect more and more that it had something to do with the oct 10th update, as I've begun to notice other odd occurrences; some programs, like Discord, are loading more slowly than they were two days ago, newly opened programs open behindalready open ones, and if I have two chrome windows open, but one minimized, I can't open the minimized one from the taskbar.

Answer 3

DaveM121 868K Independent Advisor

Hi GRowe_

Go to the old Control Panel - Programs and Features

On the left, click 'View Installed Updates

If that update is listed there, select that and click 'Uninstall . . .

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Answer 4

(1) What is the make & model of the computer, as seen in MSInfo32 (ask Cortana) in the System Model field? BING the model for a page dedicated to it. There may be an article describing a special keyboard key that will toggle certain keyboard keys to a secondary use. It may be a PF key or a separate key maybe on the numeric keypad. You must toggle it back, then.

(2) I don't know, but "START, Settings, Devices, Typing, Advanced keyboard settings" seems to be something new in 1809. Mine came set like this...

Answer 5

Hi GRowe most likely you are correct, this is probably another of the many bugs in that update.

I have not heard of anything similar in the last few days, hopefully someone will provide you with an answer here soon . . .

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Keyboard does shortcuts instead of letters

6 answers