Delete button deletes two characters instead of one (Word 2010 for Windows)

Question

Hi,

Since recently I see a weird thing- whenever I hit Delete button with cursor in a text, it deletes not just one but two characters in a raw. I noticed this in all Microsoft applications (Word 2010, Windows Live, Notepad).

Does it sound like a benign virus (I do have McAfee), or there is such a setting somewhere that I might inadvertently changed?

My system: Windows 7, Office 2010.

Answer 1

Am unable to replicate this, and no its not a virus, but a setting specific to your sys

Answer 2

Try adjusting the settings for keyboard repetition in Control Panel (found under the Keyboard settings).

Alternatively, you can try a different keyboard.

Answer 3

Try adjusting the settings for keyboard repetition in Control Panel (found under the Keyboard settings).

Alternatively, you can try a different keyboard.

Hi, Stefan,

I've adjusted keyboard Repeat Delay to longest possible and Repeat Rate to slowest- it did not make any difference.

Interesting enough, double action happens only with Delete button, not with any other button as far as I can see.

Also, my initial description was inaccurate- double delete happens not just with MS applications. For example, when I try deleting an email from a mail list by using webmail with Chrome, it does delete two lines.

(And I can't change the keyboard- it is a laptop).

Answer 4

Depending on the laptop, you may not be able to replace the keyboard. However, you can always try connecting a usb keyboard, as part of troubleshooting.

Answer 5

Depending on the laptop, you may not be able to replace the keyboard. However, you can always try connecting a usb keyboard, as part of troubleshooting. 

Stefan,

Indeed, with external keyboard I did not see this issue. So, the issue is with my laptop keyboard. Now I wonder, if it is a mechanical issue, or a driver? It used to work fine for years.