Shortcut Problems - Help!

There are two keyboard shortcuts which I use regularly that are no longer working and it is extremely irritating. I have googled around for solutions for about a total of 2-3 hours trying various things--never finding the exact problems but finding quasi-similar problems, usually affecting Vista or something. Anyways, please help!

1. My "select all" shortcut - Ctrl+A - doesn't work at all anymore. I use it all the time, but it no longer registers whether I'm in explorer wanting to select all files, in notepad wanting to select all text, in an instant message window wanting to select all text there, or in a browser where it would normally highlight all content within a page.
   
   To clarify, the Select All option IS available in the "Edit" tab, and it even suggests Ctrl+A as a shortcut, but it simply doesn't work anymore. I'm guessing it's been like this for a month now.
   .
2. Because I'm on a laptop, I regularly use the "Windows button + X" shortcut to edit settings like volume and brightness. This no longer works at all. It simply doesn't register the shortcut either.

(I'm using RC1 and I'd prefer not having to upgrade until the retail versions are out--esp since I'm not able to activate the RTM. Also, I did a fresh install from a Beta build to this current RC1 install.)

dubbbs said:

There are two keyboard shortcuts which I use regularly that are no longer working and it is extremely irritating. I have googled around for solutions for about a total of 2-3 hours trying various things--never finding the exact problems but finding quasi-similar problems, usually affecting Vista or something. Anyways, please help!

1. My "select all" shortcut - Ctrl+A - doesn't work at all anymore. I use it all the time, but it no longer registers whether I'm in explorer wanting to select all files, in notepad wanting to select all text, in an instant message window wanting to select all text there, or in a browser where it would normally highlight all content within a page.
   
   To clarify, the Select All option IS available in the "Edit" tab, and it even suggests Ctrl+A as a shortcut, but it simply doesn't work anymore. I'm guessing it's been like this for a month now.
   .
2. Because I'm on a laptop, I regularly use the "Windows button + X" shortcut to edit settings like volume and brightness. This no longer works at all. It simply doesn't register the shortcut either.

(I'm using RC1 and I'd prefer not having to upgrade until the retail versions are out--esp since I'm not able to activate the RTM. Also, I did a fresh install from a Beta build to this current RC1 install.)

Can you check what country your keyboard is set to?

Greetz

Thanks, it's set as the normal English - US.

Thanks for responding to my plea.

Yes, it is just the two shortcuts that I have listed from what I can tell. All other shortcuts such as cut, copy, paste work. Shortcuts like ctrl+tab work in various programs and all my firefox shortcuts work as well.

For the windows button one, the Windows key seems to work in every instance except for pressing X with it to open the "Windows Mobility Center". Pressing the windows button itself opens the start menu as it should, windows button + a number does the programs in the taskbar, etc. I have no idea wtf is going on.

And it's a Sony Vaio FS Series, 5 years old now and still running very strong.

I just solved the first issue. Skype was the problem. It runs in the background in the system tray and apparently whenever I press ctrl+a, because it was my own stupid preset for answering calls (though I've never ever used it--just set it as that when I installed the program a month ago) it seems to completely take over that shortcut while it's running. So whether I was focused on notepad or firefox or anything, if Skype is running in the tray, it's looking out for shortcut keys. *facepalm*

I'm still researching the second issue.

Okay, still haven't fixed the windows mobility center issue, but I do know the following: not only does the Win+X not work, but like the SevenForums link below suggests it should be, it is NOT in my control panel. HOWEVER, the "mblctr.exe" is indeed in the system32 folder, but does nothing when I try to open it. Will keep digging.

Windows Mobility Center - Open and Use

I was thinking of doing the desktop enable but wasn't sure about how it could affect laptops--given the warning the page has and all. I'll try it tho.