Alt Tab and Windows Key not working

Hey guys,

I just ran into a very irritating problem. When I try to alt tab, the bar flashes up for a minute, then is gone. If I press and hold alt tab, it flickers continuously, but I cannot swap windows (easily). When this happens, the windows key also fails to work.

The odd thing is that this doesn't happen immediatly, only after a couple hours. Unplugging the keyboard and plugging back in doesn't help, but restarting fixes it.

I am at a loss, does anyone have any ideas?

~Lordbob

Manay Pepin said:

Are you using VMs?

Nope.

~Lordbob

Manay Pepin said:

And your SHIFT key works properly?

Correct. Alt and tab also work normally on their own, but I can't use control in a game.

Lee said:

Sorry can't help you Bob, looked up your keyboard because I had never heard of that specific brand. Have to say that is a nice looking keyboard. Just one question; are the keys stitching or maybe one of those keys is going bad.

An oh by the way question, can't you use the Windows + Tab keys to do the same thing. Good Luck.

Yes, I can, but it's rather annoying. I also use the control key in a game, which no longer works.

~Lordbob

Manay Pepin said:

Press Control + Windows Key + Alt simultaneously

If that doesn't work, you may need a restore (sfc /scannow at a minimum).

I just rebooted, so it is working for now, but I will try that next time.

~Lordbob

Manay Pepin said:

Since rebooting corrects the problem, you do not need a restore or sfc scan.

I know. I am just curious as to why this is occurring, what caused it, and how to fix it.

~Lordbob

Hi! LB,

• Does it only happen with a particular game or all of them?
• If it is a particular game, is it a new one recently installed?
• If an older game does it have an update?
• If this is a recent development could you use a restore point to go back and see if it corrects itself while your playing the games?
• Are you overclocking? If you are, can you drop back to the original settings to see if it corrects itself?
• When was the last time you checked for any driver updates. Especially any that would control the interaction between the keyboard and CPU, like the Controller chip.

You have recently had experience with thermal paste. Other than that, no odd occurrences while re-installing, like exerting too much pressure on the MB to lock down the CPU, connections okay etc..

I was thinking along with Manay that if it corrects itself after a reboot you wouldn't have to repair any files, but you may have a weakness in the CPU architecture that might need updating.

This is rare, but worst case would be a bad controller chip that may involve the Mother board.

Happens with a couple different ones (haven't played many recently).
No overclock either.

~Lordbob

Have you tried a repair install?

Repair Install

Jonathan_King said:

Have you tried a repair install?

Repair Install

Not yet, but it is an option. I would rather exhaust other options first.

~Lordbob