Strange icon in Notepad when pressing ctrl + delete

obidon · 19 Apr 2012

When using Notepad (Version 6.1.7600.16385) (or just any Version for that matter) and trying to delete a whole word using the very handy ctrl + delete shortcut key, the Notepad application types this very strange symbol instead.

Right here ->

Actually... I couldn't paste it for some reason. But it looks like a little box thing. Just try it in notepad and you will see it appear.

First of all I find this annoying, so I was wondering what can I do to make it so ctrl + del works in Notepad for deleting whole words (because I love notepad).

And second, why does it do this? Notepad isn't the only text box in Windows 7 that does this, I've found it on a couple of other text input elements as well. And what does this symbol even mean? I'm very curious.

Thanks for all the knowledgeable replies.

UPDATE: Added screenshot of symbol. bit.ly/JfP4Yp

alphanumeric · 19 Apr 2012

ctrl + del deletes the whole word for me. Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)

cyclic · 19 Apr 2012

Same here. I't would be a help to see the icon though. Where does this appear ?

obidon · 19 Apr 2012

Ok I've updated my post to include a screenshot of my Notepad window with the symbol in it.

kado897 · 19 Apr 2012

it looks like it has inserted an an displayable character. it doesn't do that for me either. Do you have anything doing any keyboard mapping?

obidon · 19 Apr 2012

kado897 said:

it looks like it has inserted an an displayable character. it doesn't do that for me either. Do you have anything doing any keyboard mapping?

Hmm.. I don't think so. I have a Razer Lycosa keyboard and it has a configuration program where you can map some hot-keys I believe, but I haven't ever done any messing around with that really.

That's strange that it's not doing it for anybody else, I could've sworn I tried it on another computer and it did the same thing.

kado897 · 19 Apr 2012

Does it do it in any other text based program?

obidon · 19 Apr 2012

Not most other ones, no. It doesn't in my browsers' address bar, or other word-based office applications, like OpenOffice Writer or WordPad. Not even in the run command window (Winkey + R), which is good because I would be mad if it did since I use that all the time.

But it does do it when renaming files in Windows Explorer and pressing ctrl + delete. It makes the same character too, strange.

kado897 · 19 Apr 2012

This is a long shot. Getting desperate here. Try running sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt.

obidon · 19 Apr 2012

kado897 said:

This is a long shot. Getting desperate here. Try running sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt.

I've tried that a million times and it never seems to really do anything. And there's no need to start getting desperate haha, it's not like a need this to go away I was mostly just curious as to why it happens