Windows 7: Keyboard suddenly stopped working once Windows 7 launches

Hello windows gurus.
I believe this is a setting problem, but can't figure it out.
Dell Studio 1749 laptop running win7 pro 64

I was browsing the internet with IE10, had a bunch of other stuff open (xcel, quickbooks, other software).

All of a sudden, I must of hit some kind of key combo, because the scroll wheel on the mouse started zooming in and out the active windows instead of scrolling them up and down. Also IE10 looked different, the tabs on top "dissapeared" until I hovered the mouse up top, and then they popped back down. Kind of like the Dell Dock.

Then when I typed in a key different windows would open. I believe "i" opened IE favorites, and some other keys did different things.

The keyboard did not work in the sense that I could not type in url's into IE, or information into exel cells, notepad, etc.

I clicked around in control pannel thinking somehoe I activated some global stickey keys, but couldn't find anything.

Num lock and caps lock still activate, and if I reboot, I can login into windows with my password, so I know the keyboard is still connected and working.

Device manager says the device is working properly.

Please help?????
Thansk in advance. I know this is something stupid.

Welcome to the forum,

Sounds like you hit the F11 button, try hitting again.

You may have an F lock key on the top row somewhere too.

Thanks. Tried f11 but no luck. Also don't see a f lock anywhere. One strange thing is if I press really hard on the keyboard it works but the letter repeats are very slow. I uninstalles and reinstalled the keyboard drivers as well as removed and reinstalled the acgual keyboard.

Keyboard works fine in bios. Up down left right at least.

Keyboard does not work in safe mode.
Sorry for short replies. Doing this from phone.

If possible, try having a look at these settings: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Ease of Access Center there is one to use the computer without a mouse or keyboard you may have turned on somehow.

Thanks guys!
After poking around in safe mode, I discovered a setting in control panel under ease of access.

"Turn on filter keys " was checked.

Unchecked it and all is good.

Thanks again

Cool, I was in the neighborhood at least. Stuff like that can drive ya nutz.

Hello all,

this exact same problem hits me right now. I assume I could fix it the same way, but I fail to understand how I am supposed to access Windows control panel if I cannot type my Windows login password.

Any help would be appreciated.

Elmer

Hi,

have you tried using the on screen keyboard