Clipboard Automatically Pasting

[WTFudge]

I have a strange issue happening on my Windows 7 x64 system. For some reason, the system is automatically pasting random characters on a constant basis. It's weird. I can walk away from the computer and be completely away from my keyboard, and every few minutes the system automatically pastes a set of random characters wherever the cursor happens to be positioned. My first thought is that I must have some sort of malicious bug. I ran MalwareBytes Antimalware and it came back clean. I also ran Spybot Search & Destroy, and it came back clean too.

Any ideas what could be causing this? It's strange. I couldn't find anything through Google, and I'm stumped.

 

[richc46]

My compliments on running the scans, which would be my first advice.

Do a clean boot and see if it happens.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

If the problem persists, try in safe mode. These steps will help us determine the cause.

 

[WTFudge]

I rebooted, and the problem is still there. It must be some sort of malicious junk. Maybe there's a better scanner?

 

[richc46]

My compliments on running the scans, which would be my first advice.

Do a clean boot and see if it happens.
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

If the problem persists, try in safe mode. These steps will help us determine the cause.

See my post above

 

[WTFudge]

Good advice. I'm going to reboot in safe mode and rerun the scans. I'll also run my ESET scan and will post back later this evening. Thanks for the help.

 

[whs]

I would have a look in Task Scheduler under "Active Tasks" and check the triggers. Maybe you can identify a culprit. Task Scheduler is in All Programs > Accessories > System Tools

 

[richc46]

I will be waiting and hoping for the best.

 

[WTFudge]

Thank you to everyone for the tips and advice. I rebooted into safe mode and re-ran the scans using ESET and MalwareBytes AntiMalware. They both came back clean. I did a normal boot, and the problem is still there. I run a complete system backup every couple of weeks, and I keep a history of several versions. I'm just going to restore a recent version overnight, so everything should be clean in the morning. It's just an easy resolution, and I won't have to spend days trying to find this needle in a haystack.

Thanks again for all of the help.

 

[richc46]

If it does not work, we will be here for you.

 

[WTFudge]

Well, I reinstalled a saved system image that was about a month old. I'm positive it was clean, and I was not experiencing this problem at the time that image was created. As soon as I reinstalled the image, I noticed that the problem was still there. Now I'm really stumped.

I was thinking about the issue and thought that perhaps it was related to my keyboard since there are characters mysteriously pasting about every 30-60 seconds. I uninstalled my keyboard driver (Logitech), and unplugged it from my computer. Before doing that I opened an empty notepad file. Even with the keyboard uninstalled and unplugged the pasting of random characters continued.

I'm very frustrated at this point, and I'm hoping someone can help me. I've never seen anything like this.

 

[Tepid]

That is odd,, but it is possible that it is something that is undetectable, or not generally malicious per se.
I would also unplug the mouse.

Personally,, at this point, I would back up all my data to an external drive.
Format any and all drives in the system. Install Windows from scratch, then see if the problem continues.

If it is still happening,, then you have a very strange hardware problem or, could be, maybe, just guessing, a BIOS virus? Who knows a this point. Maybe try flashing the BIOS.

After that, Call a Priest, exercise the f'er or burn it at the stake. Cause it ain't natural.

You know,, the other thing you could do, is open Word and let it go for a few days, maybe it's a message?

 

[whs]

Just a shot in the dark - could it be the the on-screen keyboard is doing that? I would check whether it is running - it is called osk.exe and should show in Task Manager > Processes ( but you have to click "Show processes from all users").

 

[richc46]

Just a shot in the dark - could it be the the on-screen keyboard is doing that? I would check whether it is running - it is called osk.exe and should show in Task Manager > Processes ( but you have to click "Show processes from all users").

Real good guess, may just work. Good going.

 

[fseal]

How about the keyboard itself? Have you tried replacing or swapping it with another one?

 

[WTFudge]

The onscreen keyboard is not running. I was hoping that was the problem. Yes, I have replaced both the keyboard and the mouse, but the problem still persists. I have found out that the characters being pasted are not stored in the clipboard. They are just random characters. Here's the most recent combination that keeps appearing: fa92b37d. It just keeps pasting the same string over and over. It never stops. It hits about every 30 - 60 seconds (usually).

It's like my computer has turret's syndrome and keeps blurting expletives without warning.

 

[Loki]

While in Safe Mode: Are these characters still being generated?

 

[Dwarf]

Is the keyboard wired or wireless? If wireless, have you got anything else that could be transmitting on the same frequency that could be causing interference?

 

[WTFudge]

It's a wired keyboard. I went ahead and flashed the BIOS, which didn't correct the problem. I reinstalled Windows 7 x64, and the problem is now gone. Who knows what caused it, I'm just glad it's gone. Now I'm busy reinstalling all of my software. Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions.

 

[richc46]

Really glad that it finally worked out for you.

 

[GJKR]

Hi, I am new to this forum. Hopefully someone can assist me.
I am having more or less the same problem, as above. If & when I open a WORD Doc or even the pgm, I get automatically strange little characters on my clipboard, however when I do select "clear all" the items are being removed from the clipboard. Can anybody assist me in this regard?

Kind Regards,

GJKR