Ctrl key also presses letter "a"

[loxy]

Hi folks,

When I press the ctrl key on my laptop it sometimes behaves as if I've pressed the letter "a" as well, so it selects everything on the screen, or it types the letter "a". It happens with both the left and the right ctrl keys so I think it's something to do with software rather than a physical problem. It happens even in safe mode. It's more likely to happen when I press and hold the ctrl key than when I just tap it. I've tried uninstalling the keyboard driver and restarting they computer but that made no difference.

My system is
Toshiba Satellite L500D laptop
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, with service pack 1

Any suggestions for how to fix it? Thanks in advance

Loxy

P.S. I don't know whether it's related but a few months ago I had BSOD problems caused by a USB driver
http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/301722-bsod-toshiba-laptop-when-sleep-idle-while.html

 

[fireberd]

In most cases when a keyboard key or key function does not work correctly there is a hardware problem in the keyboard. If you can live with the problem just do what you have been doing to get around it. If not, consider replacing the keyboard. Its a little bit of a hassle on a laptop but the keyboard can be replaced. I did it on an Acer laptop a couple of years ago. The keyboard was relatively inexpensive (I bought a new one on E-Bay). Acer didn't have any instructions on how to replace it but there was a video on YouTube.

CLICK ME for youtube video on your model.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I doubt that I'll be of much help on your problem, but can you test with an external keyboard? Maybe you can borrow one from a friend. Also, how does the W7 native on-screen keyboard act? Does its Ctrl key work as expected?

Testing in the safe mode was a good idea. You might also work thru this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

I had to stop suggesting Toshiba laptops because the last 6 that friends/family purchased all had weird keyboard issues.

 

[loxy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Windows onscreen keyboard doesn't suffer from the same problem. Nor does an external keyboard. So, for the short term, I can fix the problem by using an external keyboard.

@fireberd: At first I thought it was a hardware problem too. But then that wouldn't explain why both ctrl keys have the same problem (or would it?)

 

[UsernameIssues]

The left and right Crtl keys are indeed different, but they both send signals to a common (defective?) set of chips.

Replacing a Toshiba laptop keyboard is not too hard... just take your time and make use of the videos that fireberd linked to.

While you have it apart, you might want to clean the fan and vents... but don't let compressed air spin the fan too fast.