Left or right cursor button cursed

[PinkiPad]

At times, I will use the left and right cursor buttons -- the 4 arrows on the lower right on my laptop -- and rather than the cursor moving, it will change tabs to the left or right. It isn't an everyday thing but when it happens, it frustrates me. I use Firefox' latest build.

Why does it happen and how do I fix it?

 

[Britton30]

Have a look in Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Ease of Access Center\Make the mouse easier to use and see if a setting there needs to be checked, e.g. Mouse Keys.

 

[PinkiPad]

Thank you. Turn on mouse keys is unchecked. I haven't changed that setting since I got this two years ago. This isn't constant, just happens occasionally during normal use. I always think back to what I just did but nothing out of the ordinary has happened. No specific keys pressed, no specific website visited.

 

[Britton30]

You could be accidently pressing one of the ALT keys or one sticks down at times.

 

[PinkiPad]

I'm not at my laptop but I believe the alt key is on the lest side. Cursor up/down/left/right is on the right. I only type with right hand due to disability. So I can't hit it. I Googled and can't find anyone else with my problem.

 

[DocBrown]

When the computer is turned OFF, you might try blowing out the keys with compressed air, in case dirt, dust, cat hairs, etc have got under the keys.

 

[Britton30]

I have been fooling around and I don't find any key combo that makes the arrow keys switch tabs. If the cursor is hovered on the menu in a browser the arrow keys scroll through it.

 

[PinkiPad]

It's very odd, I know. There are no pets, dust or dirt -- I'm young but in a nursing home since I woke from my year-long coma. I've tried to replicate it but can't.

 

[Britton30]

Good you are doing as well as you are.
I'll ask for some help, stay tuned, it may be hours or days before someone else chimes in.

 

[UsernameIssues]

The next time that the keyboard's arrow keys go crazy, open the On-Screen Keyboard* and click on those left and right arrow "keys". If they do not cause a tab change in Firefox, then check the real keyboard again to be sure that the computer is still acting up.

If both the real and the virtual keyboard cause a change of tabs within Firefox, then we need to concentrate on Firefox plug-ins and settings. If only the real keyboard causes this tab change problem, then maybe the keyboard is going bad.

Since the problem comes and goes, it is unlikely to be software remapping key functions.


*Click on Start and begin to type
on-scre....
into the search field. Or keep a shortcut to this keyboard on your desktop while we troubleshoot this issue.

 

[Slartybart]

What are you doing when this happens? Browsing, writing a document, editing a text document?

Is it always in the same application or does the issue affect all applications (Word, Notepad, Firefox,etc). If it is related to a specific application, there might be a setting to modify this behavior.

At times, I will use the left and right cursor buttons -- the 4 arrows on the lower right on my laptop -- and rather than the cursor moving, it will change tabs to the left or right. It isn't an everyday thing but when it happens, it frustrates me. I use Firefox' latest build.

Why does it happen and how do I fix it?

 

[Britton30]

I'm not sure if this will help since it takes two hands maybe.
Keyboard shortcuts - Perform common Firefox tasks quickly | Firefox Help

 

[Anak]

I could not find anything specific in a search on:

• "arrow keys change firefox browser tabs not browser cursor"

• "will caret browsing in ff change tabs?"

• or "arrow keys do not move firefox browser cursor"

I did find that for every search, search pointed to Caret Browsing that will allow cursor movement within the active tab, but when caret is turned on it will not switch to another tab.

I have tested caret browsing with my 26.0 version of Firefox (FF) and cannot get it to switch tabs, it will only move the cursor within the active tab. Do you have the most recent version of FF?
Caret Browsing | How to Turn Caret Browsing On or Off in Mozilla Firefox?
Update Firefox to the latest version


If I may expand on the suggestions of my esteemed members:

I would first try the suggestion by DocBrown and blow out the keyboard, see if one of your family, friends or caregivers can help with that by finding and blowing out the keyboard with a can of compressed air.

UsernameIssues suggestions follow by checking the behavior of your laptop against the on-screen keyboard behavior.
There are add-on's to modify the keyboard in FF like Pentadactyl can you recall if you have any installed?

To check the FF plug-ins and settings it would be best if you ran FF in Safe Mode for Firefox


Even though you mentioned this only happens while using FF Slartybart has an interesting angle.

There are settings in FF that can be checked out, go to Tools in the menu bar of FF; then Options (1.), Advanced Section (2.) General Tab (3.) and see what your settings are for (#4.), notice my #4. is unchecked:



I haven't explored whether or not your issue can be affected or crossover into other applications.

There are settings in about:config but try these suggestions first before or if we venture there.

 

[PinkiPad]

Thank you to all. Ok, Options/Settings/General all are checked but the first and last items.

If plugin related, wouldn't this always happen?

I'm typing with one finger, in Firefox,then need to scroll up oe down in a page. Or just browsing through and hit the up arrow. Never Ctrl which indeed on both sides of keyboard.

Did I answer all? Oh that article didn't seem to mention this situation.

It's very intermittent. I wish I could make it happen. I don't change settings, I don't install new software very often. Lid is open 90 minutes a day. No pets, dust, cooties or food in keyboard. Turned this over and nothing fell out. No dustcan but if anything was trapped I'd think this would happen more often.

I appreciate all the help. Keep it coming!

 

[UsernameIssues]

~~~
If plugin related, wouldn't this always happen?
~~~

A plugin or even a native Firefox feature can be created in such a way as to only work when an edit field is detected. In my case, there are some forums that I visit where Firefox does not do any spell checking while I'm in the post composition field. My guess is that this is because of the way that Firefox detects that it is in an edit field or there are ways for the forum's software to turn off the spell checking... thus encouraging the members to use the forum's spell check feature.

If you notice this happening again, please let us know what website you were visiting, what you were doing at the time (e.g. making a post) and maybe take a screenshot of the entire screen. As I mentioned earlier, testing with the virtual keyboard might help too.

I understand how frustrating it is to not be able to reproduce this issue at will. But don't worry, this thread can stay open for as long as it takes.

 

[PinkiPad]

I have no memory so will print out those directions at my laptop tomorrow. I'll put up a note so when it happens I can go on screen

I don't use many programs other than Firefox, FTP, Notepad, and occasionally others. Mostly those three. I'm becoming familiar with Chrome but there are features I miss.

I'm counting on y'all. I'll be patient because this happened just twice, maybe a month apart. It's real frustrating to have it be infrequent but being so I know my keyboard is fine as in my OS.

 

[Slartybart]

Try tapping F7 when it happens next time. Firefox F7 toggles caret browsing

 

[PinkiPad]

Ok. F7 or On Screen Keyboard. Will do so next time this happens. Been a while ... whicj os good!

Happy New Year!

 

[Slartybart]

Happy New Year Pinki