Solved Strange Keyboard Issue

[Teepot]

I have an old wired MS Natural Keyboard that I love (multiple carpal tunnel surgeries). It has worked flawlessly for many years. I leave my PC on 24/7 as I am part of a cooperative weather reporting network and I automatically upload the information from my weather station every 10 minutes. I usually reboot only after having some kind of issue or install an upgrade that requires it. A couple of months ago, I started having a strange, random issue with the keyboard after using Fast User Switching to move between users on my Home Premium x64 Dell desktop system.

If I need to switch between users more than just a few times, suddenly most, but not all, of the keys on my keyboard stop functioning when I get to the User Login Screen. The mouse works, but only the Enter, Tab & Esc keys work. I don't get any kind of error or notification and there's nothing in the system logs. I've tried pressing all the other keys both one at a time and in known combinations like Ctl-Alt-Del to see if I get any response, but only these 3 keys do anything. The only way I can get back normal keyboard function is to use the mouse to Restart the PC. I can use the Accessibility Function to bring up the on screen keyboard and use the mouse to enter the User Password and complete a login, but the keyboard issue is still there until the PC is rebooted.

Over the last few weeks, I've searched for an answer, but haven't found one. I suspect this is due to a OS patch or software install. I do daily restore points, but since I don't know exactly when it began, there's no way to know where to restore to. I have a system repair disk that was made recently, but I have no way of knowing if it's before or after the event that triggered this strange keyboard issue.

Has anyone else seen this issue recently ? I'm pretty knowledgeable of Windows 7, but I'm no expert. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[oscer1]

hi try a clean boot and see if problem returns Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

 

[Digerati]

Keyboards do wear out.

I would try a different keyboard just to see what happens. If the same thing happens with a different keyboard, then you know the problem is with the computer and not the keyboard. If the problem goes away, then you likely need a new keyboard.

With this old MS Keyboard disconnected, flip it upside down and give it few stiff knocks to [hopefully] dislodge any cookie or potato chip crumbs from under the keys. Using some compressed air between the keys might help too.

Lastly, make sure the keyboard connector has not wiggled loose too.

 

[jack3]

plug a second keyboard in and see what happens

remove the faulty keyboard, and reconnect in different usb socket, somethings they get confused or troublesome

If the 2nd keyboard works you know the old keyboard has issues

 

[Teepot]

Thanks for the suggestions, but none helped. The issue finally went away after an update from Kaspersky Internet Suite and has not returned.

 

[oscer1]

Thanks for posting back