Strange problem...need help

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Experiencing a problem with quite a few laptops here lately. I have logged a call with Dell but so far they are unable to help. Google search didnt reveal much last time i checked.

It goes like this. After a while and at seemingly random intervals the laptops in question all start behaving as though the shift key is somehow stuck. Excel starts highlighting cells instead of just moving the cursor around, Lotus Notes starts marking messages with the up and down arrows, every other program does its own similar thing too.

Only thing similar between all these users is that they are running the same XP image sent from Chicago, and they are all using Dell Port Replicators. The laptops themselves are D420's and D620's so models are different. We are rolling out these new laptops with Windows XP (finally we are running XP ) and the new ones all seem to have this problem. The rest of our users are using Win2000 and older laptops and they are all ok.

I have disabled sticky keys (XP function)---interestingly though when I press shift 5 times and the popup appears on those I havent disabled, I press cancel and the problem goes away temporarily.
I have asked a user to try avoid using the Port Replicator today and see what happens..so far it seems ok but I am awaiting some more response.

Could this possibly be a Port Replicator issue?? has anyone experienced this as well and managed to solve it??

Any input would be much appreciated

 

[Gadget Man]

Hi. I've had a similar problem on a HP Compaq Evo laptop running XP. Activating and deactivating the sticky keys solved the problem, as well as a restart. It was especially frustrating in Excel. We've since got rid of the machine. Doubt that it is Dell or the replicators. Probably XP or a hidden virus (we ran the latest virus protection at the time). The prblem came and went ... very arbitrary.

 

[nihilist]

It almost sounds like a keyboard buffer bios issue.

Sometimes when you have a stuck key (software, not physically) you can hol down ctrl+alt+shift on both sides of the keybard and let go, this should clear it.

Experiencing a problem with quite a few laptops here lately. I have logged a call with Dell but so far they are unable to help. Google search didnt reveal much last time i checked.

It goes like this. After a while and at seemingly random intervals the laptops in question all start behaving as though the shift key is somehow stuck. Excel starts highlighting cells instead of just moving the cursor around, Lotus Notes starts marking messages with the up and down arrows, every other program does its own similar thing too.

Only thing similar between all these users is that they are running the same XP image sent from Chicago, and they are all using Dell Port Replicators. The laptops themselves are D420's and D620's so models are different. We are rolling out these new laptops with Windows XP (finally we are running XP ) and the new ones all seem to have this problem. The rest of our users are using Win2000 and older laptops and they are all ok.

I have disabled sticky keys (XP function)---interestingly though when I press shift 5 times and the popup appears on those I havent disabled, I press cancel and the problem goes away temporarily.
I have asked a user to try avoid using the Port Replicator today and see what happens..so far it seems ok but I am awaiting some more response.

Could this possibly be a Port Replicator issue?? has anyone experienced this as well and managed to solve it??

Any input would be much appreciated

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

Thanks. Will dig some more into the sticky keys and keyboard buffer problems