Random Slashes in Windows XP

SableflameSableflame
edited November 2007 in Science & Tech
Hi all. Great site! Hopefully someone here might be able to help me with this issue.

My computer, out of the blue, has started to add slashes whenever the forward slash key is pressed (this includes Shift + / to get a ?). After typing either one, there is a slight pause, and then it adds a seemingly random number of slashes. Example- "How are you?//" or "Monday///Tuesday." This occurs across all programs, games, word processing programs, and messaging.

Now, frustratingly, this has happened to me before. However, it was about a year ago, and for my life I cant remember what I did to fix it. I have since reinstalled windows, so for it to pop up again is rather odd. I have searched for someone else who has experienced this, to no avail. Anyone have any ideas?// (<--unintentional example...) Thanks!

OS: Windows XP Home SP2

Comments

  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited November 2007
    Try keeping the Shift key held down after you release the slash key. If you get a string of question marks the / key in your keyboard is probably sticking. From there you can increase your key repetition delay in the BIOS or appropriate control panel or just replace your keyboard.

    -drasnor :fold:
  • SableflameSableflame
    edited November 2007
    It seemed like such a nice solution, so I tried. The string continues infinitely as long as I hold the shift. If the key were just sticking, wouldn't it just make the one or two ??? that would normally replace the /////'s? (Or, in that case, 5.)
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited November 2007
    Try a different keyboard, and see if the problem persists.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited November 2007
    Hit the shift key 5 time, this should bring up the Sticky Keys screen, make sure it's disabled.
  • SableflameSableflame
    edited November 2007
    Wow. I completely missed the obvious solution. I just swapped out the keyboard for one connected by a ps2. And...it works.

    Sorry to waste your time with this, but thank you for all the help.
  • cautionmarkcautionmark
    edited November 2007
    You need to think outside the box sometimes, but the solution may just be lying inside that tiny wee box that is sitting right in front of you, lol.
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