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I'm having this annoying problem where Windows randomly seems to decide that I have the Windows key pressed down (even though I don't), and every key press will trigger an associated Windows key shortcut until I press the Windows key, which seems to reset it. I don't get any kind of pop up or notification when this happens. It might happen once or twice a day.

I'm using Windows 7 now, but I had the same problem with Windows Vista on the same computer (although less frequently). At work, on Windows XP, I've never had this issue.

This is not a keyboard problem: I recently upgraded my keyboard and it persists.

I've turned off every setting on the Windows Ease of Access Center for keyboards, including sticky keys, toggle keys, filter keys, and mouse keys. However, I wouldn't be surprised if one of these was getting triggered anyway.

What's going on here, and how do I stop it?

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Have you ruled out Malware? Use at least 2 scanners to verify this, I like MBAM, and Super Antispyware. – Moab Dec 5 '10 at 22:32
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I've had this experience on almost every single Windows computer since (and including) XP. Either Alt, Shift, Ctrl or the Windows key will think it's pressed down, so I just work around it by pressing them twice, in order around the bottom left of my keyboard, and that resets it. – Randolph West Dec 6 '10 at 1:33
I'm fairly sure it's not caused by malware. I've experienced this behavior on Vista and after a clean reinstall of Windows 7 on a brand new drive. – cosmic.osmo Dec 6 '10 at 5:19
I most often have the same problem with the control key; it seems to happen in all Windows OSs. Usually I can fix it by pressing a shortcut key that involves the stuck key (e.g. Ctrl+C), or even just pressing and releasing the stuck key a couple of times. – Qwertie Jul 25 '11 at 21:09
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3 Answers

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I'm pretty sure your keyboard is malfunctioning... if this is a desktop, try another keyboard. If its a laptop, try cleaning the keyboard, but the laptops keyboards are kind of fragile. I mean, if the keyboard hardware went bad, you have to replace it.

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This problem has occurred with two keyboards, so I really don't think it's a keyboard hardware problem. – cosmic.osmo Dec 6 '10 at 6:29
if this happende with XP and now with W7, its a hardware problem. As far as i know, there is no "intelligence" between the keyb and the computer hardware, its just a HID usb and the OS understands what to do. what i mean is, this doesnt make sense. The only thing i could think about is there is some utility/software you use and is causing this behavior. – Alejandro Angelico Dec 17 '10 at 21:18
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up vote 1 down vote

Try turning the accessibility keyboard assistance tools (sticky keys et all) on, and then off again.

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I think the usb port is sometimes losing keystrokes, in this case it lost the release of the windows key.

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