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A teacher at our high school contacted me, saying that every time she presses the E key it prints out a euro sign. It's not the language settings, I already tried that. It happens in all programs, and regardless of who's logged in. Could a student have remapped the key when she wasn't looking?

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What windows ? In just some software or in every ? More info would be good. – ldigas Nov 12 at 21:11
Windows XP. Everything. Regaurdless of who'a logged in. – Nathan Lawrence Nov 12 at 21:21
Sorry. Who's logged in. – Nathan Lawrence Nov 12 at 21:22
So why not swap out the keyboard to test of that's been rigged? – Eight Days of Malaise Nov 13 at 5:36
Did you meanwhile try restarting? – Arjan van Bentem Nov 13 at 7:59

4 Answers

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Sometimes modifier keys like Alt, Ctrl or the Windows key get "stuck". I didn't quite work out the why but sometimes it happens, as if the OS just doesn't see the key-up event.

Anyway, the usual way to get rid of that is simply by pressing all modifier keys once, so just hit Alt, Ctrl and AltGr and the issue should go away.

It's especially annoying with the Windows key, though, as this causes programs to start on every second keypress (E for Explorer for example). On a slow machine that can be frustrating.

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If the modifier keys were stuck, then other keys also were producing their alternatives (or ouput nothing if there is no alternative/special function). – Martin Nov 13 at 8:30
While this is true, it does not match the above scenario. What all we answers need is more information about the nationality of this keyboard and its user. – Guy Thomas Nov 13 at 8:32
Actually the OP didn't say anything about any other keys. So where do you take the idea that other keys aren't affected? We simply have no data on this so all we need is somthing that explains the specific data point we have, which is that E produces €. – Johannes Rössel Nov 13 at 20:12
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Your suspicions of keyboard remap can easily be verified by downloading a utility like KeyTweak which will show you all key mappings currently in effect, and can also be used to restore all defaults.

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It can be either a regional setting (have him change his region to an English-speaking one), or a font issue (make sure he's using a standard font and not Symbol or Wingdings :)). Also, does this happen in every application?

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Regional setting: Can't happen, font issue: possible but highly inlikely and requires some malicious intent and effort. – Johannes Rössel Nov 13 at 7:53
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Students, female teacher, E key = euro. I smell a rat. Especially as the normal combination is Alt Gr (right alt) and 4.

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i think Czech keyboard layout is using AltGr + E – Molly Nov 12 at 23:13
I'm sure AltGr+E used to be the shortcut key when Euro first came along (so WIn 95 / 98 days). Possibly still the case for some layouts and keyboards. Is it possible she has a stuck AltGr key? – AdamV Nov 13 at 1:15
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This is layout-specific. The German keyboard layout has it on AltGr+E as well, as do most European layouts, I think. I am using US International here and there it's AltGr+5. On Apple's keyboard it's totally different as well. That's not something that's standardized in any way :-) – Johannes Rössel Nov 13 at 7:50

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