7

I have just done a clean install of Windows 10 on a new PC. Ctrl+Backspace isn't deleting the word to the left of the caret in any program (Notepad, Chrome [address bar and text boxes such as this one], Windows search, etc). On the other hand, Ctrl+Delete does work and deletes the word to the right of the caret. Alt+Delete (restore last deleted word) works in some places (Notepad), but not in others (Chrome, Windows search).

I don't know if it's relevant, buy I also installed a second keyboard scheme in Portuguese. I don't remember if I used the command before installing the second scheme, but the command doesn't work in either language.

I've thought of installing AutoHotKey to solve this, but given how standard a feature this command is, it really shouldn't be necessary.

EDIT: @Leathe suggested in the comments testing the On-Screen Keyboard to see if that works. It does. This implies that the problem is in the keyboard. However, it clearly isn't a trivial hardware issue (broken key, for instance) since each of the keys works properly: Backspace deletes the letter to the left of the caret and it deletes files in Explorer; Ctrl modifies the behavior of other keys (Ctrl+Delete, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V all work as expected). It's just the sumation of both that is not behaving properly.

EDIT2: Using Key Scan Codes I checked how the PC is receiving the key strokes when entering these key combinations and have come up with very strange behavior.

Here's the program's output for Ctrl+C:

OnKeyDown, Key code=17, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name CTRL
OnKeyDown, Key code=67, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name c
OnKeyPress 
OnKeyup, Key code=67, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name c
OnKeyup, Key code=17, Control keys=, Key name CTRL

This is the same for every other combination (replacing the second and fourth lines to the respective key, obviously), with the exception of Ctrl+Backspace, which outputs

OnKeyDown, Key code=17, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name CTRL
OnKeyup, Key code=17, Control keys=, Key name CTRL

OnKeyDown, Key code=17, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name CTRL
OnKeyup, Key code=17, Control keys=, Key name CTRL

where the second and fourth lines occur when I press Backspace. For some reason, this specific combination replaces Backspace with a "raised the Ctrl key" action.

In fact, if I hold down any combination, the program displays

OnKeyDown, Key code=17, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name CTRL
OnKeyDown, Key code=67, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name c
OnKeyPress 
OnKeyDown, Key code=67, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name c
OnKeyPress 
OnKeyup, Key code=67, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name c
OnKeyup, Key code=17, Control keys=, Key name CTRL

where the OnKeyDown/OnKeyPress lines for C are repeated for as long as both keys are kept down. However, if I hold down Ctrl+Backspace, all I get is a single instance of

OnKeyDown, Key code=17, Control keys= Ctrl{Left}, Key name CTRL
OnKeyup, Key code=17, Control keys=, Key name CTRL

Meaning that, as far as the PC is concerned, I'm actually not pressing anything.

I'm really not sure how to solve this. I don't even think AutoHotKey would work in this situation since it seems that the Ctrl+Backspace combination simply doesn't appear to the computer.

6
  • Does Alt+Backspace work after you've deleted a word? (It should bring it back).
    – Leathe
    Nov 24, 2015 at 10:06
  • I never knew about this, both of you have changed my life!
    – Burgi
    Nov 24, 2015 at 10:26
  • @Leathe, yes, Alt+Backspace works with Ctrl+Delete and if I simply "manually" delete the word with multiple Delete's. It depends on where, though. It works on Notepad, but not on Chrome or Windows search.
    – Wasabi
    Nov 24, 2015 at 10:56
  • 1
    Alright, then we know the issue is specific to Ctrl+Backspace. Does the key combination work using the On-Screen Keyboard? (btw Alt+Backspace is basically "jump back in history")
    – Leathe
    Nov 24, 2015 at 11:52
  • @Leathe, good catch. Using the On-Screen Keyboard works, which means its something to do with my keyboard. What's odd is that it's not a simple hardware issue since both keys (Ctrl and Delete) work. It's just the sumation of both which isn't behaving properly...
    – Wasabi
    Nov 25, 2015 at 9:26

1 Answer 1

6

I solved it. Just as soon as I posted the most recent edit, I remembered that I plugged the keyboard into a USB port tagged with HOTKEY, which is a special port which allows me to boot my computer via my keyboard and some other silly things.

Just to see if that could possibly have anything to do with it, I put my keyboard into another USB and that solved the issue. I then looked at my motherboard's manual (its an MSI Z170a M7) and for some absurd reason they set Ctrl+Backspace as the shortcut for their "HOTKEY function" which does some more silly things. Why they didn't choose literally any other combination, I have no idea. But, well, that solves it. Now I just need to find out if I can change the combination for that HOTKEY function or if I'll simply need to keep my keyboard in another USB port.

But that's a different matter.

1
  • 3
    thank you a million times over for this. for some stupid reason my MSI board has 2 different special usb ports and they're not good to use with keyboards. I was about to return a perfectly good keyboard... Nov 11, 2017 at 5:57

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.