well, on a strange problem like this, what I hope for is that someone
recognizes this as a known issue... otherwise maybe it's unsolvable

So Mike Rathbunger at least has some similar problem.

Mine is a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop. I have not installed nor activated any
special keyboard software. I had seen the ControlPanel/Keyboard settings, but
auto repeat didn't seem to be involved. Still, if I could reproduce the
problem at will, then I would change the settings and test. (Well, I changed
that anyway, just as a possibility.

I suppose the problem mostly arises while typing into a form, in Firefox. But
I can't say that it's limited to that or not.

If "fat fingers" means hitting two adjacent keys at once, then I likely do
that all the time - but again, not the Ctrl or Alt keys. The problem actually
occurred within an hour of making the original post, and my mind did record
that I had been typing in the asdf area. Still, maybe hitting two adjacent
'regular' keys does trip up this keyboard somehow.

Likewise, I hit the spacebar with my right thumb, smack in the middle of the
bar and so do not hit Alt along with that. I also do not inadvertently hit the
mouse pad, since in this configuration, my thumbs aren't near it while typing.

The Ctrl or Alt keys do not stick, in my case.

Thanks for the answers. I'm guessing after reading your answers that it might
be an unchangeable hardware thing. It might be due to: speed, or fat fingers,
or maybe even the force of hitting the keyboard sending a minor shockwave that
trips an Alt or Ctrl key. I guess I'll try the Dell group then.



> Hi, Jrz.
>
> There are many possible factors and you've given us NOTHING to work with. :>(
>
> Which version of Vista? Make and model keyboard? What driver? Any other keyboard software, such as IntelliType? Which version of that? Is the keyboard wireless? Have you downloaded the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website?
>
> Several of us have experienced episodes of a "stuck" Ctrl or Alt key, producing a <Ctrl>+<C> when we meant just "C", for example. And my Microsoft Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 v.3.0 often seems to just DIE for a minute or so, often right in the middle of a word. And it often produces "IF" when I'm sure I typed "If", as though I didn't release the Shift key quickly enough, but I'm too good a typist to make that mistake that often.
>
> There are settings in Control Panel that you can adjust to fit your typing speed. Only you can tell if there is enough control available there to do you any good.
>
> Until you tell us more about your computer and keyboard, that's about all we can tell you.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
> rc@grandecom.net
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>
> "Jrz" <jrz@nospam.com> wrote in message news:OvUKms0zJHA.6132@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I type really fast. Not necessarily accurately, but fast. It's not unusual
>> that the OS starts doing weird things, like opening history or
>> closing/switching windows, etc.
>>
>> I'm not hitting the Control or Alt keys, just regular alphanumeric keys, so
>> it's somehow interpreting very quick hits on normal keys incorrectly. Is there
>> anything I can do to avoid the problem? Thanks.
>