Virus or broken backspace key - Tilted Forum Project - TFP - Sexuality, Philosophy and Political Discussion

trache · 06-27-2005, 05:01 PM

All:

I am doing some tech support on a HP imnibook 6000 laptop, running Windows XP Professional SP2.

The backspace key seems to "get pressed" whenever I start to type, which then erases what I'm trying to type. Try hitting the backspace key in IE and Explorer, and you'll then see how frustrated I've been all day trying to get stuff done on this machine. It does not seem to type at any time, only if I start to type. Or maybe it's just me!

Basically, I have scanned the laptop with AVG, AntiVir, Trend Micro Housecall (online), Spybot, AdAware, Hijackthis, CWShredder, ProcessExplorer and a few other Sysinternals software, and probably a few other utilities I don't remember at this point. Safe Mode and Normal Mode - They all found nothing.

Now, the kicker to all of this is that this laptop is a few years old and the "pad" over the keyboard circuit for the backspace is only partially there. I do not know if this is a physical problem or if in fact it is a computer virus (a really good one at that - I have seen a few things install themselves into the AppINIT_DLLs key in the Windows Registry!)

Is there a utility out there that will test to see if the system has pressed a key or the user pressed a key on the keyboard?

HELP!

wdevauld · 06-27-2005, 05:03 PM

Try downloading Knoppix from here and make a bootable CD from it. When you start your machine, you'll have a full functioning linux OS, by default the start screen has a web browser there, just start typing in the location bar.

If you still get the ghosted backspace you have a physical problem, if not Windows is infected.

trache · 06-28-2005, 08:18 AM

wdevauld: Thank you for your suggestion. It worked wonderfully.

Shortly after posting this question, the download for the Ultimate Boot CD finished. I booted up the computer and still had the ghosted backspace key.

You have NO idea how disappointed I am because I thought I may stumble upon a really difficult to place computer virus and learn a few things about the innards of Windows (as we so often do in these cases).

Now I have to tell the owner of the laptop that he must buy a new one (or give his left arm to repair this one).

Cuatela · 06-28-2005, 10:33 AM

Yeah, I had that problem a few months ago when an older laptop came in...except it was the left-side shift key. I popped it off and it worked fine. put it back on and it worked for a while. I'd suggest just trying to find a replacement key and see if that works.

06-27-2005, 05:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
trache Insane Join Date: Mar 2004	Virus or broken backspace key All: I am doing some tech support on a HP imnibook 6000 laptop, running Windows XP Professional SP2. The backspace key seems to "get pressed" whenever I start to type, which then erases what I'm trying to type. Try hitting the backspace key in IE and Explorer, and you'll then see how frustrated I've been all day trying to get stuff done on this machine. It does not seem to type at any time, only if I start to type. Or maybe it's just me! Basically, I have scanned the laptop with AVG, AntiVir, Trend Micro Housecall (online), Spybot, AdAware, Hijackthis, CWShredder, ProcessExplorer and a few other Sysinternals software, and probably a few other utilities I don't remember at this point. Safe Mode and Normal Mode - They all found nothing. Now, the kicker to all of this is that this laptop is a few years old and the "pad" over the keyboard circuit for the backspace is only partially there. I do not know if this is a physical problem or if in fact it is a computer virus (a really good one at that - I have seen a few things install themselves into the AppINIT_DLLs key in the Windows Registry!) Is there a utility out there that will test to see if the system has pressed a key or the user pressed a key on the keyboard? HELP! __________________ "You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

06-27-2005, 05:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
wdevauld Tilted Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Calgary, AB	Try downloading Knoppix from here and make a bootable CD from it. When you start your machine, you'll have a full functioning linux OS, by default the start screen has a web browser there, just start typing in the location bar. If you still get the ghosted backspace you have a physical problem, if not Windows is infected. __________________ As soon as you stop living, you start dying....

06-28-2005, 08:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
trache Insane Join Date: Mar 2004	wdevauld: Thank you for your suggestion. It worked wonderfully. Shortly after posting this question, the download for the Ultimate Boot CD finished. I booted up the computer and still had the ghosted backspace key. You have NO idea how disappointed I am because I thought I may stumble upon a really difficult to place computer virus and learn a few things about the innards of Windows (as we so often do in these cases). Now I have to tell the owner of the laptop that he must buy a new one (or give his left arm to repair this one). __________________ "You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

06-28-2005, 10:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cuatela Insane Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NC, USA	Yeah, I had that problem a few months ago when an older laptop came in...except it was the left-side shift key. I popped it off and it worked fine. put it back on and it worked for a while. I'd suggest just trying to find a replacement key and see if that works. __________________ Any sarcasm was intentional.