Keyboard angst!

[Loosehead]

Ok sometimes I accidentally do some sort of combination of keys that results in my keyboard becomming useless. This is what happens after the said as yet unknown combination of keys I can only type capitals regardless of shift/caps lock. The numeric key pad is dead, the numbers on the letter keyborad are inaccessable so if I press 7 for example I get '&'. the only way I can sort this is to reboot the whole machine. Anyone any idea what is the keysequence I'm accidentally pressing and more importantly how do I reverse it? Windows XP pro at work. Thanks

[OBonio]

Could be 'sticky keys'. Try pressing one of the shift keys five times in a row.

You can switch it off by going to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Accesibility Options.

[kempie]

It sounds like Sticky Keys has been activated (but that would normally pop up a confirmation box).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_keys

[kempie]

Doh!

[Loosehead]

Not sticky keys, I've checked that out. SK's are off in settings and I can turn them on by shiftx5 but that's obvious when they are on, ie it beeps and a box comes up. thanks anyway, any other ideas?

[OBonio]

Other than a bust keyboard (which I would guess would do this all the time, instead of sporadically). Sorry mate.

PS, is it a laptop?

[Loosehead]

yes it is a laptop, via docking station, so standard KB. Anyway just happenned to my collegue and it seems that the SHIFT+CTRL+TAB seems to work. Suggested from the Wikipedia article although it does not seem to have the symptoms of SK's. Thanks all