Computer Trouble

[Keza52]

Hey guys, for some reason sometimes on my laptop you're typing away and then i go to push a w for example and it closes the window. Any idea how to resolve this? Also when I stay on a page without doing anything it would freeze so Id flick to another page and then back to it and its fine. Another thing too Id be typing then it would go back maybe 5 words and Id typing from there. Any ideas how to fix these problems?

[MarkRae]

The 'w' issue is probably because you've accidentally held the Ctrl key down as you've hit the 'w' key. Ctrl-W is a hot-key combination understood by most modern browsers to mean "close the current tab / window".

The freezing issue could be because you have some background process set up to run only when the machine is idle.

As for the jumping back a few words issue, again are you sure you're not accidentally nudging the cursor on the mouse pad?

[Old_Geezer]

Wow. you don't have another key stuck do you, like a control or alt ?

I find laptops a pain to use and fighting tooth and nail not to be forced to use them at work. They always seem to want to do stuff I've not asked them to. For example the last time I was using one it started copying things for no apparent reason. They are the work of the devil. Long live the desktop.

[Old_Geezer]

I seem to be good and getting the post in late at the moment. I'm going to limber up for a bit.

[RATTER15]

Im with OG on this, I hate laptops, work of the Devil indeed!!

[ChuckFickens]

You know what they say about people blaming tools, OG

Make sure sticky keys isn't enabled for the windows closing when you press W, look in control panel > accessibility options.

Agree with Mark on the other two items.

[HowardKennitby]

^^

I agree with both above. I hate typing on any flat keyboards.

[Keza52]

With the w problem it happens when i type other letters too. To get it back to normal and I have to log off then log back on. Happens when I move the mouse as well. I go up and down to view the page but the screen goes smaller to bigger.

[Old_Geezer]

Aye, I do, but good design should mean a tool is easy to use, rather than frustrating and always catching you out.

Definitely sounds like a sticking key to me. You are getting control functions not the letters.

[ChuckFickens]

The zooming with the mouse would be caused by CTRL being held down or stuck on too

Check sticky keys like I said above. if it's not that you may have a physically stuck CTRL key.

[Keza52]

and nah not nudging the cursor on the mouse pad. It just does it randomly when i dont type for a few minutes. I go to type again and its starts from about letters back.

[MarkRae]

In which case, on the assumption that you HAVEN'T enabled sticky keys, I'd say that it's almost certainly a physical keyboard problem. It could be as simple as dirt under the Ctrl key(s). Depending on what type of laptop you have, you might be able to snap the individual pads off the keys and clean the underneath. Alternatively, a good old spray with a can of compressed air might do the trick.

[Keza52]

When I spray the compressed air on the keyboard it wont get into the inside of the laptop will it?