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CTRL + ALT + DEL stopped working?

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DRAMO4298

Technical User
Nov 23, 2001
85
US
Hello:

Seems my CTRL + ALT + DEL ( to see my running programs) has stopped working . . . nothing happens.

In 4 years on this computer - never had this happen.

First Aid 98 utility says "no problems."
Scandisk says "no errors."


THINGS DONE WITHIN LAST FEW DAYS:

About 20 Registry Tweaks to speed-up Internet Connection and Modem Speed (MTU/MSS, etc.).

Installed "BCWipe v2.37" for preventing detection of DELETED files (but haven't used the program yet).

UPDATED my "Ahead Nero and InCD" software from the AHEAD SOFTWARE website.

Created an "Emergency Boot Disk" on 3.5" floppy disk.

Downloaded, installed and ran the "Winbacker v2000" program to some backup files to a Directory.

BACKED-UP "Registry and 15 files" to a CDR disk using "Ahead Nero-Burning ROM" software.

Ran "BELARC ADVISOR" system diagnostics program.

THANK YOU for any help.
 
My guess would be the Tweak programs...also those internet boosters don't help, some even slow you down.
 
We just had a similiar question asked at our forum and it turned out to be a bad keyboard. I believe the CTL key was bad. Try using another keyboard and see if that fixes it. We are always looking for new members at our computer forums: Please come join our community too.
 
Hello DUMDUM:

I tried THREE other keyboards I have here and the problem is the same. Exclude KEYBOARDS as the problem.

Hello MONTROZE:

I didn't use any "Tweak Programs" - just manually changed the Registry after reading "AXCEL216". I don't feel that changing things in the "NET TRANS" section has anything to do with my "CTRL" button - but that's just a feeling/hunch.

I saw a similar keyboard problem on the TV show "THE SCREENSAVERS" and the caller was told that possibly one of his friends may have changed his "KEYBOARD TABLE" as a joke.

I DO have a son here who stays up late at nights and MAYBE he was fooling around with my system as I slept.

The CALLER on TV was told to go into ("somewhere") and change his "Keyboard Table" to "International" setting or any OTHER settings.

I guess this "KEYBOARD TABLE-ACCESS" is in CONTROL PANEL . . . I'll try it.

ANYONE ELSE ever have this problem or have any idea what the SOLUTION would be - really would hate to have RESTORE my Registry after 2 days of "Tweaking" . . . especially if the PROBLEM is not in the REGISTRY.

I NEED MORE INFO !!!!!

Thanks everyone for the help and advice.
 
Hello again:

I tried the KEYBOARD change to "International" and that didn't help any . . . changed it back to "United States 101."

Any NEW ideas about this problem?

Thank you.
 
Hi... I think that the big thing we need to verify here is "Are all of these keys (Ctrl-Alt-Del) working"?

To test the Control key try the Windows start button shortcut of (Control-Esc), for Alt just go into any program with a menubar and see if Alt takes you to it, I bet you can figure out Delete... just go into a textbox and try deleting some text...

If all these keys work, post a reply... I've got a few more ideas...
 
Very good, Nyaj2K1:

CTRL button and ALT are working correctly.

I opened NOTEPAD, typed 10 keyboard letters, clicked on EDIT, then SELECT ALL, pressed DEL . . . those letters were NOT deleted.

So it seems that my problem is the "DEL" key that is disabled/not working from any keyboard.

I hope this narrows down the problem and that there is some SOLUTION (wonder why this occurred in the first place).

Any idea what I should do now about this?

Gratefully, RICHARD
 
Hello NYAJ2K1, MONTROZE, DUMDUM:

I FOUND THE PROBLEM !!!!!!

Among all the TWEAKS I did . . . one of THEM was to install the "Accessibility Options."

Remembering this (after sleeping on the problem) - I went to Control Panel / Accessibility Options / Mouse / and then I "UNCHECKED" the box for "UseMouseKeys."

I rebooted the machine . . . and "CTRL + ALT + DEL" sequence opened the box showing me my Running Programs.

I will do some research on my TWEAKS to find out WHY I had "CHECKED" that box in the first place.

Thank you everyone for trying to help me with this problem.

FROM NOW I will write down "EVERY" little thing I do on my computer and restart and check my system after "EACH" change I make !!!!!!!!

Relieved, RICHARD (NYC)
 
Great to hear that the problem was that simple... I was about to write a program that tested your delete key... to eliminate the hardware possibility...
 
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