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Question

Help tracking down source of constant keyboard input

Apr 14, 2017 7:39AM PDT

I believe there is some software package on my Win 7 machine that is generating data that appears as constant keyboard input. This only occurs on a system reset. Follow a reset, if I click on the logo on the lower left side of the desktop to open the 'search program and files', there is a constant flow of comma characters that fill the input box and keep going until a character is hit. This will not happen again until the next reset. I have done scans with my Norton Virus protection and my Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanner and nothing is reported. With several hundred software packages loaded on the machine, I am not sure how to track down what is causing something to appear as if it is keyboard input upon a system reset. Unless it is really coming from some mis-reading of the keyboard that is only following a system reset.

Any ideas of tracking down this random bug. At first I was concerned that this could have been from some virus software but scans don't reflect that.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Have you unplugged the keyboard and
Apr 14, 2017 7:48AM PDT

Reset to see if this happens?

As to tracking it down, you start with the keyboard test, then move to a new user account and see if that follows it.

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Have you unplugged the keyboard
Apr 14, 2017 8:56AM PDT

I can try to unplug the keyboard before the reset, but I have done several power down resets which I would think would be the equivalent of disconnecting the keyboard for a fresh restart. And again, I have no issues with the keyboard at all, only following a reset. This is why I was considering that the problem may actually have been false keyboard input being driven by a program than from the actual keyboard.

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I'd try the no keyboard test.
Apr 14, 2017 9:26AM PDT

I've seen stuck keys that filter out as the machine finishes booting. Really annoying issue.

Good luck getting the tests done.

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Answer
First of all
Apr 14, 2017 8:37AM PDT

Define system reset.

If it's not a keyboard problem (swap in another keyboard) use msconfig/startup and untick everything.
Reboot and test.

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Define system reset
Apr 14, 2017 9:00AM PDT

I define a system reset as physically holding down the power button on the computer which will eventually activate the reset line of the processor and cause a complete reboot starting from the BIOS. I define a power down reset as using 'shutdown' to turn off power then use the power button to restart everything.

Yes I do have another keyboard I can try. If I have to go the route of using msconfig I know this is going to be a long drawn out process as it take several minutes after a reset before you can get to any input screen to see if keyboard data is being generated.