Non-latching caps-lock key :(

[philguk]

I am running Wndows XP Pro SP3 on a Dell Latitude laptop and suddenly, for no apparent reason, the caps lock key on the keyboard is NOT latching

I have tried both the laptop keyboard itself AND an external (PS/2 attached) keyboard - they both behave the same

Also, I have restarted Windows in safe mode and then the caps-lock key DOES latch - it's only when running XP normally that it doesn't latch....

I'm assuming therefore that this is a Windows problem (a bad setting somewhere?) rather than a hardware one

When I press the key, the caps-lock light does illuminate briefly, but then goes out again almost immediately

This is getting to be very irritating, so I'd appreciate any suggestion as to how to put this right

Many thanks

Phil G

[killerb255]

Are you running any special keyboard software (like from Logitech or another well-known keyboard manufacturer)?  If so, then it may be trying to control the current state of Caps Lock, Num Lock, etc.

[philguk]

Are you running any special keyboard software (like from Logitech or another well-known keyboard manufacturer)?  If so, then it may be trying to control the current state of Caps Lock, Num Lock, etc.

Nope

So far as I know, NOTHING has changed (apart from some MS fixes) since this was last working

It's very odd and very annoying

Phil G

[killerb255]

Nope

So far as I know, NOTHING has changed (apart from some MS fixes) since this was last working

It's very odd and very annoying

Phil G

Any optional MS Fixes installed?  Sometimes Microsoft Update will recommend keyboard/mouse/whatever utilities (I've seen this happen when I had a Dell keyboard connected to a KVM switch--Microsoft Update recommended some HP keyboard utility).

[Allan]

Do you have the correct keyboard driver installed?

[philguk]

Do you have the correct keyboard driver installed?

I guess so - it's been working fine for years and has only recently started playing up

Also, when I shut down or hibernate Windows, the key DOES become latching during the Windows shutdown process!

[philguk]

Any optional MS Fixes installed?  Sometimes Microsoft Update will recommend keyboard/mouse/whatever utilities (I've seen this happen when I had a Dell keyboard connected to a KVM switch--Microsoft Update recommended some HP keyboard utility).

Not so far as I know - but how could I tell for sure?