Question about keyboard typing in capitals.

[Matilda]

For the past week or so, when I use the shift key or caps lock to type in capitals, it often refuses to go into lower case again. After much searching, I found an easy answer to fixing the problem, but I don't understand why it keeps happening all of a sudden. I am a trained typist (from the old days of shorthand and typing), so I have a light but sure touch.

Would it be a problem with what is now an old keyboard? Or am I doing something all unawares to make it happen?

Has anybody experienced this as an ongoing problem rather than just a one-off?

[steve2470]

1. my take

I think your keyboard is slowly dying. Maybe someone has a better answer.

[intaglio]

2. Do you use a wireless keyboard?

If so change the batteries.

[ChromeFoundry]

3. Is this XP?

There was a thing called Sticky-Keys, where if you hit the Shift key 5 times, it would stay on, and difficult to turn off.

It can be disabled in Control Panel -> Accessibility Options

[Matilda]

4. Thank you all.

I suspect that the first reply nailed it - I probably should replace my keyboard. They're cheap enough. I've checked the sticky keys thingy, and it's checked off.

I just wanted to be sure it wasn't something I was doing accidentally.

[gvstn]

5. I'm only curious what was the easy fix you found to temporarily resolve the problem?

I agree with your assessment that a new keyboard is the easiest and cheapest thing to try out but am curious what exact steps you used to temporarily fix the situation.

~Been away a few days but am still curious of how this situation worked out.

[Matilda]

6. When the caps lock,

instead of pressing the caps lock key again to undo, I have to hit the shift key. Hard for me, because it is not what I was taught in typing class, but seems to work.

But I'll get a new keyboard this week and see if it fixes the problem permanently. There's a lot of dust collected in this one; it is about four or five years old.

[gvstn]

7. Thanks for the clarification!

Yeah, when keys seem to go bad in clusters it is usually something wrong with the keyboard. Most of the time some liquid (sugary) spilled but dust and accumulated humidity or body oil could do the same.

A new keyboard is probably well worth the money. Me and CD/DVD drives don't mix well and every time I buy a new one and it works flawlessly-- I think to myself, "Why didn't I do this sooner"? Good luck!