Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Tab Key Behavior

0 helpful
9 replies

by sedachan

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Why will the tab key, inexplicably, start minimizing the current window and open another program on the task bar when pressed?

This has happened to me many times and was always corrected by rebooting. A friend is asking me "why" this happens and I don't have an answer.

I have searched Microsoft's technet site but have not come up with an answer.

Let's assume that the current keyboard has been cleaned, and that using another keyboard has also been tried, but the problem persists.

What would cause this??

Sharon

9 replies

by thechas

Since a re-boot clears up the problem, the likely cause is some program re-mapping the keyboard.

Check for ad-ware / spy-ware by downloading and running AdAware 6 from www.lavasoft.de

If that does not take care of the problem, the next time the Tab key behavior changes, open the task manager (Alt-Ctrl-Del) and note which programs are running.
Re-boot, open task manager again, and see what is different.

Chas

by lwd86

I agree with answer 1. It is probably either a game or a dos progran that you are running.

by dklippert

Normally, Alt+Tab will work like you are describing. Do you have one of the Accessibility options turned on; such as StickyKeys?
See Control Panel Accessibility options Keyboard.

by wukoki

When this happens, try just pressing the Alt key once. I have seen this happen on a number of computers. It isn't necessarily sticky keys. Sometimes, after you press Alt, the computer continues to act as if the Alt key is depressed until you hit it again.

This discussion is closed to new replies.