It also happens to the best to press some combination of keys, without realizing or by mistake, and find themselves with the crazy keyboard and the computer to do strange and unwanted operations. This problem occurs regularly when a child puts his hands on the keyboard and presses random keys, activating functions that were never known to exist. Until one of these problems is encountered, in fact, one does not know what to do to solve them and the first thing that comes to mind is "it will be the fault of a virus">
If the keys do not work properly, in 99% of cases a virus has nothing to do, the fault lies simply with special combinations of keys that, on Windows, activate specific behaviors that may seem anomalous, such as, for example, the screen overturned, or the fact that the numbers do not work or that the various symbol keys are all messed up.
Let's see the most common mistakes that are made with the keyboard and how to solve them .
READ ALSO: How to repair keyboard keys (Windows PC)
1) Upside down screen
On laptops and with almost all graphics cards, Windows can be set to work as if you had a tablet and, therefore, you can change the orientation of the screen from horizontal to vertical or even upside down.
This happens when you press the CTRL + ALT + arrow keys .
To solve the problem just press CTRL + ALT + Up arrow and restore the display in the right orientation. If the Windows screen turns sideways and the shortcut above does nothing (only works if the video card is Intel), go to Settings> System> Display
(in Windows 10), scroll down until you find the Resize and layout option and set the Landscape Orientation .
If you want to disable screen rotation, you can go to Control Panel-> Programs-> Uninstall Windows features -> uncheck the tablet PC components . But this works at the system level and if it is the software of the video card that controls the rotation, then you just have to be careful.
The one of the inverted screen is one of the simplest and funest computer jokes on the PC to do to friends or work colleagues.
2) The next letter is deleted
Those who write documents can often find themselves in this situation where, when editing a text, each letter that is written on the Word sheet, deletes the next one. Overwriting mode often transforms the cursor into a highlighted box around the current character. The fault lies with the INS key which does not give any warning when it is activated and which serves to make corrections of texts faster. Then try pressing INS again and writing to continue correctly and solve the problem.
3) The password is always wrong
When you write a password to access an account or even to log into Windows, the characters are covered with dots and you don't see what is written. One then enters the correct password but discovers that it is no longer accepted, perhaps because he is writing it in upper case. The automatic upper case is activated with the Caps Lock or Caps Lock key which, in almost all keyboards, makes a light turn on and can be represented by the padlock symbol.
Some may think that this error is too trivial to be mentioned here, instead it is so common that in many sites and programs where you enter the password, the warning appears to make sure you have disabled the Caps Lock, which in Italian is Caps Lock .
If you notice that this key is never used, it would be productive to change keys (remap) or disable it so as not to be mistaken anymore.
4) The numeric keypad does not work
Most keyboards include a numeric keypad, even on laptops. The keyboard of numbers is useful when using the calculator or programs to do the math but it has a double function. It can be used as numbers or as arrows to move around the screen. What changes this behavior is the Num Lock or Num Lock key on English keyboards.
So if the numeric keyboard does not work, you have to press the Num Lock key and see a small light appear on the keyboard that indicates the activation of the Num Pad. On some laptops, you need to use the Fn key, to activate NUM LOCK .
5) The characters and symbols are no longer those indicated on the keys
Computer keyboards are different depending on the country and language. Therefore, depending on the language set on Windows, the keys change function and write different symbols. On the computer there is always the Italian language, but also the English one. To check this, just press the IT button on the Windows taskbar and find out that there is also the EN option to enable writing in English.
What really happens is to change the language from IT to EN without realizing it, making the mistake of pressing the left ALT and SHIFT keys simultaneously or, in Windows 10, even pressing the combination of Windows keys and Space bar .
Try pressing ALT-Shift together and notice that the language changes from IT to EN.
To solve the problem, check at the bottom right of the desktop if it says EN and press alt + shift to return IT with the Italian language and the correct symbols of the keys.
In some rarer cases, due to a program or a change in setting, the date format may have been changed causing some errors, perhaps written in Chinese.
To solve the problem, you can go to the Control Panel -> Countries and language (or international settings ) and put the Italian language on the first tab of the date format, on the location and on keyboards and languages .
In Windows 10 you can also go to Settings> Date Time and language and set the Italian language for the keyboard, removing other keyboards or language packs.
In Windows 10, the language and keyboard layout options are located under Settings> Date / Time and Language .
6) The size of the text of the web pages changes
When browsing the internet, it may be that the web pages are seen larger or smaller because the CTRL key has been pressed by moving the mouse wheel. This is very useful if a web page is too small to be viewed or to enter more information on the screen. The CTRL-wheel button combination also works on Windows, on the desktop and on each folder by enlarging the icons and texts. To quickly reset the zoom to 100%, just press the key combination CTRL + 0
7) The arrow keys scroll the Excel sheet
Those who use the Excel program can run into this problem where the arrow keys, instead of scrolling through the cells, send the sheet up and down.
The person responsible for this mystery is the Scroll Lock or Scroll Lock key . This key, relic of past times, is useless but works on Excel. To deactivate the scroll lock, press Scroll Lock which, in some cases, is indicated by a LED such as Caps Lock and Num Lock .
8) The computer has gone mad !!
I believe that there are still many people, including me, who thought of throwing the PC out of the window because it would throw off every single banal operation. For example, you can no longer select multiple files at the same time, you can no longer write, you no longer icon the windows or disappear on their own and the PC freezes on its own. The fault lies with the notorious Permanent Keys, a Windows feature that supports those who are forced to use the keyboard with one hand. They make it unnecessary to hold down Shift or Alt to make a key combination. Permanent keys can be activated by mistake with some ease by pressing the Shift key 5 times and removing the "Use permanent keys" option switch. Typically a beep is heard when they are activated.
In Windows 10, to disable this sticky keys feature, go to Settings> Accessibility> Keyboard and disable the Use Sticky Keys option.
In another article it is written how to disable Persistent keys and key filter in Windows, but if it happens, the problem can be solved quickly even if you press Shift 5 times.
You will not see any warnings, but you should hear a beep again confirming the deactivation.
9) The laptop touchpad does not work
There are many possible reasons why the laptop's touchpad no longer works, one of which is the keyboard. Most laptops have an Fn key that performs additional functions when combined with other keys, including adjusting brightness, controlling videos and other things. Many keyboards also have a button that disables the touchpad. The combination of keys, in this case, depends on the Notebook model so you have to find out what it is by looking for it on Google.
10) The menus of the window or browser have disappeared
This is rather trivial, but if you find yourself stuck on an application or an internet site open in full screen without multiple keys and menus, just press the F11 key to return to the normal situation. Browsers like Chrome, when open full screen, show " Press F11 to exit full screen mode ".
These are probably the most common keyboard errors, though perhaps not the only ones. If you have had experience with other keyboard shortcuts that have given problems, let them know how you solved the problem.
It may also be useful to know:
- The main combinations of keys and shortcuts for Windows
- Main uses of function keys on Windows, F1, F2, F3 ... F12
- Choose the function of the Fn keys on the handsets
- What are the keys Stamp R Sist, Scroll Lock, Pause Interr, Ins, Lock Num
If the keys do not work properly, in 99% of cases a virus has nothing to do, the fault lies simply with special combinations of keys that, on Windows, activate specific behaviors that may seem anomalous, such as, for example, the screen overturned, or the fact that the numbers do not work or that the various symbol keys are all messed up.
Let's see the most common mistakes that are made with the keyboard and how to solve them .
READ ALSO: How to repair keyboard keys (Windows PC)
1) Upside down screen
On laptops and with almost all graphics cards, Windows can be set to work as if you had a tablet and, therefore, you can change the orientation of the screen from horizontal to vertical or even upside down.
This happens when you press the CTRL + ALT + arrow keys .
To solve the problem just press CTRL + ALT + Up arrow and restore the display in the right orientation. If the Windows screen turns sideways and the shortcut above does nothing (only works if the video card is Intel), go to Settings> System> Display
(in Windows 10), scroll down until you find the Resize and layout option and set the Landscape Orientation .
If you want to disable screen rotation, you can go to Control Panel-> Programs-> Uninstall Windows features -> uncheck the tablet PC components . But this works at the system level and if it is the software of the video card that controls the rotation, then you just have to be careful.
The one of the inverted screen is one of the simplest and funest computer jokes on the PC to do to friends or work colleagues.
2) The next letter is deleted
Those who write documents can often find themselves in this situation where, when editing a text, each letter that is written on the Word sheet, deletes the next one. Overwriting mode often transforms the cursor into a highlighted box around the current character. The fault lies with the INS key which does not give any warning when it is activated and which serves to make corrections of texts faster. Then try pressing INS again and writing to continue correctly and solve the problem.
3) The password is always wrong
When you write a password to access an account or even to log into Windows, the characters are covered with dots and you don't see what is written. One then enters the correct password but discovers that it is no longer accepted, perhaps because he is writing it in upper case. The automatic upper case is activated with the Caps Lock or Caps Lock key which, in almost all keyboards, makes a light turn on and can be represented by the padlock symbol.
Some may think that this error is too trivial to be mentioned here, instead it is so common that in many sites and programs where you enter the password, the warning appears to make sure you have disabled the Caps Lock, which in Italian is Caps Lock .
If you notice that this key is never used, it would be productive to change keys (remap) or disable it so as not to be mistaken anymore.
4) The numeric keypad does not work
Most keyboards include a numeric keypad, even on laptops. The keyboard of numbers is useful when using the calculator or programs to do the math but it has a double function. It can be used as numbers or as arrows to move around the screen. What changes this behavior is the Num Lock or Num Lock key on English keyboards.
So if the numeric keyboard does not work, you have to press the Num Lock key and see a small light appear on the keyboard that indicates the activation of the Num Pad. On some laptops, you need to use the Fn key, to activate NUM LOCK .
5) The characters and symbols are no longer those indicated on the keys
Computer keyboards are different depending on the country and language. Therefore, depending on the language set on Windows, the keys change function and write different symbols. On the computer there is always the Italian language, but also the English one. To check this, just press the IT button on the Windows taskbar and find out that there is also the EN option to enable writing in English.
What really happens is to change the language from IT to EN without realizing it, making the mistake of pressing the left ALT and SHIFT keys simultaneously or, in Windows 10, even pressing the combination of Windows keys and Space bar .
Try pressing ALT-Shift together and notice that the language changes from IT to EN.
To solve the problem, check at the bottom right of the desktop if it says EN and press alt + shift to return IT with the Italian language and the correct symbols of the keys.
In some rarer cases, due to a program or a change in setting, the date format may have been changed causing some errors, perhaps written in Chinese.
To solve the problem, you can go to the Control Panel -> Countries and language (or international settings ) and put the Italian language on the first tab of the date format, on the location and on keyboards and languages .
In Windows 10 you can also go to Settings> Date Time and language and set the Italian language for the keyboard, removing other keyboards or language packs.
In Windows 10, the language and keyboard layout options are located under Settings> Date / Time and Language .
6) The size of the text of the web pages changes
When browsing the internet, it may be that the web pages are seen larger or smaller because the CTRL key has been pressed by moving the mouse wheel. This is very useful if a web page is too small to be viewed or to enter more information on the screen. The CTRL-wheel button combination also works on Windows, on the desktop and on each folder by enlarging the icons and texts. To quickly reset the zoom to 100%, just press the key combination CTRL + 0
7) The arrow keys scroll the Excel sheet
Those who use the Excel program can run into this problem where the arrow keys, instead of scrolling through the cells, send the sheet up and down.
The person responsible for this mystery is the Scroll Lock or Scroll Lock key . This key, relic of past times, is useless but works on Excel. To deactivate the scroll lock, press Scroll Lock which, in some cases, is indicated by a LED such as Caps Lock and Num Lock .
8) The computer has gone mad !!
I believe that there are still many people, including me, who thought of throwing the PC out of the window because it would throw off every single banal operation. For example, you can no longer select multiple files at the same time, you can no longer write, you no longer icon the windows or disappear on their own and the PC freezes on its own. The fault lies with the notorious Permanent Keys, a Windows feature that supports those who are forced to use the keyboard with one hand. They make it unnecessary to hold down Shift or Alt to make a key combination. Permanent keys can be activated by mistake with some ease by pressing the Shift key 5 times and removing the "Use permanent keys" option switch. Typically a beep is heard when they are activated.
In Windows 10, to disable this sticky keys feature, go to Settings> Accessibility> Keyboard and disable the Use Sticky Keys option.
In another article it is written how to disable Persistent keys and key filter in Windows, but if it happens, the problem can be solved quickly even if you press Shift 5 times.
You will not see any warnings, but you should hear a beep again confirming the deactivation.
9) The laptop touchpad does not work
There are many possible reasons why the laptop's touchpad no longer works, one of which is the keyboard. Most laptops have an Fn key that performs additional functions when combined with other keys, including adjusting brightness, controlling videos and other things. Many keyboards also have a button that disables the touchpad. The combination of keys, in this case, depends on the Notebook model so you have to find out what it is by looking for it on Google.
10) The menus of the window or browser have disappeared
This is rather trivial, but if you find yourself stuck on an application or an internet site open in full screen without multiple keys and menus, just press the F11 key to return to the normal situation. Browsers like Chrome, when open full screen, show " Press F11 to exit full screen mode ".
These are probably the most common keyboard errors, though perhaps not the only ones. If you have had experience with other keyboard shortcuts that have given problems, let them know how you solved the problem.
It may also be useful to know:
- The main combinations of keys and shortcuts for Windows
- Main uses of function keys on Windows, F1, F2, F3 ... F12
- Choose the function of the Fn keys on the handsets
- What are the keys Stamp R Sist, Scroll Lock, Pause Interr, Ins, Lock Num
