Keyboard problem or virus-infected pc?

Question

This is my freaking third time typing again, so, I'll just tell everything in point form.

- 3 keys not functioning properly --> 's', 'w' and 'x' when typed, they give me junk, even open programs and search

- rebooted, didn't work, waited and tried again, failed

- checked out the following link --> http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnaCu9ZRMIBC_.lFGMi8xCJIzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20070510170412AA20AFM

- ran avast! antivirus [still running]

- thought a virus infection is a possibility since I remember seeing a dialogue box about taskmanager.exe not found or whatever

- hoping so badly that it's a keyboard problem and not an infection

What do you guys think? What should I do?

Any help rendered deeply appreciated.

Answer 1

Simple test, borrow another keyb or use that one on a diff PC, if prob follows keyb, buy new one, if another keyb does same, run FULL AV scan, and SPYWARE scan. Also try deleting keyboard from device manager and rebooting to refresh Keyb drivers in Windows

Answer 2

Sounds like a keyboard failure... especially as the 3 keys that have failed are physically next to each other.

I'd expect a wire to be broken in the keyboard's circuitry (probably between 2 and w).

You should be able to use alt-3 digit number to type the duff letters... have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Alt_keycodes
for the keycodes... alt and a number off the numeric keypad.

Answer 3

Borrow a friends keyboard and plug it in.
if the letters are back to normal then it is the keyboard, if not then you nead to look a bit deaper, though i doubt very much that it is a virus, more like a driver problem.

Answer 4

To me it just sounds like a faulty keyboard. BUT, if your taksmanager is playing up, could it be an a problem with Windows?

You could try another keyboard, if you have one.

Or if the worst comes to the worst, just try reinstalling Windows. Always fixes everything ;)

Answer 5

Cream crackered keyboard membrane. W S X would be on the same electrical conductor.