Sticky/Filter Keys randomly activating.

AnthonyA85 · 16 Jun 2016 at 03:19

Ok, I've done a search of the forums for a possible solution, and the last post i found on this issue was from 2009, so rather than dig up an old thread, I thought i'd start a new one.

Basically, i'm having a frequently re-occurring issue where the windows Sticky/Filter Key functions randomly activate, without me pressing the key sequence that would normally turn them on, and now, since I've put Win 10 on my machine, the ONLY way I can turn it off, is to log off then log back in to windows.

It used to happen periodically on windows seven if i left the keyboard or mouse idle long enough, usually pressing the left shift key for a few seconds fixed it, but now, it's happening a lot more often, it's happened 3 times today in fact, and to say that I am annoyed would be putting it both mildly and politely. The usual key presses i used to use to get out of it no longer seem to work.

I've already gone though every step I could research to turn this damn OS flaw OFF (yes, it's supposed to be a 'helpful' feature, but NOT when it randomly activates!), but that doesn't seem to have done anything what so ever, it still happens. I'm starting to think my keyboard (a Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000) might be screwy, or maybe its the USB port it's plugged into.

Thing is though, i'm not sure it is the keyboard, or the port, as when this happens, the mouse screws up as well (and that's plugged into the motherboard), clicking between characters in text ends up block selecting, links in web browsers and file/folder browsers open in new windows when they're not supposed to, and trying to select a file in a list ends up selecting everything above it. Which makes file/folder browsing impossible.

As I said, I've already gone through all the steps i could find to get rid of this, simply turning it off in Ease of Access center doesn't work, and the "both shift keys plus alt" that someone suggested in the thread from 2009 doesn't work.

I'm out of ideas, and I need advice, because i'm reaching the end of my patience. I'm hesitant to roll back to Win 7, as this problem was present there also, just not as common, and i don't think rolling back would cure it, besides, i've only got 3 or so more days to roll back anyway, even if i wanted to.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

Rroff · 16 Jun 2016 at 05:39

Sounds like possibly an issue with the shift key on your keyboard.

this_is_gav · 16 Jun 2016 at 09:37

I've never turned it off in the GUI, but through the registry.

Copy the code below into Notepad and save it as a .reg file (add quotation marks around the full filename, eg "disable-sticky-keys.reg") and double click on the resulting .reg file to merge it to the registry.

Or navigate through regedit and do it yourself if you'd prefer.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Disable Sticky Keys (Popups up when pressing shift for some time, accessibility)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\StickyKeys]
"Flags"="506"

; Disable Filter keys (Popups up when pressing shift for some time, accessibility)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\Keyboard Response]
"Flags"="122"

; Disable Toggle Keys (Popups up when pressing shift for some time, accessibility)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\ToggleKeys]
"Flags"="58"

I don't know if all of the above entries are required now (I think I first used them with Vista), but certainly hitting shift 5 times does nothing! It's part of a larger .reg file I run whenever I install Windows.

AnthonyA85 · 16 Jun 2016 at 13:54

Thanks TIG, i'll try this out when i'm on my desktop later tonight, and i'll edit this post with an update if this doesn't fix the issue.

This issue usually doesn't happen daily though, but yesterday was just ridiculous.

I think i still have an old Packard Bell PS/2 keyboard i can use if my usb one is turning into a dud.

EDIT

Ok, this registry code apparently didn't work, i happened again, so i shut my system down, unplugged the usb keyboard and plugged in the old ps/2 one i have, then restarted, but as soon as i got to the windows long-on screen, i got the sticky/filter keys popup, clicked "NO", but as usual, that did nothing. Had to restart because i couldn't type my logon password....

EDIT 2

Ok.....plugging in the ps/2 keyboard didn't work either, it's STILL happening. Logging off then back on cures it, so I KNOW it's not the keyboard's fault, it's definitely a fault with Windows. Those registry entries didn't work, unless they're supposed to be default values.

I'm really out of ideas now, and almost out of patience.

Does anyone else have any ideas?