Anyone want to figure out why my computer is freaking out?

[ghostsofgiants]

Problem: It keeps typing 4 over and over as though the 4 key was being held down. It's not a keyboard issue, as I've tried a few different keyboards, and it even beeps constantly as it boots up, as though there is a key being held down. Oddly enough, when Windows (XP Pro, in case such information is relevant) asks for my password, it doesn't freak out on me then. But as soon as I get to any kind of text input field it's "4444444444444444444444444" non-stop.

I'm running a virus scan now, though I'm pretty sure it's not a virus.

Any ideas at all? (And yeah, I'm gonna cross-post this to the computer help forum.)

[Maddy McCall]

1. "May the 4s be with you."

:D

Good luck with your computer...I've never had that happen. Crazy.

[ghostsofgiants]

2. Yeah, it's frustrating.

Argh.

[flvegan]

3. Are you using keyboard/mouse software?

Mine's wireless and I have Intellitype for it. Maybe it's a software glitch?

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Hmm, could be.

I have Logitech's cordless software installed. Could be the source of the problem, I'll try that.

[datasuspect]

4. it's the illuminati

stop surfing jihadi websites!

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Ah fuck.

Wait...is it the reptilian illuminati or just the regular type?

[datasuspect]

10. don't make me post your ip

probably the regular type

[ghostsofgiants]

11. That's not so bad then.

[Beer Snob-50]

5. could be the porn you were downloading? nt

[ghostsofgiants]

8. No, I know for sure taht my porn sources are safe.

:P

[Beer Snob-50]

15. excellent

:toast:

[Beer Snob-50]

6. could be the porn you were downloading? nt

[Omphaloskepsis]

12. I have been Googling for about 20 minutes and..

I'm at a loss. I did ask around at the ARS IRC channel and the advice I got was to make a back-up while your shit still works. You might need to nuke-and-pave. Hopefully someone can come up with a solution. This is kinda a weird one.. 4444444444444444 LOLZ.

[ghostsofgiants]

14. Yeah, I really don't know.

It happened very briefly earlier too, but I just tapped the key assuming it was stuck and that seemed to work. No such luck this time.

[Omphaloskepsis]

16. Have you tried switching USB ports?

I doubt it will help.. But, it is worth a try. I know you swapped keyboards, but did you plug them into different ports? (assuming your shit is USB)

You could always download and burn a live Linux CD. It is a easy way to see if the problem is hardware related.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. I just got through uninstalling the Logitech software as per flvegan's suggestion and that did it.

Bizarre.

Whatever, it's fixed, I have one less thing to complain about now, haha.

[Omphaloskepsis]

24. Awesome.. I'm glad you found a fix.

Oh' I remember the days when they had to ship software that worked. The Internet wasn't popular at the time. They had to write good bug free software that was shipped on floppy disks. Now they write shitty code and expect you to download a huge file before anything will work. Engineers should decide when software is released. Not the advertising department. </rant>

[DS1]

13. orty six and two just ahead of me

[ghostsofgiants]

18. Alright, flvegan wins the thread.

Fucking keyboard software. x(

[flvegan]

19. Yay, me!

Glad your 'puter is working again.

[AngryAmish]

20. no

[ghostsofgiants]

21. I wouldn't expect computer help from the Amish anyway.

So it's all good.

[RetroLounge]

22. Put some pants on, dude, you're scaring it...

:9

RL

[ghostsofgiants]

23. That was actually my first instinct.

Oddly, it didn't help, and now I'm wearing pants for nothing. x(

[RetroLounge]

25. wearing pants for nothing

Dude, that sucks. Quick, drop trou again...

RL