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My lower case "d" comes and goes. I am typing it here by the "ALT + 100numpad" method.
Upper case D always works.

Thought it was the ps2 keyboard so bought a usb one. Still comes and goes!
As far as I can see that leaves the motherboard.

Dying chip?

Thoughts welcome,
jmc2
Gigabyte X48-DQ6,4gig ram,Xp

I don't see how it could possibly be the motherboard. Data from PS/2 and USB keyboards take a completely different path through the system, and the 'd' key sends the exact same keyboard scan code whether the Shift key is being held down or not (the Shift key is actually handled by the OS, not inside the keyboard).

Does the system seem to be stable otherwise?

This sounds like a software issue to me, possibly malware. I could imagine a malfunctioning keylogger occasionally swallowing keystrokes.

Try booting a Linux live CD and see if the problem persists.

That has to be one of the most unique issues I have ever heard of. Awfully frustrating too. Very impressed you knew your ascii commands well enough to alt out a lowercase d. I'm curious to know if the linux live cd works. Reminds me of the time I tried to install windows on a keyboard where only the f8 key didn't work... (Its amazingly hard to accept license agreements without f8).

Go into Control Panel -> Keyboard.

Remove the macro that was accidently assigned.

Thats my best guess. Let us know.

ApockofFork wrote:

That has to be one of the most unique issues I have ever heard of.

I once had a KB that would cause BSODs when you hit the left shift key. I thought that was pretty unique, until I found out another person I know had had the exact same issue.

mattsteg wrote:

I once had a KB that would cause BSODs when you hit the left shift key. I thought that was pretty unique, until I found out another person I know had had the exact same issue.

You are not alone - http://aika-forum.gpotato.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1929

EDIT... Wow just found out my mouse cable (right where it is connected to the mouse) has broken wires!
Giving out intermittent connections- power etc. Who knows what all that might cause.
Fingers crossed that is my whole problem!
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"Try booting a Linux live CD and see if the problem persists."

Oh, it only happens every several days. Reboot and it's gone for a while.

"I don't see how it could possibly be the motherboard. Data from PS/2 and USB keyboards take a completely different path through the system, and the 'd' key sends the exact same keyboard scan code whether the Shift key is being held down or not (the Shift key is actually handled by the OS, not inside the keyboard)."

Hmm, that makes what happens just weird. Hit "d" get nothing. Hit "shift d" get "D".

"Does the system seem to be stable otherwise?"

Well, ps2 mouse and usb keyboard sometimes would BOTH freeze
a few seconds after getting into windows.
Can't remember if it happened when ps2 mouse and PS2 keyboard were connected.

Does not happen too often. Thank goodness.

"Go into Control Panel -> Keyboard.
Remove the macro that was accidently assigned."

Don't see anything related to "macro" in Control Panel -> Keyboard (xp)

I hope it does not get worse don't want to have replace a lot of hardware
till mid 2012.

Thanks very much for the thoughts!
jmc2