Computer randomly outputs text as if I were holding down a key

Hi Paul - thanks for the additional info - very helpful. One follow up question: my keyboard is connected via a USB dock, not directly to my laptop, so will the updated script you provided still work in that case, or does it need another update given it's not a direct connection?

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spunk said:

The behavior you are stating is typical of a stuck key like the ALT, CTRL or TAB key; that would make the pointer jump around output text
If this happens once or twice a day, disconnect the External keyboard and just use the laptop keyboard for a day. If it doesn't happen all day, then you know it's the external keyboard. You can also get a wired USB keyboard. I'm sure one of your friends has one in their closet, or you can buy an inexpensive one at Amazon, Ebay etc.

If any of the ATL, CTRL, or TAB keys were physically stuck, then it would be causing all kinds of weird things, not the consistent keypress that I'm experiencing. I don't have another keyboard handy at the moment, but yea, it's cheap to pick another one up for testing, but I've held off on doing that since the same exact keyboard worked perfectly with my last laptop and this issue started immediately after I started using my new laptop. So, that suggests that it's almost certainly either a hardware issue with my new laptop or a software issue.

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pepanee said:

You say: "I'll give it a few days and see if it happens again"
Are you saying that it actually "temporarily" worked for now?
If so, let's hope it stays working well =)
(as of my post, it's been 5 hours only after your post, which is little time for now, but I'm hoping it fixed the issue)

Hah, not exactly. Since it is sporadic and doesn't happen every day, that is why I said I'll wait a few days to see, since it could still be an issue, but I just might not see it happen immediately.

However, I can report that it did not work. I have experienced the issue twice today, both in the last two hours.

Paul Black said:

Hello @shingy,
You are very welcome.
I don't know, I have never tried that and I do NOT have that option available to me to test it myself. The only way to find out is to run the Script. I would be interested to know if it does work.

Sorry for the delayed response, but I finally had a chance to run the script and here is the output I got:

Description : Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Device ID : ACPI\MSFT0001\4&3837E045&0
Install Date : --> [NO Date Present]
Name : Enhanced (101- or 102-key)
Password : N/A
IsLocked : N/A
Layout : 00000409
Creation Class Name : Win32_Keyboard
System Creation Class Name : Win32_ComputerSystem
Config Manager User Config : False
Config Manager Error Code : 0
Number Of Function Keys : 12
Power Management Supported : False
Power Management Capabilities : N/A
Last Error Code : N/A
Error Description : N/A
Error Cleared : N/A
Availability : N/A
Cim Class : root/cimv2:Win32_Keyboard
Cim Instance Properties : {Caption, Description, InstallDate, Name...}
Cim System Properties : Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimSystemProperties
Status : OK
Status Info : N/A

Description : USB Input Device
Device ID : USB\VID_046D&PID_C31C&MI_00\8&148A7220&0&0000
Install Date : --> [NO Date Present]
Name : Enhanced (101- or 102-key)
Password : N/A
IsLocked : N/A
Layout : 00000409
Creation Class Name : Win32_Keyboard
System Creation Class Name : Win32_ComputerSystem
Config Manager User Config : False
Config Manager Error Code : 0
Number Of Function Keys : 12
Power Management Supported : False
Power Management Capabilities : N/A
Last Error Code : N/A
Error Description : N/A
Error Cleared : N/A
Availability : N/A
Cim Class : root/cimv2:Win32_Keyboard
Cim Instance Properties : {Caption, Description, InstallDate, Name...}
Cim System Properties : Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimSystemProperties
Status : OK
Status Info : N/A

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So, it looks like it actually picked up both the built in keyboard as well as my USB keyboard plugged into the dock.

Also, as an update on the issue itself, I've been logging each time it happens and in the last few days, it's only happened once on the 14th and once today, with none on the 15th or 16th. While I hadn't previously logged this, that seems consistent with historical occurrences. That it is so infrequent is also why it's so difficult to troubleshoot.

Given all that and the result from the script - any ideas for what I can do or try next?

Anyone have any thoughts? Ironically, I haven't experienced the issue in the last week, which definitely seems unusual. But, up until recently I wasn't tracking each time it occurred, so there has likely been gaps like this before.

Ztruker said:

Replace the external keyboard. As suggested, borrow one or buy a cheap replacement.

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately the keyboard itself is not the issue, or it would be a very easy fix!

I'm using the exact same keyboard that worked perfectly with my last laptop. This issue started immediately after I started using my new laptop. So, that means it has to be either a hardware issue with my new laptop or a software issue.

What software troubleshooting have you tried.for example ---settings >update & security >troubleshoot >additional troubleshooters.
When you logged the problems ,did Event viewer and Reliability History show any entries connected to the problem and have you checked with ---dxdiag ---especially the Input page,for reports.
Does the problem show in Safe Mode and if not then try disabling all non-microsoft items at Start-up.
Also give ---dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth ---a run to fix file corruption

You have to test hardware methodically.

1) Test with just the Laptop keyboard.
2) Plug Keyboard directly in to the Laptop, test again.
3) Plug Mouse directly in to the Laptop, test again.

Then plug in the dock and again go methodically through the individual hardware tests one at a time.

What you are saying indicates some intermittent connection somewhere. Leads, plugs, sockets of any connected hardware.
It may not be the cause but you have to eliminate the possibilities, rather than arbitrary guesswork and assumptions.

"It's very random and I'd estimate it happens 1-2 times a day."
"given that it's random for me,"
"The issue occurs randomly and happens on all of the keys, not just one or two."
"The keyboard is wired."
"it probably averages 1-2 per day, it does not happen every day,"
" my keyboard is connected via a USB dock, not directly to my laptop,"
"Since it is sporadic and doesn't happen every day,"