Why Does This Happen??

[cabinetman]

When typing a post or reply, I'm hitting some key, or a combo of keys, which I think is at the bottom of the keyboard, that makes the screen go away and up comes the start-up icon screen. No way to get it back...gone forever.

I'm living with feeble, stiff overworked fingers that have so-so feeling, and I'd like to be able to figure out what I'm doing to make this disappearing act happen. If I do, I might be able to structure my positioning or typing methods to keep it from happening.

I've tried experimenting with the keys, and for some reason I can't make it happen. Any suggestions?
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[steve-norrell]

Sometimes MY tired old fingers accidently it the CONTROL key and some other character (when trying to hit the shift key) and wierd things happen. Don't know about making the screen blank, but there are a lot of functions that can be triggered by a combination of CONTROL and some other key.

Also, on my keyboard, the START (with the Windows flag) and ALT option key is right near the shift key. That could also trigger wierdness.

Not much help, but you are not alone. Regards, Steve

[balzac.thegreat]

That's you accidentally hitting the Windows key. I believe there are small apps that will allow you to disable it.

MS even tells you how to do it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216893

[radhak]

The inadvertent-key happens all the time, but I'm surprised you lose your edit screen. And when you say the 'start up icon screen', did you mean the screen on the left side when you click the 'start button' with a mouse, or the screen in the middle you see when you are shutting down?

The Windows LOGO button on the bottom left is a great tool, but liable to get in the way if your fingers wander slightly. This windows shortcut page should help understand, use and avoid as per your need.

eg : if you just press , you'd see the startup screen, but you should always be able to press the escape button to return to your original screen.

btw, + U was new to me too...

[jussi]

I agree it's probably the windows key

[cabinetman]

The inadvertent-key happens all the time, but I'm surprised you lose your edit screen. And when you say the 'start up icon screen', did you mean the screen on the left side when you click the 'start button' with a mouse, or the screen in the middle you see when you are shutting down?

The screen that comes up is the "after boot" screen that has the wallpaper.
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[radhak]

The screen that comes up is the "after boot" screen that has the wallpaper.
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Ulp ! That might be serious - looks like your machine is re-booting ...!?! No wonder you are losing your stuff.

First, try and change your keyboard. Use any other keyboard, even if older than this one. There might be something wrong with your keyboard that's causing it. I hope so, as the alternative is that there's something wrong with your hard drive, which can mean loss of data and lotsa headache, or something wrong with your RAM, which is easier to fix (though harder to diagnose).

Is this happening too often, as in many times a day (or even multiple times a week)? Can you make it happen? As in, do you know which keys or group of keys to press to cause it?

[rnelson0]

Common keystrokes that could get you into trouble

Alt-F4 - closes most apps. Obvious problems

Ctrl-F4 closes a single window within an app (a tab in a browser or one of the documents you have open in word). If it's the last window opened by an app, hitting Ctrl-F4 may be the same as hitting Alt-F4.

Windows-D - minimizes all applications and sends you to the desktop. Your applications are still there but you need to click on them in the taskbar to bring them back into focus. Note: FOCUS denotes a program that is receiving mouse and keyboard input and has nothing to do with your visual acuity

Windows-M - Similar to Windows-D, this minimizes programs. However, any apps with modal windows - modal windows are the ones that you can't click behind, like an "OK/Cancel" dialog box for saving a file - will not minimize

Windows by itself - this brings up the start menu. Not a problem per se, but it may interrupt some mouse or text interactions, like highlighting text to copy.


Some useful keystrokes

Win-F - Opens the Find File dialog

Win-E - Opens Windows Explorer to browse the local filesystem

Win-R - Opens the Run dialog

Win-U - Opens the Utility Manager which includes, among other options, a really crappy text-to-speech synthesizer that sounds funny. Not good for much but comedy relief

[Bruce Cohen]

Buy a Mac and get over it

Bruce

[radhak]

If I remember right, you had this same machine fixed recently for power-supply? I would say that chap needs to take another look at it - either the power-supply is faulty (at the very least, a loose connection somewhere), or he missed something else (like the hard drive or memory). (I am being generous in not suggesting he broke something else while he was fixing the powersupply ).

If you don't have your important stuff on this box (as i recall, that might be the case), you can take your time, else this needs looked at, fast.

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey Cab,

I figured it out.

It's happening 'cause your karma is catching up with you.

Bruce

[ironhat]

I found the fix for that one. When you have time take the machine outside and blow out the dust. It's important that you use the right amount of force to properly do this. I use a Colt Commander in 45ACP. It works **every** time!! And, you get the side benefit of destroying some inanimate object that seems to joyfully make your life complicated when you least need it. I've taught this to my girls and now, my granddaughter. It's a family bonding, er, exploding experience.

[cabinetman]

If I remember right, you had this same machine fixed recently for power-supply? I would say that chap needs to take another look at it - either the power-supply is faulty (at the very least, a loose connection somewhere), or he missed something else (like the hard drive or memory). (I am being generous in not suggesting he broke something else while he was fixing the powersupply ).

If you don't have your important stuff on this box (as i recall, that might be the case), you can take your time, else this needs looked at, fast.

It's not machine specific. We have three, and it's something I'm doing. When I said the screen that comes up is the "after boot", the machine does not re-boot, it's just that initial screen with all the icons on it. I'm hitting a key or a combo of keys at the bottom of the board.

But, I have experimented, and can't do it deliberately. Thanks for the help.
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[iceman61]

Sounds like you're on the right path to figuring it out.

[LinuxRandal]

The screen that comes up is the "after boot" screen that has the wallpaper.
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That statement makes me wonder a few things, that may or may not help.

How many USERS are set on the machines? (assuming XP, Vista)
If one, are you set to autologon?

It sounds to me, like you only setup one user, and are hitting some Windows shortcut key to autologoff, which would then immediately autologon.