[Alessia-C]

It's driving me potty! Whenever I type an email address in an email using Outlook Express as soon as I try to complete it following the @ symbol the Tools menu opens. In Internet Explorer the same thing opens the File menu. Ditto the #, [, and ] keys.

I have tried searching Windows helpfiles to see how to disable this but there's nothing there. Does anyone know how to put a stop to this please?

I'm running XP Pro SP1.

[Linkmaster]

Hi Alessia-C,
Can you right click on the Desktop, select graphics Properties, HotKeys, Disable.

[Alessia-C]

No, there's no such item as Graphics Properties in the menu options.

[Linkmaster]

Did this just start or has it always been this way??
Have you installed any new software or hardware latley??
Have you installed keyboard software??

[telecom69]

If you click here you can download an application that will cure your problem http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,9041,00.asp

[Alessia-C]

Did this just start or has it always been this way??
- Always been this way.

Have you installed any new software or hardware latley??
Yes, tons of software because my laptop is new. So many programs that it would take ages to list them all (25.7GB disk space used so far but that includes XP Pro)

Have you installed keyboard software??
No.

Sounds like Hotkey Detective 2 would solve the problem but PC Magazine won't let me have it unless I subscribe at $19.95 + overseas shipping. I tried finding it elsewhere via Google but everywhere led straight back to the PC Magazine site. Does anyone have a copy they can let me have please?

[rude]

If you go to this link you can buy Hotkey Detective 2 for $5.97
http://www.pcmag.com/premium_offer/0...page=&discuss=

[Alessia-C]

Thanks for that. I eventually purchased the full subscription and got the program. Unfortunately it hasn't changed anything because it says I have no hotkeys configured. I think I will call Dell's support but I fear they will hit me with their near-standard response "You have to reinstall Windows."

[telecom69]

Check this site out http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/549/

Just a thought but is your keyboard set for the correct language? there are lots of versions of English available,Start/Settings/Control Panel/ Regional and language under the regional options pane you can alter which version of English you should be using,Im telling you this because it does configure the keyboard differently

[Alessia-C]

I thought for a moment that this would fix it telecom69 but I now find that after entering @, #, [, or ], the keyboard doesn't work anymore so I will have to remove the WinKeys REG_DWORD I inserted.

Thanks for the suggestion in any event.

[rude]

Originally Posted by telecom69

Just a thought but is your keyboard set for the correct language? there are lots of versions of English available,Start/Settings/Control Panel/ Regional and language under the regional options pane you can alter which version of English you should be using,Im telling you this because it does configure the keyboard differently

English(United States) is the correct setting.

[Alessia-C]

Why would English (United States) be the correct setting if my O/S is UK English and I live in France? I am using an Italian keyboard but so I did on my last computer and had no problems.

[MontyL]

rude - not necessarily...

Alessia - your keyboard was "made" in Italy, or is it Italian layout? I'm going to assume Italian layout.

Take a look in the Regional and Language Options in Control Panel. On the Languages tab, at the top is "Text services and input languages", click the Details button.

Centered in the new window should be your English (UK) default language, with Keyboard Italian or Italian (142). If you see US or anything else, no wonder you're fighting it.

Being that there are two possible choices, I'd suggest finding out what your particular model keyboard is (Italian or Italian 142) before changing it.

[Alessia-C]

No, my default language is Italian and my keyboard is a plain Italian Microsoft Natural PS/2 version made in the US for Dell. If I switch to English language the keyboard switches to English layout automatically which would definitely cause me problems. Using an Italian keyboard with the language set to Italian should be correct anyway.

[MontyL]

So, it's

Italian (Italy)
Keyboard
- Italy
?

Strange... should work...