Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000 allows Esc keys to launch the context menu.
Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000 allows Esc keys to launch the context menu.
I'm experiencing significant frustration with the Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 2000. Pressing the Esc key while on the desktop opens the context menu for the pinned 'File Explorer' item in the taskbar, which is particularly irritating during gameplay. When I pause or navigate to the game menu—especially to save manually—I press Esc, which minimizes the game and triggers that context menu. This often causes the game to crash, making it very inconvenient.
I'm using Windows 10 Home 1709 x64, and after uninstalling and reinstalling the keyboard (including the dongle), I've removed the Esc key's configurable options. The original Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Centre doesn't offer any settings for the Esc key. After reinstalling the software, the keyboard no longer triggers this behavior, though I'm concerned about losing the pinned File Explorer.
I've searched online but haven't found a solution. Someone might have insights on why this happens with this model. A screenshot of the context menu is attached for reference. If I unpin File Explorer from the taskbar, it seems to stop working, but I don’t want to lose the pinned item.
The problem is recurring again. I moved File Explorer back and forth, but it kept working. After that, I left it unpinned, which shifted other pinned items one spot to the left, putting Google Chrome in that position. When I press Esc now, it brings up the context menu for the Chrome icon. Extremely annoying.