my system frequently sends 3 equals keys even when the keyboard is turned off
my system frequently sends 3 equals keys even when the keyboard is turned off
Hello everyone, I'm facing a really annoying problem and would love some guidance. Problem: My computer randomly starts typing the number 3 repeatedly, along with - and = — as if someone was pressing those keys. It happens in any text box or input area. It's odd because it keeps going even after I disconnect my keyboard. After turning off the PC, it seems to stop, but it can reappear later—sometimes quickly, sometimes after hours. What I've tried so far: Used different keyboards, reset them, disabled certain keyboard features, updated drivers for Windows and graphics cards, cleared ghost input devices, uninstalled all HID entries, and ran a full antivirus scan. No malware detected. This usually occurs when using Google Chrome (especially YouTube) or Steam most of the time. It started after I accidentally switched out of a game—ROME: Total War Remastered. I removed the game afterward but the issue remains. Extra details: No controllers or gaming devices connected. I've checked startup tasks and nothing seems off. A restart helps temporarily, but it always comes back. Do you know anyone else has experienced something similar? Any advice or next steps would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need more information. Thanks ahead!
Restart the installation from scratch. Wipe all files completely (ensure you have backups of essential data, avoid saving games!) and reformat the storage device. Yes, losing game files is frustrating, but it clears the problem since you begin anew. Whenever you can, choose a streamlined Win-OS installer to minimize unwanted changes. Proceed carefully, reinstalling components one at a time and thoroughly testing each step. If the issue resurfaces immediately after the Windows setup, it may indicate a faulty motherboard.
That would be great! Welcome to the discussions! Dutch is spot on. Once you hit the point of deleting devices, it’s likely time for a fresh start. If you’re not used to reinstalling, here are some tips: SSDs are affordable, keeping the old one around can be handy if you need a backup. Pick a 1-2TB drive and swap it in when ready. (Ensure the previous drive is fully removed—Windows might behave oddly if you install on a system with several drives.) If you have any apps with custom settings, take a screenshot of the settings window just in case you forget to reinstall something important. To speed things up, I usually use Chocolatey (run `choco feature enable -n allowGlobalConfirmation` after setup). This lets me skip repetitive Y presses. Mostly because I can install nearly all my regular software with a single command. There are other tools that handle this kind of bundling too. Also, double-check all physical USB ports to confirm you’re not missing any unknown dongles.