Weird problem with @ key

[deniser]

This morning I am having a really strange problem. When I tried to log into Gmail, the @ key typed a " so I tried the ' key and it typed the @ . Did this on two different laptops. Don't get it, all other keys seem normal. Anyone know what's causing this?

 

[Xelp]

Hi Deniser,

Open up notepad or any word processor, does the same problem occur there? If so check that your keyboard settings are set to UK rather than US (in control panel assuming Microsoft OS)

If it's only happening in gmail, where are you experiencing this exactly?

Haris

 

[deniser]

Hi Deniser,

Open up notepad or any word processor, does the same problem occur there? If so check that your keyboard settings are set to UK rather than US (in control panel assuming Microsoft OS)

If it's only happening in gmail, where are you experiencing this exactly?

Haris

Yes same in Word. In fact computer 1. seems to have changed completely, Everything is much bigger and the font has changed. All the desktop icons have gone. Programmes and data are all still there. It seems to have happened on its own.

I will look in control panel thanks.

Computer 2 is exactly as it was before except for these two keys on the keyboard. Everything else is as is.

In gmail it is happening where I try to log in with my email address.

 

[wecandobiz]

Yep, looks like something may have switched your keyboard to US settings. This happens to me occasionally with applications I can't identify, but seems to fix itself if I restart the PC.

 

[Xelp]

The fact that it's happening in other programs suggests that it's an operating-system-wide problem, not just gmail.

If after checking the keyboard language setting doesn't help:

Has anything been installed on these computers recently?

Strange that you are experiencing missing icons on 1 computer. This shouldn't be effected by a wrong keyboard language.

If you have anti-virus software,update to the latest virus definitions and run a scan just to rule out any malware.

 

[voyage]

Yer as said above the keyboard needs to be changed back to UK. In the mean time you can press shift and 2 to get the @ sign. All the US keyboard really does is swap the @ and " around.

I have had this problem before and I dont have a clue what triggered it to change.

Hope you get it fixed

 

[deniser]

Thanks for all your posts. The computer eventually crashed completely and then repaired itself and everything is back to normal now. Really odd and have no idea what happened.

 

[LightingGiants]

using the SHIFT key + number on us keyboard normally displays the @ sign

 

[LicensedToTrade]

If it went problematic for no apparent reason and then ultimately crashed it is worth running a full system scan for a rootkit virus. Rootkits seem to be on the rise a lot at the moment, maybe for the christmas shopping period when people are using their credit cards a lot.

If it is a rootkit it can be difficult to detect and remove, but all the while it could be monitoring your keystrokes and sending your card details across the net.

 

[mobyme]

Thanks for all your posts. The computer eventually crashed completely and then repaired itself and everything is back to normal now. Really odd and have no idea what happened.

Have you looked in on a certain smileys site recently?
If you have, you may have picked up malware and the restarting of your computer is part of it's installation process.

As LicensedToTrade has already recommended it would make sense to run a full virus scan.

Sorry to talk in code but I do not want to send any curious members to the smiley site only for them to become infected.

 

[CSHTech]

FWIW I agree - I'd definately check all your computers for malware using branded and non-free security software. The fact that both machines had this problem indicates that it's not just a Windows Update or program that has caused the keyboard setting to change.

I'd also advise you the same way that I advise my customers under these circumstances - keep an eye on your bank statements (preferably not on the affected PC's ) just in case.

I would recommend Kaspersky security software, then use free programs such as Malwarebytes.

Hope this helps.

 

[deniser]

Have you looked in on a certain smileys site recently?
If you have, you may have picked up malware and the restarting of your computer is part of it's installation process.

I saw that on FB but didn't click on it as I thought it looked suspicious. What I did click on though was a link to a FB themes page which was dodgy.

I have run a full virus scan and nothing was picked up. Will run it again in case the antivirus needed a couple of days to update.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I saw that on FB but didn't click on it as I thought it looked suspicious. What I did click on though was a link to a FB themes page which was dodgy.

I have run a full virus scan and nothing was picked up. Will run it again in case the antivirus needed a couple of days to update.

Some rootkits won't be detected by certain anti-virus applications, hence the suggestion from CSHTech to have branded fully paid for software. In some cases the rootkit will be detected and 'healed' but like a perenial weed it lurks in the background and a manual regedit is required to remove it.

When you are using search engines like google do you ever click on a result and get taken to a completely unrelated website?