Solved Win 8.1 Keyboard mapping sometimes messed up after login

Lenovo ThinkCentre
Windows 8.1 64-bit pro with Media Centre (installed on SSD)
16BG memory

This is a bit of a weird one. Sometimes (perhaps 1 in 20 boots) after logging into my account, the keyboard mapping is screwed up - for instance, typing 'a' on the keyboard displays 'h' or some other random letter or symbol, most other key mappings are messed up also.

When this first occurred, I enabled the touch keyboard, but found that the screwed mapping matched the USB keyboard. Also tried disconnecting/reconnecting the keyboard and uninstalling/re-installing from Device Manager, but no change.

Sometimes the problem goes away after a few minutes, other times I have to log out or reboot.

I figure that it must be something related to the user account, as it would be impossible to login otherwise.

The machine is fully patched, has the latest 8.1 Intel Chipset updates and a clean bill of health according Norton Internet Security.

Any clues about what might be happening?

Thanks

Chris

Do you have any kind of languages/regional settings that were changed or that you toggle back and forth? Check in your system tray, near the clock, is there a notification icon sitting in there that refers to regional settings?

If not, also double check these settings in control panel via the "languages" option. Click "Options" - verify that US is chosen.

Now back out the options menu, and click "Advanced Settings" on the left. Make sure the override options are set to English US.

Back out of Advanced settings and click on "Change date, time and number formats". Go through each tab, and their resulting options, and make sure things like your "Locale" etc., are all set to English US. Reboot.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I do have language settings for my locale (Hong Kong).

UK English, US Keyboard (can't get a UK keyboard in Hong Kong!)
Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese (HK) input methods.

It is always set to English UK, unless I need one of my colleagues to input some Chinese.

If it is a bug related to language settings, probably not much that I can do, as these settings are essential for my locale.

However, I can try uninstalling language packs go to US English reboot then reinstall the locale support.

I will give it a try.

Thanks

Chris

chrisdr said:

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I do have language settings for my locale (Hong Kong).

UK English, US Keyboard (can't get a UK keyboard in Hong Kong!)
Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese (HK) input methods.

It is always set to English UK, unless I need one of my colleagues to input some Chinese.

If it is a bug related to language settings, probably not much that I can do, as these settings are essential for my locale.

However, I can try uninstalling language packs go to US English reboot then reinstall the locale support.

I will give it a try.

Thanks

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris, unfortunately I believe your problem is in fact related to toggling back and forth between regional settings. I know that at least in Windows XP and 7, people experienced the same problems you are having. I'm not sure if it is a bug, or maybe just a poorly designed user interface.

What you can try to do is first make sure you thoroughly go through ALL of the Regional and Language settings from the control panel. Turn off the System Tray's Notification Icon, so it is not running in the background (where you usually switch languages/keyboard mappings etc.). When you need to use the Chinese regional settings, use the control panel instead to change and also when you need to change back again. That might work for you.

Let me know how it goes,
Jason

lastof said:

chrisdr said:

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I do have language settings for my locale (Hong Kong).

UK English, US Keyboard (can't get a UK keyboard in Hong Kong!)
Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese (HK) input methods.

It is always set to English UK, unless I need one of my colleagues to input some Chinese.

If it is a bug related to language settings, probably not much that I can do, as these settings are essential for my locale.

However, I can try uninstalling language packs go to US English reboot then reinstall the locale support.

I will give it a try.

Thanks

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris, unfortunately I believe your problem is in fact related to toggling back and forth between regional settings. I know that at least in Windows XP and 7, people experienced the same problems you are having. I'm not sure if it is a bug, or maybe just a poorly designed user interface.

What you can try to do is first make sure you thoroughly go through ALL of the Regional and Language settings from the control panel. Turn off the System Tray's Notification Icon, so it is not running in the background (where you usually switch languages/keyboard mappings etc.). When you need to use the Chinese regional settings, use the control panel instead to change and also when you need to change back again. That might work for you.

Let me know how it goes,
Jason

Click to expand...

Jason,

Thanks again, will double check the settings before uninstall/install and post the results back.

Have marked as solved, as I think your advice is correct, and the best answer, unless MS issue fixes.

Chris