# Computer problem. HELP! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914 "2012-01-18T18:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/1 "2012-01-18T18:08:45Z")
My keybosard hsasa gone goofy. It’sa been typing the letter I type plusa the letter nexzt to it. Thisa isa esapecisally true for the lettersa sa & sa Isa thisa sa keybosard problem, sa virusa/sapywqesar problem, or isa saomeone plsaying sa prsank on me? Resading thisa posat looksa like I’m trying to tsalk wqith sa bsad Itsallisan saccent. But I’m not kidding hesar. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/2 "2012-01-18T18:12:22Z")
Swap out your keyboard for a different one (or plug in an external if you’re on a laptop). If the problem goes away, you’re golden. If not, you have a problem with your machine. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/3 "2012-01-18T18:27:17Z")
Hmm, from what I can tell from your post the problematic keys are W, S, X, and A (how about Q and Z?). Which all lie in adjacent columns. Since the electronics detect each keypress by its row and column (example [here](http://pcbheaven.com/wikipages/How_Key_Matrices_Works/)for anyone who’s interested), it seems to me suggests to me that there’s some sort of hardware fault, perhaps a short circuit between the two columns? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/4 "2012-01-18T18:36:39Z")
My guess is keyboard as well. It would be very odd for this to be a software issue, or even a hardware issue external to the keyboard (though I’d call this more likely than the OS). ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/5 "2012-01-18T18:37:10Z")
A keyboard costs as little as 10US at Office Depot or 1-2 at the Salvation Army. That’s what you need. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/6 "2012-01-18T18:49:20Z")
Swapped out the keyboard for a $5 Big Lots model I had in the attic. It works just fine. Strange, I’ve never had a keyboard do that before. Also, I just bought that other keyboard back in November. Little soon for something to go to hell if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/7 "2012-01-18T18:58:55Z")
If your W, S, X and A keys were going out…its probably time to lay off the first person shooters a bit! ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/8 "2012-01-18T19:09:00Z")
I’ve had weird stuff like that happen after a spill. When it started, you weren’t drinking coffee by any chance, were you? Usually just goes back to normal once it dries. ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-help/609914/9 "2012-01-18T20:10:03Z")
Pkbites, I’m glad your problem worked out, but I gotta tell you - reading your OP gave me one hell of a laugh. Best one I’ve had today! 😃