# Ctrl key has a one second delay
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 6, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600 "2003-03-06T23:12:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600/1 "2003-03-06T23:12:25Z")
You know, there should probably be a whole separate area just for computer and internet related questions.
Anyways, I have a new computer, with WinXP Pro on it. It uses the same mouse, keyboard, and monitor using a KVM switch as my other XP Home machine.
The XP Home works fine, and the keys on the keyboard do exactly what they should. But the XP Pro has a delay set in for the Ctrl key - it won’t do it’s thing until after it’s held down for one second. It’s incredibly frustrating, and I have no idea why it’s doing this - can anybody help with any suggestions?
I’ve checked the keyboard and accessibility options in the Control Panel but they aren’t to blame.
Thanks if you have a clue.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600/2 "2003-03-07T00:20:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> You know, there should probably be a whole separate area just for computer and internet related questions.
I would agree strongly with that, but I expect the mods will say it would un-generalize the boards.
At my work, the windows 2000 system has a 10 second delay on the context menus (right mouse button)
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### Author:  [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600/3 "2003-03-07T02:07:58Z")
Some KVM switches let you switch between the computers by hitting ctrl twice. It could be that your KVM switch is waiting a second to see if you’ll hit another ctrl. I had a KVM switch and it did the exact same thing. But mine was consistent no matter which computer I was using. Try bypassing the KVM and see if the problem still happens.
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### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ctrl-key-has-a-one-second-delay/159600/4 "2003-03-07T02:22:44Z")
Filmore, you are a genius! That was exactly the problem. It was my left Ctrl key, so I changed the hotkey to the right one, which I never use. Excellent!
Thanks!