Keyboard key gets non-physically stuck in some programs but not others

So, I’ve got a Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Sometimes, when I play video games, the “Left Arrow” command keeps being sent to the game. This happens for several games. It does not happen when using Word or IE or any other program, just video games.

I have tried unplugging the keyboard, restarting the game, restarting the computer, popping the arrow keys and cleaning the area around them, blowing into the white rubber thingy underneath the key. It doesn’t work. The keyboard keeps sending the “Left Arrow” command which makes it impossible to play any game except the Go Left Indefinitely game.

So, how fix?

Trying other software was a very good idea. Now try using other hardware. In other words, plug in a another actual physical keyboard.

If the problem continues with another keyboard, you will have established that there’s nothing wrong with the keyboard, but that there is a problem with the software. Maybe it’s an incorrect setting, but more likely a bug in the program.

If it goes away with a different keyboard, then we’re confused. Maybe try another keyboard of the same model, and if the problem comes back you’ll know that there’s some sort of design flaw where this particular keyboard is incompatible with this particular software.

Good luck!

I just noticed that the problem is not with one particular program, but seems to be with all you video games. So my next guess is that they use some sort of fancy video driver that the non-game software does not use, and this fancy driver is what’s interfering with the keyboard. Time to update your drivers, perhaps?