# Stupid computer question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261 "2001-03-24T01:58:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/1 "2001-03-24T01:58:14Z")
Up until a few days ago I was able to use the Tab key to go from one field to another on a form. Now when I press the Tab key it opens up windows that are minimized on the task bar. The ESC key seems to be doing the same thing. Any ideas of how to correct this problem? Should I go out and buy another keyboard? Any help will be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/2 "2001-03-24T02:07:54Z")
Check and make sure your Alt key is not stuck. Alt-Tab brings up a minimized programs (or background programs). ---
**Author:** ![ookpik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@ookpik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ookpik)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/3 "2001-03-24T04:01:00Z")
Insider, Rob’s reply makes sense. Verify it by borrowing a keyboard from work or a friend. Generally speaking, they’re not worth repairing, unless you have something really nice with special functionality that’s still under warranty. Around here (Canada), you get a KB for approx $15 or about two bucks US. ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/4 "2001-03-24T04:19:11Z")
You can just pop the key top off with a small screwdriver. I had one just two days ago that had a dead staple under it that made is jam. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/5 "2001-03-24T05:33:43Z")
This may be unbelievably obvious, but yet I will mention it anyway: oftentimes I am able to unstick a stuck key by sliding the edge of an index card around it, to dislodge any crud that happens to be jammed in there. (For some reason, my ergonomic keyboard seems to collect more crap on it than my regular one did.) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/6 "2001-03-24T15:32:08Z")
Is it a Mac or a PC & Windows 95 or 98 or what? Why would dirt have anything to do with it guys? The keys work they are just opening task bar items. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/7 "2001-03-24T22:36:27Z")
I’ve had the same thing happen to me on my PC (Windows 98), and it wasn’t the Alt key…that brings up the switch program window and would be quite obvious… mine is only temporary, and usually returns to normal if I restart or close all the programs in the taskbar. ---
**Author:** ![msc75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@msc75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msc75)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/8 "2001-03-25T00:33:27Z")
I, too, have had this problem before and was unable to figure out why it happened. It definitely wasn’t the ALT key though, because it has happened on multiple computers at seemingly random time. It must be some trivial setting in Windows. Restarting seems to fix it every time. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/9 "2001-03-25T16:12:58Z")
I’d like to say that I have seen a lot of messages that start with ‘Stupid Computer’ Perhaps they should make a computer called just that. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/10 "2001-03-26T00:59:08Z")
I go with the “Alt” key hypothesis. I’m tempted to say that the key itself isn’t stuck as I’ve had this happened and my keyboard is pretty darn clean. Either way, though, just tap the Alt key a few times and it should clear things up. Or at least, it does for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-computer-question/59261/11 "2001-03-26T02:19:43Z")
I cleaned the Alt keys and the ESC key. It seems to be working fine now. Thanks again for the advice…