I get boxes when I use the backspace key

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dorothy
  • Start date Start date
D

Dorothy

For a while, while editing a Powerpoint 2002 file (under
Windows XP) everything works fine. Then, for some reason
I cannot discern, when I use the backspace key, I get a
graphic box instead of a backspace. Any ideas?
 
Good Morning Dorothy,

I've got good news, and bad news ...

The good news is the issue you are describing has been seen before:
Backspace as a box, only in PowerPoint, sometimes with other special
keyboard keys inserting graphics instead of the correct function.

The bad news is that no one has posted back a definitive answer as to what
fixes it, (short of uninstalling Office, using a utility "cleaner" program
and reinstalling Office).

The suggestions offered were numerous, here is a partial list:

- Try a different keyboard, yours may be defective.
- Check your keyboard language under Start | Settings Control Panel |
Keyboard | Language
- Disable "Sticky Keys" under Start | Settings | Control Panel |
Accessibility Properties | Keyboard | Sticky Keys
- Use Repair feature of Office
- Try a different font
- Hit the Insert Key once


If one of these fix he problem, would you let us know? If not, could you
also let us know that. This newsgroup is an amazing resource for
information, it is a very rare day when a correct and complete answer isn't
known.

I think the solution for this problem will be found in the registry settings
for either fonts or keyboards (duh, what else is involved?) I might try
deleting the fonts and re-installing them, updating/reinstalling the
keyboard driver, and changing the computer's language settings (and then
changing back).


B
 
One other suggestion for this and *any* weirdo problem.

Shut down Windows.
Turn off the computer. Power it down completely.
Glare at it for five minutes. Or take a walk. Better for the blood
pressure.
Turn the computer back on and see if the problem's disappeared.

--

Steve Rindsberg PPT MVP
PPTLive ( http://www.pptlive.com ) Featured Speaker
PPTools: http://www.pptools.com
PPT FAQ: http://www.pptfaq.com
 
Steve Rindsberg said:
One other suggestion for this and *any* weirdo problem.

Shut down Windows.
Turn off the computer. Power it down completely.
Glare at it for five minutes. Or take a walk. Better for the blood
pressure.
Turn the computer back on and see if the problem's disappeared.
Click to expand...

Put that one on the FAQ!!

<LMAO>
 
Won't work. Mine has a glare screen.

B


Steve Rindsberg said:
One other suggestion for this and *any* weirdo problem.

Shut down Windows.
Turn off the computer. Power it down completely.
Glare at it for five minutes. Or take a walk. Better for the blood
pressure.
Turn the computer back on and see if the problem's disappeared.

--

Steve Rindsberg PPT MVP
PPTLive ( http://www.pptlive.com ) Featured Speaker
PPTools: http://www.pptools.com
PPT FAQ: http://www.pptfaq.com
Click to expand...
 
Hello,

We have seen the same issue here at work. I understand
from my own research on this newsgroup that other users
in either PowerPoint 2002 and 2000 also have experienced
the same issue.

The users were all running Windows XP with Office XP SP1.
When they pressed Backspace in PowerPoint, instead of
deleting text, the key would display the ASCII character
code of the Backspace key (08 decimal, or a white circle
inside a black box). You can reproduce this yourself by
pressing <Ctrl><Alt><Backspace> in PowerPoint (not sure
about other Office applications).

The same users who reported this PowerPoint problem also
said that PageUp/PageDown did not work, that Backspace
also did the same character in Visio 2002 and that they
could not copy/paste with <Ctrl-C>/<Ctrl-V> in Lotus
Notes v5.0.10.

After working very closely with Microsoft (even having
one of their senior engineers come on site), we think we
have the answer. It requires upgrading to Windows XP SP1
and then applying the 821432 hotfix patch (SP1 is pre-
requisite before applying the hotfix). The hotfix
updates the WIN32K.SYS driver.

If you are an end-user you may not be able to get the
patch. The hotfix itself will be included in Windows XP
SP2 whenever that comes out. We got the patch through
our Premier Enterprise Support relationship with
Microsoft.

Regards,
Roland Thomas
JPMorganChase
 
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