1) The purpose of a 'test user' is to determine if this problem is system-wide, or relegated entirely to your 'normal' user.

2) What do the logs say about the Dock crash?

3) in what apps doesn't Shift-C work? All apps? This is one place where using a 'test user' is quite helpful.

have you tried to repare your computer with Disk Firstaid it uasly takes care of most problems if you need to, you could get disk warrior it is a repare utility that fixes all issues. first try diskfirst aid go in to applications/Utilities diskfirst aid

repare permissions if that doesent stop it then load the install os X CD in the computer when it gets to the menu load disk utility from the CD
then repare the HD if it fails then get Diskwarrior (p.s nortian actually causes more problems in the end and slows down the computer)

Thanks for the reply and sorry for the delay on my side of replying back. Holidays and my father put in the hospital (he's fine now.) have kept me at bay for a bit.

As for the Shift 'c' not working, it happens whenever typing. Not sure if it's all apps, but all that I recall typing in. C . Worked there didn't it? Just intermittent. Probably something in the keyboard itself, either debris or electronic. Though odd that Shift any other key works fine all the time.

Maybe Disk Warrior fixed Expose'. But it works again. Here's the last of many reports on the dock crashing.
May be more than you need, but it's all Greek to me in the crash logs.

Host Name: Macintosh.local
Date/Time: 2006-01-04 13:45:01 -0500
OS Version: 10.3.8 (Build 7U16)
Report Version: 2

Command: Dock
Path: /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock
Version: 1.2 (1.2)
PID: 338
Thread: 0

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE (0x0002) at 0x00000020

Thread 0 Crashed:
0 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x935dcaf8 _CGSSynchronizeWindow + 0x4c
1 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x935d7760 _CGSLockWindow + 0x114
2 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x935df550 CGSDeviceLock + 0xf0
3 libRIP.A.dylib 0x91b86838 ripd_Lock + 0x34
4 libRIP.A.dylib 0x91b8512c ripl_BltShape + 0x200
5 libRIP.A.dylib 0x91b845e0 ripc_Render + 0x18c
6 libRIP.A.dylib 0x91b87a0c ripc_DrawRects + 0x21c
7 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x935f00bc __CGContextDrawRects + 0xe0
8 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x93602e80 CGContextFillRects + 0x9c
9 com.apple.CoreGraphics 0x93607774 CGContextFillRect + 0x20
10 com.apple.dock 0x0002f97c 0x1000 + 0x2e97c
11 com.apple.dock 0x0002ee10 0x1000 + 0x2de10
12 com.apple.dock 0x0002ea34 0x1000 + 0x2da34
13 com.apple.dock 0x0002e8fc 0x1000 + 0x2d8fc
14 com.apple.dock 0x0002fb38 0x1000 + 0x2eb38
15 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x901945f8 __CFRunLoopDoTimer + 0xf4
16 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x90191958 __CFRunLoopRun + 0x5c8
17 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x90195e6c CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 0x148
18 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x901ff32c CFRunLoopRun + 0x34
19 com.apple.dock 0x0000e568 0x1000 + 0xd568
20 com.apple.dock 0x0000e290 0x1000 + 0xd290
21 com.apple.dock 0x0000e104 0x1000 + 0xd104

Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x90016f48 semaphore_wait_signal_trap + 0x8
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9000e790 _pthread_cond_wait + 0x270
2 com.apple.dock 0x0000ab9c 0x1000 + 0x9b9c
3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x900246e8 _pthread_body + 0x28

PPC Thread State:
srr0: 0x935dcaf8 srr1: 0x0200f030 vrsave: 0x00000000
cr: 0x44084242 xer: 0x20000007 lr: 0x935dcabc ctr: 0x90002020
r0: 0x00000000 r1: 0xbfffea30 r2: 0x00000000 r3: 0x0032be40
r4: 0x00380c10 r5: 0x00000001 r6: 0x00318610 r7: 0xbfffeda0
r8: 0x00000005 r9: 0xbfffeea0 r10: 0x9362247c r11: 0xa35d1400
r12: 0x90002020 r13: 0x0032be40 r14: 0x00000000 r15: 0x00000000
r16: 0x00000001 r17: 0x003507b0 r18: 0xbffff020 r19: 0x00000006
r20: 0x00000000 r21: 0x00000000 r22: 0x00000000 r23: 0xbfffeda0
r24: 0x0032be40 r25: 0x0038fa40 r26: 0x0032be40 r27: 0x00000001
r28: 0x00380c10 r29: 0x00380c10 r30: 0x00000001 r31: 0x935dcabc

Binary Images Description:
0x1000 - 0x49fff com.apple.dock 1.2 /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock
0x8fe00000 - 0x8fe4ffff dyld /usr/lib/dyld
0x90000000 - 0x90122fff libSystem.B.dylib /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
0x90190000 - 0x9023dfff com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.3.7 (299.35) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation
0x90280000 - 0x904f9fff com.apple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 10.3.6 (10.3.5) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonCore.framework/Versions/A/CarbonCore
0x90570000 - 0x905dffff com.apple.framework.IOKit 1.3.6 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit
0x90610000 - 0x9069afff com.apple.CoreServices.OSServices 3.0.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OSServices.framework/Versions/A/OSServices
0x90700000 - 0x90700fff com.apple.CoreServices 10.3 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/CoreServices
0x90720000 - 0x90787fff com.apple.audio.CoreAudio 2.1.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/Versions/A/CoreAudio
0x907f0000 - 0x907f9fff com.apple.DiskArbitration 2.0.4 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/Versions/A/DiskArbitration
0x90810000 - 0x90810fff com.apple.ApplicationServices 1.0 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/ApplicationServices
0x90910000 - 0x90983fff com.apple.DesktopServices 1.2.3 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DesktopServicesPriv.framework/Versions/A/DesktopServicesPriv
0x90d00000 - 0x90d1bfff com.apple.SystemConfiguration 1.7.1 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/Versions/A/SystemConfiguration
0x90d40000 - 0x90d40fff com.apple.Carbon 10.3 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Carbon
0x910b0000 - 0x91101fff com.apple.bom 1.2.5 (63.2) /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Bom.framework/Versions/A/Bom
0x912a0000 - 0x912bdfff com.apple.audio.SoundManager 3.8 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonSound.framework/Versions/A/CarbonSound
0x912e0000 - 0x912f7fff com.apple.LangAnalysis 1.5.4 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LangAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/LangAnalysis
0x91320000 - 0x913dffff ColorSync /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ColorSync.framework/Versions/A/ColorSync
0x91460000 - 0x91473fff com.apple.speech.synthesis.framework 3.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesis
0x914a0000 - 0x91509fff com.apple.htmlrendering 1.1.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HTMLRendering.framework/Versions/A/HTMLRendering
0x91560000 - 0x91619fff com.apple.QD 3.4.65 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/QD.framework/Versions/A/QD
0x91670000 - 0x916a8fff com.apple.AE 1.4 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/AE.framework/Versions/A/AE
0x916e0000 - 0x91773fff com.apple.print.framework.PrintCore 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/PrintCore.framework/Versions/A/PrintCore
0x917e0000 - 0x917f0fff com.apple.speech.recognition.framework 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechRecognition.framework/Versions/A/SpeechRecognition
0x91810000 - 0x9182afff com.apple.openscripting 1.2.1 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OpenScripting.framework/Versions/A/OpenScripting
0x91850000 - 0x91860fff com.apple.ImageCapture 2.1.5 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageCapture.framework/Versions/A/ImageCapture
0x91890000 - 0x9189cfff com.apple.help 1.0.1 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Help.framework/Versions/A/Help
0x918c0000 - 0x918cdfff com.apple.CommonPanels 1.2.1 (1.0) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CommonPanels.framework/Versions/A/CommonPanels
0x918f0000 - 0x9193efff com.apple.print.framework.Print 3.3 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Print.framework/Versions/A/Print
0x91990000 - 0x9199bfff com.apple.securityhi 1.2 (90) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SecurityHI.framework/Versions/A/SecurityHI
0x919c0000 - 0x91a33fff com.apple.NavigationServices 3.3.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/NavigationServices.framework/Versions/A/NavigationServices
0x91ab0000 - 0x91ac4fff libCGATS.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libCGATS.A.dylib
0x91ae0000 - 0x91aebfff libCSync.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libCSync.A.dylib
0x91b10000 - 0x91b2afff libPDFRIP.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libPDFRIP.A.dylib
0x91b50000 - 0x91b5ffff libPSRIP.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libPSRIP.A.dylib
0x91b80000 - 0x91b93fff libRIP.A.dylib /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libRIP.A.dylib
0x92070000 - 0x92096fff com.apple.FindByContent 1.4 (1.2) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/FindByContent.framework/Versions/A/FindByContent
0x920c0000 - 0x922a7fff com.apple.security 2.4 (177) /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security
0x92430000 - 0x92468fff com.apple.LaunchServices 10.3.5 (98.4) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/LaunchServices
0x92740000 - 0x92777fff com.apple.CFNetwork 1.2.1 (7) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CFNetwork.framework/Versions/A/CFNetwork
0x927d0000 - 0x92b54fff com.apple.HIToolbox 1.3.5 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/HIToolbox
0x92d30000 - 0x92d80fff com.apple.HIServices 1.4.1 (0.0.1d1) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIServices.framework/Versions/A/HIServices
0x935d0000 - 0x938a8fff com.apple.CoreGraphics 1.203.30 (???) /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/CoreGraphics
0x939a0000 - 0x939b4fff libcups.2.dylib /usr/lib/libcups.2.dylib
0x939d0000 - 0x939d4fff libmathCommon.A.dylib /usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib
0x94060000 - 0x94078fff com.apple.WebServices 1.1.1 (1.1.0) /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/WebServicesCore.framework/Versions/A/WebServicesCore
0x945b0000 - 0x945b9fff libz.1.dylib /usr/lib/libz.1.dylib
0x94610000 - 0x9462afff libresolv.9.dylib /usr/lib/libresolv.9.dylib
0x94650000 - 0x946affff com.apple.SearchKit 1.0.2 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SearchKit.framework/Versions/A/SearchKit
0x94b20000 - 0x94badfff com.apple.ink.framework 101.1.3 (55.10) /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Ink.framework/Versions/A/Ink
0x968d0000 - 0x969b2fff libicucore.A.dylib /usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib
0x96a20000 - 0x96ae2fff libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib /usr/lib/libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib
0x96b40000 - 0x96b6efff libssl.0.9.7.dylib /usr/lib/libssl.0.9.7.dylib
0x96bf0000 - 0x96c7ffff ATS /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ATS.framework/Versions/A/ATS
0x97510000 - 0x97518fff libbsm.dylib /usr/lib/libbsm.dylib

If you see anything in here that would need attention, I'd sure appreciate your notice of such.
Thanks again for the prompt reply.
Hope the holidays were good to you and yours.
Dan

Thank you for your reply.
I rarely use the disc for disk repair of Apple's. But I did buy Diskwarrior a couple years back. I run it every time I 'graph' the system and it shows 2% or more is not right. I run MacJanitor almost daily and whenever RAM is down to a minimum from using Photoshop on many large files.

But all is well again beyond the intermittent need to use the caps key to make a capital C.

Thanks for your time and information.
Dan

Do you use Dock magnification or Dock hiding?

well glad i could help in a small way

from the looks of the logs
you had some core graphics problems

I have it set to magnification. About midrange.
As I noted above, that hot corner is bottom right. Also my dock is extended to it's limits. Don't know if that matters.

Thanks,
Dan

And if you switch to another user, can you duplicate the problem?

I stayed with 'test' user for a few days and nothing happened. But in my user mode that could (not) happen as well.