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I think my two-year old hit some combination of keys as the keyboard on my Windows XP machine just make clicking noises but generate no type on screen.

I've tried the shift-tab, shift-scroll lock and 3x on the scroll-lock key but none help.

Any ideas?

I should add this is a Microsoft Office keyboard and the only light that is on is the number 1

Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by chrismas.albert

Dani AI

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As discovered, this exact symptom (keys making a clicking/beep but no characters appearing) is usually Windows' accessibility keyboard feature reacting to an accidental shortcut. When the feature is active the OS will ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, so the keyboard sounds like it is clicking but nothing is typed.

To stop it and prevent it from happening again, turn off the accessibility shortcut or the feature itself. In older Windows (XP) open Control Panel -> Accessibility Options -> Keyboard tab and disable Filter Keys (or click Settings for Filter Keys and uncheck the option that lets the shortcut enable it). In Windows 7/8 use Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center -> Make the keyboard easier to use and turn off Filter Keys. In Windows 10/11 open Settings -> Ease of Access (or Accessibility) -> Keyboard and switch Filter Keys off; use the Filter Keys setup link to disable the shortcut that turns it on automatically.

If that does not fix the problem, rule out hardware or driver issues: try another keyboard or USB port, reboot and test the keyboard at the BIOS/boot screen (before Windows loads) to see if keystrokes register, and check Device Manager for driver errors. Also verify the keyboard layout and language settings in Windows if keys produce wrong characters.

This behavior has been repeatedly confirmed in the thread (see and ). Permanently disabling the accessibility shortcut prevents accidental future triggers while leaving other accessibility options available when needed.

Member Avatar for thumbslinger

In case it's helpful, the solution was to hold the RIGHT SHIFT key down for 8 seconds... until you hear a little 'laser gun' sound.

All is well and fine.

Member Avatar for Lucylo4

This worked on my new asus notebook! Thanks

Member Avatar for chrismas.albert

Yeak ,it's also working for me. Thanks!

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