Member Avatar for itek4u

Any and all buttons, OK and Cancel among others, will do a weird rapid

switching like something is clicking them really fast. It even happens

in Safe Mode. Other weird things like windows opening and shutting, or

not wanting to shut are happening also. I scanned with AdAware SE,

Spybot 1.3, Norton Antivirus 2003 and an online antivirus scanner.

Nothing is showing up. They also purchased a new mouse but that didn't

stop it. It's driving the end-users crazy. Help!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Catweazle

Dani AI

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Since already reports the behaviour persisting in Safe Mode and raised the reinstall/hardware possibility, treat this as an input-device or firmware/hardware fault first. Rapid, repeated “clicks” and window focus flips are most often caused by a misbehaving keyboard, touchpad/trackpoint, or a stray HID (gamepad/IR/wireless dongle) sending spurious events — not necessarily malware.

Suggested checklist (do these in order so you can isolate cheaply before opening the case):

  • Unplug everything: remove all USB devices, wireless receivers, game controllers, card readers and any docking-station attachments; then boot with only power connected.
  • Power-reset the laptop: shut down, remove battery and AC, hold the power button 20–30 seconds, reconnect and boot. This clears some stuck hardware states.
  • Disable the internal pointing device (Fn + the touchpad key or in BIOS) and try with an external keyboard only. If the laptop has a trackpoint/stick, disable that too.
  • Boot from a Live USB (try without installing) and observe behaviour outside Windows — if it repeats in Linux, it’s almost certainly hardware. See the Ubuntu “try before you install” guide: Try Ubuntu before you install.
  • If hardware is indicated, power down and (if comfortable) reseat the keyboard ribbon cable and inspect for debris or liquid damage; otherwise have a service shop check/replace the keyboard or touchpad assembly. Note: opening the case can void warranty and risks ESD damage.

If the issue appears only inside Windows after these checks, then try a clean boot or test with a clean install. For multi-key / ghosting behaviour background, see: Key ghosting.

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Boot into Safe mode'. You do that by holding down the <F8> key after the screens of POST info have displayed and before the Windows logo screen shows, and then choosing 'Safe Mode' from the boot menu.

Run the tools you've mentioned from within Safe mode.

The nasties you have on your system are possibly loaded into memory at startup, and thus difficult to remove.

Report back if you still have the problem afterwards, please.

Member Avatar for itek4u

I booted into Safe Mode and did all the scanning, nothing showed up. I checked in the registry in the Run area, nothing abnormal there. HiJack this shows nothing unusual either. It is still doing the weirdness.

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Was I confronted with a system like that and couldn't correct it with virus and other nasties tools, I'd wipe it, fresh install and see if it corrected the problem. If it didn't I'd be looking for hardware problems.

You mentioned 'they' and 'end-user'. Is this for a customer?

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