Guild Wars 2

I have literally no idea what causes this to happen but after a few minutes of gameplay my computer behaves as though my alt-key was locked. I can’t use F-keys (namely F4) or escape. I can still walk and use abilities but the game becomes really clunky because I have to avoid hitting multiple keys to continue playing. Furthermore, once I exit the client all of my keys only invoke alt commands. I cannot type at all and must restart my computer. Its really dried out my day.
Any suggestions?

theres a windows setting called Sticky Keys in: All Control Panel Items\Ease of Access Center\Make the keyboard easier to use
or you can press shift 5 times (which you might do in game)

It basically locks the keys ‘on’ without having to press them (shift, ctrl, alt and windows key)

you should switch sticky keys off

That doesn’t seem to be the problem because I’ve had sticky keys disabled since before this started happening.
I’m also on windows 8 64-bit if that makes a difference.

Did you at least look? It’s quite possible that you, or someone else, have inadvertedly turned Sticky Keys on.

My cats do it from time to time.

I did look. I’ve also tried swapping keyboards, still struggling.
I reinstalled too for that matter. It’s really spooky…

I have a similar problem. In my language, there is a letter ? – and somehow it stopped working. On a polish keyboard you have to press alt+c to get ?. Now, the game ignores this combination, even though all other alt combinations work perfectly fine. And, as you can see in my post, it only happens ingame.

Well, it could be a motherboard issue, or a USB issue, or a mouse issue, or a Windows language issue. Or a Sticky Keys issue, which would seem the most likely, but you’ve confirmed it’s not that.

If it’s a motherboard issue, there’s not really any way to tell. Not to my knowledge at least.

If it’s a mouse issue, trying with a different mouse should solve it.

If it’s a USB issue, shifting your USB plugs over into previously unused sockets should fix the issue. If you’re testing this, you might want to disconnect any unnecessary USB devices while testing, such as printers, external harddrives, and popcorn machines.

If it’s a Windows language issue, go into Control Panel → Region and Language → Keyboards and Languages → Change keyboards… and ensure you don’t have more than one listed under Installed services.

Finally, I’ll add one more thing. It’s kind of a homebrew fix, a mixture of part quack “fix-it-all” medicine, part “repeat three times in front of a mirror” myth, and part “heal minor illnesses with everyday household groceries” home remedy. I know people who claim to have used this fix for these kinds of problems and never experienced the issue ever again. Next time it happens, try pressing both CTRL buttons on your keyboard at the same time, then both ALT buttons, and finally both SHIFT buttons.

Let us know how it turns out.

You are a saint. That bizarre homebrew fix actually worked. I have been tearing my hair out over this for the past three days and all I had to do was press six keys at the same time. Seriously, incredible.
I might start crying a little.
Thank you Jigain.

Heh, I’m just glad it worked. I’ll admit, I was sceptic myself since it sounds completely bonkers. But friends swear by it, so I figured I might as well mention it. I’m glad I did.

odd that the solution was the standard way to switch off sticky keys :?
makes me think it is switching on regardless of the setting

This is NOT a setting, but a side effect of some keyboards and the limitations of a USB connection being rerouted to the keyboard controller inputs. Holding down multiple keys on ANY USB keyboard has the tendency to stick keys (it depends on what code the motherboard uses to fake out the standard keyboard controller with USB hardware).

Keep in mind MOST keyboards will NOT send proper communications if more than 2 or 3 keys are held down at once….some will and this is why this kind of thing is very intermittent and difficult to debug (even if motherboard makers wanted to debug them).

It is highly unlikely that ANY application requires more than 2 keys pressed at the same time and certainly there are no valid key combos beyond 3 keys (CTRL-ALT-DEL being the most popular). so the code does not take into account what will happen if 5 or 6 keys are held down together (certainly not with any reliability).

In the heat of combat, it is not impossible to accidentally hit too many keys.

usually when a keyboard hits the rollover limit it will just not respond to further keystrokes, Ive never heard of one sticking keys on