Keyboard-related oddness

I've run into two rather weird problems that only occur when I'm in SL. and both are keyboard-related. The most annoying one happens fortunately fairly infrequently, in that a reboot of the machine is required.
What happens is this: the keyboard completely stops responding. If for example, you are typing in chat, all the sudden, every keypress sounds a beep, appearing like a keyboard buffer maxxed out. Pressing ESC gives the same effect. If SL is closed, this does not recover the keyboard. The only recovery (that I've been able to find) is a reboot of the machine. In the approx 2 months I've been in SL, this has only happened maybe 5 times. The second problem is less annoying, but happens fairly frequently. The problem is this: when walking the av, using the arrow keys, and the problem appears, the av will keep walking (as though I was pressing the up-arrow key, or the up-arrow key were stuck). You can stop av movement by pressing and holding the down-arrow key, but when you release it, the av will start back up, and walk into walls, or off cliffs or whatever... The fix is logout and log back in.. I've had no problems with the keyboard on the system otherwise, and I've run the pertinent Dell diags on the system, and no problems found. The system is a Dell D4550/2.53Ghz/1Gb. Has anyone seen anything like this??

Tasman Perth

I've seen similar and what I have seen relates to losing connection with the SL server, If you are on wireless this will happen frequently. I have also found bad routers causing the disconnection as well.

I do have a wireless AP on the network, but I'm not going thru it on the machine this
is happening on. Hmmm. My linksys router is one of the older models, although I don't
get any other network anomolies that could be attributed to the router.. The linksys has
what Linksys calls the latest f/w for that model.. As the wireless, when I am on it, I do get -too- many disconnects, such that I cannot ssh into my linux machines frequently.. I don't run SL thru wireless as my laptop won't support SL. Thanks for the reply..

Tasman Perth

I get some keyboard problems that sound a bit similar, though my troubles may stem from using an ancient IBM Model M with a PS2 to USB converter. When the keyboard stops responding, I press Caps Lock twice, this allows me to proceed. When a movement key seems stuck, I press it again, the Key Up message from this usually works to let SL think the key was released.

Your problem might be totally unrelated and not benefit from either suggestion.

(I have to use the converter, the PS2 keyboard port is fried.)

When the "stuck key" problem occurs, its as though the up arrow key is stuck.. My av will walk into walls, etc. The only way I can stop it is to press and hold the down-arrow key.. When I release it, the av starts walking again... No keypress I've tried clears this problem..
Oh well, maybe one of these frequent updates the Lindens keep pushing will majically fix the problem.. We can only hope.... :->

Thanks for the post...

Tasman Perth

This may sound silly but have you tried a different keyboard? I get similar reactions simply because some bit of trash has fallen into the keys. I can usually clear it by popping uo the key that sticks and cleaning the area under the key, sometimes just turning the keyboard oxer and tapping it can dislodge whatever is causing the problem.

And you are sure it's not lag?