topic Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:23:22 GMT

Not a very good title I'm afraid, but this issue is really perplexing me.

Every day on at least one occasion I get a situation where the PC doesn't respond to keyboard strokes (although it does to mouse movement and clicks). I can literally do nothing until this issue eventually resolves itself (usually after about 3 or 4 minutes). It's as though I can hear the PC doing something in the background, but what?

1. I've checked my keyboard and it's fully functional (except when this issue arises), changed the batteries even and checked I have the most up to date drivers. I've even swapped keyboards, but the issue occurs at least once every time I'm logged on.

2. I've looked at Task Manager and there is little or no disk input/output when this issue occurs and CPU use is negligible. However, I can see that the wifi is showing significant activity.

I've no idea what is causing the complete lack of responsiveness to keyboard entry and worry that something else is going on. Originally, I though it may be something to do with me running Lightroom and Photoshop, but the problem can also arise when I'm not even runninh these programs. This may be totally nothing to do with anything, but why would my DNS Name be showing up on the Task Manager as 'Ian' ? It got me rather paranoid thinking I'm being hacked what with all the wifi activity when the issue of non responsiveness to the keyboard is occuring. Probably a complete red herring I know, but I just think it strange to have a DNS name showing as 'Ian'.

I realise it's only losing me a few minutes at the time it happens (somethimes 2 or 3 times a day), but it's quite frustrating when it does happen, especially when I'm in the middle of typing an email or such.

If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful to hear them.

Thanks

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 17:33:55 GMT

@rogermhunt What OS and what keyboard are you using. I assume from your comment this is a desktop machine?

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:17:29 GMT

@jab1 Windows 10 (up to date) and a LOGITECH® MK270 WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO.

Yes, it's a desktop with Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-4790S (3.2GHz) 8MB Cache.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:19:14 GMT

Run the MS defender Antivirus tool, and install and run https://www.malwarebytes.com/solutions/free-antivirus

Then report back.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:32:29 GMT

@jab1 I will start that now, but probably won't be able to reply until tomorrow as we're about to go out. EDIT: Defender scan just shows a PUA:Win32/piriformbundler (low risk)

Have to wait until tomorrow for the Malwarebytes.

Many thanks.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:28:46 GMT

OK.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

RPMozley — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:42:28 GMT

Piriform, isn’t that CCleaner? Must be the “extra” stuff that the installer flashes up which you need to untick to stop it installing.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:43:39 GMT

@RPMozley The link is to MALWAREBYTES!

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

RPMozley — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:46:59 GMT

Calm down John. I was referring to the defender scan results.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:59:50 GMT

Sorry, RPM - the OP edited his post after I'd seen it. 😀

And yes, you are correct.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:14:29 GMT

@jab1 Ok I've managed to do both a Defender and Malwarebytes scan. The only thing picked up by Defender was the PiriformBundler (mentioned above). Malwarebytes showed no threats.

It's so bizarre. The non response from the PC just happened again. It's like it just goes dead for no apparent reason (but does seem to be doing something in the background). Whatever it is, it stops me from doing what I'm doing for a few minutes and then everything OK after that, until the next time. Hence my paranoia about whether something/someone is 'hacking' me.

Now, I'm literally going out so, won't pick up anything until tomorrow.

Thanks for your help so far.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

Champnet — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:23:16 GMT

Try Process Explorer by Sysinternals, It's free and doesn't need installing.

Narrow the display to show just the Process and CPU columns, reduce the display to show only the top half dozen lines.

Move it to a corner or the side of the screen. When the computer 'freezes' you may see what it's actually doing..................

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

jab1 — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:24:44 GMT

Good idea, @Champnet . I forgot about that since I've been using Linux for the past couple of years.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:43:34 GMT

@rogermhunt

LOGITECH® MK270 WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO

Have you checked the battery status for the keyboard, unresponsive keyboard could be due to low voltage.

Dan.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:14:12 GMT

@Dan_the_Van Yes Dan, I changed the batteries last week to new ones anyway and still get this periodic issue.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

rogermhunt — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:13:30 GMT

@Champnet @jab1 Thanks. I've downloaded it and got it running. When the problem arise again, I'll take a look and try to figure what's going on and if possible, I'll take a screen print and post it here.

Re: Intermittent keyboard 'not responding' issue

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:41:52 GMT

@rogermhunt

when you get slow keyboard response I take it you're doing something online?

Try something like notepad to see of the keyboard works when you think it is not responding, also are you using any cloud services or NAS drive to save data as those connections could cause some slowness.

Dan