I use Win 7 on my pc and from time to time the windows key will not work, I am referring to the bottom left hand icon on the screen and also the bottom 2nd left key on my keyboard. I have googled the problem and also looked in windows help, I have run a full scan and also malwarebytes but to no avail, it means the only way to turn off the computer is by using the 'emergency' switch on the rear of the tower. Any thoughts Please

I can't remember in Windows 7, but if I do a CTRL/ALT/DEL to bring up the task manager, there is also an option to shut the computer down on the lower right in Windows 8 and Windows 10.

In a search I found suggestions that an update caused it and another site said that a scan with Malwarebytes fixed it. In most of the cases, the problem appears to have fixed itself. I actually had that happen with my Windows 10 last week and a reboot fixed it.

Here is what I would suggest to start with. First, do a proper shut down using CTRL/ALT/DEL and then start up again. Then run a scan with Malwarebytes and see if it finds anything. Let us know what happens.

Ctrl-Esc will bring up the Start Menu.
(hold down the control key and press the escape key)

Here's a list of other keyboard shortcuts: http://ctrlf5.net/?p=140

Most modern computers will shut Windows down "properly" if you push the start button on the front of the case.

I'm not sure why your Windows keys would stop working.
If you have a different keyboard you could try, see if the Windows key is also not working on that.

You might also check this site
http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/how-did-my-windows-key-become-disabled.192522/
Several solutions listed there, including people inadvertently changing their keyboard to "gaming mode" when they were cleaning it and some links to a Microsoft fix.

Thankyou both of you, Well I didn't know about ctrl-Esc, but I do now!! I also checked the site and it took me to a Microsoft fix so we will see what transpires in the future. I'm not sure about 'gaming mode' when would I use it and how do you do it??

Usually it would be a switch on the keyboard itself.
Most keyboards don't have it, but a keyboard sold as a "gaming keyboard" might.

It's possible that some cheap "gaming keyboards" switch to "gaming mode" in software and don't have a "gaming" switch on the keyboard itself. But in that case you'd probably have to install drivers for that keyboard instead of using generic Windows keyboard drivers.

If you're wondering why someone would want to disable the Windows key while playing games --

If you're playing a keyboard-controlled game and accidentally knock against the Windows key, the game will minimize and possibly crash. So temporarily disabling the Windows key while you're playing a keyboard-controlled game, so you don't get the unwanted minimizing while playing, is a useful ability.

The bargain-basement way of doing this on a "non-gaming" keyboard is to pull the Windows keys off of your keyboard, preventing them from being pressed by accident. Here is a picture showing a keyboard modified in this way (beige keyboard on top)
http://www.everythingusb.com/media/logitech-g110-game-mode.jpg
Note the closeup of the black keyboard on the bottom of the picture shows the switch on a gaming keyboard.

Thank you Jenny100, I don't think I need a gaming keyboard but interesting to learn something new all the same.

Did you get things working again?

As it only happens about once a week I don't know, but fingers crossed (makes it so difficult to type) everything is OK, however I am very grateful to learn about ctrl/escape which will help if it happens again. If that is the case I think it will time to talk to my friendly computer shop. I just hope it isn't anything too expensive.

Did you run that Malwarebytes scan? Can't hurt just in case...

hi monbron,

A few things:

1) To shut down your computer you could also click on the Start button and from there chose what you want to do i.e. Shut down, Sleep, etc.

2) You could also go to your Device Manager and uninstall the Keyboard or Keyboard driver and then Restart your machine and let it re-install your drivers and see if this helps.

3) Check to see if there are any Updated drivers for your keyboard.

Good luck

I think the problem was that the Start button and the Windows key were not responding. Everything else on the keyboard and desktop was working. I had this happen to me last week, but a reboot remedied the problem.

You are right Draclvr (as usual) , I missed that when I first read it.

Sorry monbron for that. I hope you get to solve your problem quickly.

Thanks everybody, Draclvr, Yes I have run Malwarebytes several times and nothing found, I also have Norton which I did a lengthy scan again nothing found, so I am wondering if either my hard drive is going or if Windows is in some way malfunctioning. Anyway its just a waiting game now to see if it happens again, if it does I will let you all know and let you know what the answer is.

That's always good to know! Mine hasn't done it again either. Maybe we will be lucky and it will never happen again!

This appears to be a bug of some sort with Windows 10 , Drac . Most have said , on various sites I had visited , it was caused by some sort of Windows update gone wrong . If virus/malware scans didn't cure the problem , a system restore to a couple of days before said problem happened should help . There were a few other ways to solve the problem , but they were rather involved .

That's what I found in my initial searches too, Creeping_Doom - an update was the culprit.

Well its gone again!! I rang the shop and I will be taking my tower in to have it looked at. As with win 10 I can't help thinking its an update gone wrong, but its been going on for a couple of months now so we will see.

Just out of curiosity , what version of Win 10 do you have (Home or Pro) ?

Sorry Creeping_Doom but I am using win 7

Please let us know what the outcome is... I'm really curious about this.

Will do

Ok got my pc back and all seems fine, the computer techie said that it was a windows registry problem probably an update that got corrupted.

It's good that they knew how to fix it.