Hi, I have a Dell Laptop and it appears that my CTRL button is sticking and I get an error message when I try to open a MS Office program. The error message says something like "It appears you are holding down the CTRL key, would you like to start in safe mode? YES/NO When I say no it opens fine but obviously can't be used correctly as when you press a key "F" for example it see's that as CTRL F so brings up the FIND option. I have taken both CTRL keys off the keyboard, checked that there is no debris or foreign objects in and around the key and replaced. Is there anything I can do? Cheers Phil

Yes, contact Dell support and talk to them. If your system is under warranty, they'll replace the keyboard for you free of charge.

Hi, Thanks for your reply, unfortunately my laptop isn't under warranty :-( so therefore would cost me to replace. I thought that it might be virus related because all of my desktop icons have disappeared also. I don't have any antivirus software installed and obviously can't download AVG at the moment due to the CTRL key fault. Phil

Lesson learned perhaps? Boot to Safe Mode, backup your data (use an external keyboard if you have to), then use the Dell Reinstallation CD to reimage your laptop. "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

Restart the computer, and make sure none of the accessibility options have been activated, like sticky keys. Medion MIM 2080 Toshiba T2130CT Macintosh Performa 450 All working wonderfully.

Thanks for the info... Isn't Sticky Keys when you press shift 5 times? I've already checked the accesibility options but will double check when I get home from work. Thanks Again!

I doubt that a virus writer would pick causing one key to stick. The keyboard probably needs cleaning or replacing. That usually means a trip to a repair shop.