up vote 2 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

I've got a bit of a strange problem. On one of our computers, pressing ctrl + alt + left/right/up/down will move the mouse pointer on the screen, but it's not clear which software makes this happen. It interferes with other software that uses these shortcuts. I've already tried disabling some software, such as WinKey and a Kensington mouse driver, but that didn't make a difference. It's happening on a Windows XP SP3 computer by the way.

Does anyone have an idea of how to find the software that traps this shortcut? Suggestions for actual (types of) software that might be doing this are welcome too.

Thanks!

link|improve this question
Should be on superuser – pplrppl Apr 5 '10 at 16:00
1  
@pplrppl - the belongs-on-* tags have been deprecated, as per a meta discussion. If votes deem so, it will be migrated. – Ben Pilbrow Apr 5 '10 at 16:06
feedback

2 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

You can use Nirsoft’s InjectedDLL to view system hooks. It will show you the DLLs of applications that have hooks in your system. Take a look through there and see if there is anything suspicious or obvious (ie hotkey type apps). If you find something, then you can open the directory where the DLL is stored (look in the Filename column), and see if it is something you know of (also a good way to look for malware). Then you can see if there is an app (EXE/CPL/etc.) that can be exited or used to disable/remove the hook.

link|improve this answer
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll go and try that. (I tried the HotKey Commander software, but that didn't see anything related to ctrl alt l/r/u/d.) – Unimatrix02 Apr 5 '10 at 21:04
You can also use a tool I wrote a while back that lists global hotkeys that are taken on the system (it can’t show you what program uses it or for what, just if a combo is taken): synetech.dyndns.org/Synetech.inc/PlasmaSoft/GHKList – Synetech Apr 13 '10 at 16:24
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

It might be in the accessibility settings. Look for "Mouse Keys" in the Control Panel.

link|improve this answer
I don’t believe that MouseKeys uses that key combination. (Technically, it does not require any keys to be held down to move the mouse cursor.) – Synetech Apr 5 '10 at 15:31
No, it makes sense that it wouldn't, but it's one more place to check in order to be thorough. – Dennis Williamson Apr 5 '10 at 16:05
I looked through both the Kensington control panel and the standard mouse panel, but didn't see any MouseKeys or similar setting. Thanks for your comment though. – Unimatrix02 Apr 5 '10 at 21:03
It's in Accessibility, no the regular mouse settings. – Dennis Williamson Apr 6 '10 at 12:28
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard