While using the Windows 10 Pro operating system, a ‘-‘ character appears every 5 minutes even if there is no keyboard connected and all keyboard device drivers have been removed. However, the device manager shows two “HID Keyboard Device” devices enabled, both with the Microsoft-issued driver version 10.0.16299.15 for the Filco Majestouch 2 keyboard.
This issue occurs regardless of the application being used but is most noticeable when typing or playing a game that uses the ‘-‘ key. The problem persists after restarting and seems to be unrelated to any user activity.
However, when using Ubuntu 18, this issue does not occur.
The user has used UIForETW to track keypresses after booting the system with no keyboard connected and opening a Notepad window.
The relevant text from this trace:
ThreadId, Virtual key code (Field 1), Key name (Field 2), Time (s)
6452, 144, < unknown key>, 233.788931940
6452, 189, -, 233.801680235
6452, 144, < unknown key>, 233.803025330
6452, 144, < unknown key>, 534.803823074
6452, 189, -, 534.805705281
6452, 144, < unknown key>, 534.807160578
2 ‘-‘ characters were inserted, 301 seconds apart.
2 Answers
Introduction
Windows 10 Pro is a widely used operating system that is known for its reliability and stability. However, some users experience issues that can be frustrating and difficult to resolve. One such issue is the input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes, even when no keyboard is connected. In this blog post, we will explore this issue in detail and provide possible solutions.
Possible Causes
There are several possible causes of the input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes on Windows 10 Pro. One possible cause is a stuck key on the keyboard. This can happen if the key is physically stuck, or if there is a problem with the keyboard driver. Another possible cause is a problem with the keyboard settings in Windows. This can happen if the keyboard settings are not configured correctly or if there is a problem with the keyboard driver.
Stuck Key on the Keyboard
If a key on the keyboard is physically stuck, it may cause the input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes. To check if this is the case, try pressing all the keys on the keyboard to see if any of them are stuck. If you find a stuck key, try gently pressing it a few times to see if it becomes unstuck. If this does not work, you may need to replace the keyboard.
Problem with the Keyboard Driver
If there is a problem with the keyboard driver, it may cause the input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes. To check if this is the case, try uninstalling the keyboard driver and then reinstalling it. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and then selecting Device Manager from the menu.
2. Expand the Keyboards category.
3. Right-click on the keyboard device and select Uninstall device.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Windows will automatically reinstall the keyboard driver.
Problem with Keyboard Settings in Windows
If there is a problem with the keyboard settings in Windows, it may cause the input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes. To check if this is the case, try resetting the keyboard settings to their default values. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Typing.
4. Scroll down to the Advanced keyboard settings section and click on the Reset button.
5. Restart the computer.
Other Possible Solutions
If none of the above solutions work, there are a few other possible solutions that you can try.
Run a Virus Scan
The input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes may be caused by a virus or malware on your computer. To check if this is the case, run a full virus scan using your antivirus software.
Update Windows
The input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes may be caused by a bug in Windows. To check if this is the case, make sure that your computer is up to date with the latest Windows updates. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Check for updates.
4. If updates are available, install them.
Disable the ‘-‘ Key
If none of the above solutions work, you can try disabling the ‘-‘ key. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Download and install the Microsoft PowerToys utility.
2. Open the PowerToys settings.
3. Click on Keyboard Manager.
4. Click on the Remap a key button.
5. Click on the + button to add a new key remap.
6. In the Physical key field, select the ‘-‘ key.
7. In the Target key field, select the ‘Disabled’ option.
8. Click on OK.
Conclusion
The input of the ‘-‘ character every 5 minutes on Windows 10 Pro can be a frustrating issue to deal with. However, with the solutions provided in this blog post, you should be able to resolve the issue and get back to using your computer without any interruptions. If none of the solutions work, you may need to contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.
Given that all software-related causes and the possibility of the keyboard sending faulty signals have been ruled out, it appears that the issue is related to hardware. It is recommended to ensure that all USB devices, USB ports, and any other components in the vicinity of the computer case are properly connected and functioning normally.