geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: keyb_gr on Thu, 24 May 2012, 14:19:31
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Here's an issue that I stumbled across. Once I had a hunch what it was (tracing the last changes I'd made to the system), it turned out others had had the same problem before but it wasn't exactly common.
Sticky Keys, ye olde Windows keyboard accessibility feature that is handy when you are typing one-handed, for example, may make Windows Explorer go crazy after some time (weird flickering, taskbar jumping around wildly - very annoying). At this point, a check in task manager reveals that Explorer is using 9999 GDI objects, which is the maximum by default. The culprit, it turns out, is the tray icon for Stick Keys, which indicates the status of the keys it controls (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Win). Each time it is changed, Explorer leaks a few GDI handles, rapidly accumulating them if you use these keys a lot (Shift being the most common candidate, but don't underestimate how often you Alt-Tab). Apparently this only happens when the icon is hidden, e.g. if you have an auto-hiding taskbar like yours truly. A bug, no doubt.
Workaround: Turn off the tray icon for Sticky Keys. Rapid GDI resource usage immediately stops.
This is in Vista. I am not sure which other versions of Windows are affected.
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when you are typing one-handed
Now I know why they call it sticky keys
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Now I know why they call it sticky keys
Mind. Blown.
(http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/mind-blown.gif)
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In sticky key's defense, a lot of stuff tends to cause windows explorer to go berserk.
Also
Now I know why they call it sticky keys
Lol
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i always disable sticky keys. that **** is annoying.
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I always disable it as well. I see how it might be useful for some people, but it should have been something that has to be installed on purpose or at least completely off by default. By completely off I mean no dialog boxes that pop up and steal focus in the middle of game play.
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I always disable it as well. I see how it might be useful for some people, but it should have been something that has to be installed on purpose or at least completely off by default. By completely off I mean no dialog boxes that pop up and steal focus in the middle of game play.
thought it disabled during full-screen applications?
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Earlier on it didn't atleast.
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It's *supposed* to, but I have found it will still pop up anyway if you don't completely disable it, including the very important part of disabling the shortcut that triggers the dialog box. Yes it is 2 separate things, why Microsoft?
Just like theoretically Windows key should be disable in full screen as well, but is not. Some fault probably lies with games developer not including something.
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I use 7 x64 and it still behaves in this stupid way. Well I don't know about the gdi thing, but sticky keys behavior is still same.