Magical mystery modifier key

[Dansor]

K, I hesitated for a while to post this.  I'm having a problem.  The sort of problem that seems like the solution is so obvious that I'm crazy for missing it.

I just recieved a Vortex KBT Oni TKL Brown, and I'm loving it... except...

Under Windows, the space bar turns the volume up, the right windows key turns it down, left alt mutes, right alt launches calculator, and all sorts of other weird things.
The alphanumerics work as expected, so it seems like there is some sort of modifier key that is stuck, but there is no modifier key.
I've tried unplugging it, and using it in a different computer with the same results. 

Is there some secret key combination I may have hit to cause this?
I'm really hoping I don't have to go through the trouble of requesting an exchange... 

Thanks for any help!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

It sounds completely broken to me — I can't think of anything that would trigger those results without there being a fault with the circuitry in the keyboard itself.

The keyboard is mistaking one bank of keys for another; most of the failing keys are modifiers, which USB treats completely differently to all other keys. Somehow it thinks that the modifiers and space bar are all media/extended keys, which is seriously messed up. It's the sort of behaviour I might expect from a stuck bit in the scancodes.

[xmagusx]

There is no modifier for that so far as I'm aware. Sadly, I'd say it is off to silicon heaven, where the iron shall lay down with the lamp.

I'd say you're best returning it and getting a proper new one while they refurbish that one rather than trying to muck with it yourself.

[Dansor]

Thanks both of you for the input.
I guess I was just hoping that there was some easy magical fix rather than having to go through the RMA process.

While I'm waiting for the RMA to go through, I just went ahead and ordered a Filco TKL instead.
And after the already seemingly infinite wait to get this one...

[Dansor]

So, maybe this will be some weird help to someone else out there someday, but my mystery issue has been resolved.

I got tired of waiting for a reply from mechanicalkeyboards.com for an RMA (I'm sure they will reply soon), so I just opened the keyboard to take a look, thinking maybe there would be a cold solder joint somewhere or something.  Yeah, 1 in a million chance given these are probably wave soldered.  Everything looked fine.

Literally 30 seconds before opening the case, I still had the issue.  After closing the case, the issue was resolved.  The only other thing I did was unplug the USB connector from the board and then reconnect it.  I'm still not ruling out cosmic rays or alien interference, but it seems the USB connector was just loose.  It seems like an odd issue to have, but there you are.  Or it could have been a static charge on some component.  I don't know.

Of course, the "bad" news was that in the meantime I ordered a Filco keyboard.  It's a tough life... 

[samwisekoi]

Congrats!

Two keyboards?  That's how it starts...

 - Ron I samwisekoi

[SpAmRaY]

So, maybe this will be some weird help to someone else out there someday, but my mystery issue has been resolved.

I got tired of waiting for a reply from mechanicalkeyboards.com for an RMA (I'm sure they will reply soon), so I just opened the keyboard to take a look, thinking maybe there would be a cold solder joint somewhere or something.  Yeah, 1 in a million chance given these are probably wave soldered.  Everything looked fine.

Literally 30 seconds before opening the case, I still had the issue.  After closing the case, the issue was resolved.  The only other thing I did was unplug the USB connector from the board and then reconnect it.  I'm still not ruling out cosmic rays or alien interference, but it seems the USB connector was just loose.  It seems like an odd issue to have, but there you are.  Or it could have been a static charge on some component.  I don't know.

Of course, the "bad" news was that in the meantime I ordered a Filco keyboard.  It's a tough life... 

I know with QFR's people had some issues with them being too tightly screwed together and loosening the case screw fixed issue with them before.

[nullstring]

I know with QFR's people had some issues with them being too tightly screwed together and loosening the case screw fixed issue with them before.

This is my bet or any similar change that could occur when opening the case.

[Dansor]

Yeah an over-tightened screw does make more sense that a loose cable connector or a magical static charge.

I'm still holding out on cosmic rays or alien interference though.

[SpAmRaY]

Yeah an over-tightened screw does make more sense that a loose cable connector or a magical static charge.

I'm still holding out on cosmic rays or alien interference though.

This fits most any situation