Keyboard Problem

[Crosser]

About a week ago the *, -, and + buttons on my numeric pad stopped working in an odd way. The game still detects and types out the symbol of those buttons but it does not work in the sense of that they usually do.

* = Rest
- = Open Main Menu
+ = Full Text Screen/Select Buffs

The Num Lock button is not on so there shouldn't be any problem. My game's keyboard setting is not set to compact so that isn't the problem either. I think the last time I logged out, I had to hard log myself out cause the game froze for some odd reason. If anyone can help me I would be very grateful.

[Crosser]

Still having problems with this issue. A few days ago I uninstalled and then reinstalled the game. Still having the problem in window mode and full screen mode. Almost thinking I might need to reset my OS. Any suggestions before I resort to doing that?

[Crosser]

Well I'm still having this problem. I tried resetting my OS last week and that didn't fix it either. Also tried switching keyboards but that obviously didn't work as well. Please, if anyone can help I would be eternally grateful.

[Dragoy]

What do they actually do in-game, if anything, other than type in the characters they normally would?
Do they not work in other instances such as changing the layout of a Mog House as well?
Do the other num-pad keys do what they normally would... do?
Do the other shortcuts work as expected (for example ctrl+h)?


There's a few thoughts, I'll probably get some more once I get on-line myself the next time.

[Crosser]

I know I can open my menu is I press Ctrl and - on the keyboard itself (not the numeric pad). Short cuts do work. All the other num-pad keys do exactly as they are suppose to.

[Dragoy]

Did you try the buttons in your Mog House while changing the layout?


This is indeed puzzling since the keys work whether or not the compact-keyboard is enabled or not, and you can not assign those keys to anything else as long as using the game and its files as intended.


That being said, I think I can't think of any more ideas.
If you by any chance are using any 3rd party software in conjunction with Final Fantasy XI, do try without them if you have not tried it already.

I would guess you do not use any, but it is possible that they might be messing with the game so I'm mentioning that just in-case.


Only way I can make those keys not to do their job is by holding down the Ctrl and/or Alt keys simultaneously, and while the keys do work otherwise, similar to what you're describing, it does hold the macro set/page open as well which you would probably notice too.


I am assuming it happens with any character you play with, if you even are able to try with more than one?
It's quite hard to think of a way that it would be related to your keyboard or the software drivers of it, but while I will try to think for more things to try, could you give some more information of your set-up?


Firstly, if you could, please fill out this template (the official crew would most definitely ask for this as a first thing):

Details:
Steps:
1.
2.
3.
<*Add more steps if necessary.>
Date & Time:
Frequency:
Platform:
PC Manufacturer & Model Number:
OS:
Graphics Card:
ISP:
Type of Internet Connection:


For examples and hints on what to fill in and how, check the sticky:

Welcome to Forum: Technical Support!

• https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/showthread.php?p=79

[Crosser]

Details:
For more then a month now my controls for my keyboard have not been working properly while playing Final Fantasy XI on my PC. Each time I log into Final Fantasy XI three of the keys on the numeric pad do not respond properly when pressed. The * - and + keys on the numeric pad do not perform the assigned functions that they have always had. Instead, when these keys are pressed they only type out the symbols they appear to be on the numeric pad. For example, when - is pressed, it does not cause the main menu to appear. Instead, a - symbol appears in the chat log. I have only found these three buttons to not do what they are suppose to do. The other buttons on the numeric pad are still working properly.

Steps:
1. One month ago (do not know exact date) my Final Fantasy XI game froze forcing me to have to do a hard close on the game.
2. After logging back in the next day I noticed that they * - and + keys on the numeric pad were not responding as they are suppose to.
3. Checking to see if the game freezing changed my games settings I discovered that all my settings had remained unchanged.
4. Uninstalled Final Fantasy XI, POL, and all expansion packs from my computer.
5. Reinstalled all of the Final Fantasy XI software and logged back into the game. Same problem continued to persist.
6. Decided to reset my computers operating system in hopes that it might fix the problem once and for all. It did not.
7. I decided to try a more simple idea by changing my keyboards. This too did not fix the problem.
8. I have tried playing the game in fullscreen and windowed mode. Experienced the problem in both settings.

Date & Time: Sometime in mid June (don't know the exact date or time).
Frequency: Always
Platform: PC
PC Manufacturer: HP-Pavilion
Model Number: FQ550AA-ABA m9426f
OS: Microsoft Vista Home Premium
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9598)
ISP: Comcast
Type of Internet Connection: CATV

[Crosser]

thx Dragoy

[Dragoy]

Very informative and a good description. ^^

Though I don't have much more ideas yet, I find this part especially interesting: "Instead, a - symbol appears in the chat log."

And that is because it's what the 'regular' - key does, hmmm...
I'm really at a loss as I have not experienced anything like this myself, and I can't re-produce it at least via the in-game options. I was looking at your computer specifications at the HP-site, and noticed your keyboard has quite a few extra multi-media keys.
While it is a long-shot and possibly not related to this, is there any possibility the bindings have changed due to the due to the media-keys, or due to a software/driver update of it?


I have had a few keyboards that alter the key settings quite a bit, and though you mentioned a different keyboard, this would not really be much valid, unless that keyboard used the same drivers and software that is/was doing it in the first place.


Like I said, I really can't think of anything else right now, but I will keep thinking about it, and post if I have any more ideas. I can imagine it being a great frustration as I myself use those keys a lot so I'd have a problem with it...

I hope you can find the reason to it before I will, and/or that someone else has more ideas.
Good luck!