Keyboard not working correctly

DominoPoko · Post by **DominoPoko** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:04 pm

Hi,

I have a Sony Viao SZ and whenever I play Icewind dale 2 my keyboard is messed up, I have to press each key several times before the game will pick it up!

I have the patch installed and this has not resolved the issue, has anybody encountered this before? The game seems to work fine on my other laptop!

Thanks

Daydreamer · Post by **Daydreamer** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:36 am

Finally, someone else with the same problem! I have practically exactly the same trouble, even down to the game working perfectly on another computer. I know it's not a problem with my disks as I bought a new copy, assuming that my old one was damaged somehow. The only solution I have found is to set the frame rate to max in the config screen. Even then it isn't perfect and the game runs ridiculously fast. Any help much appreciated.

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:34 pm

Do you both have the same type of computer?

It's a strange problem.

You can probably get away without using hotkeys, except for the spacebar. Does that work?

Daydreamer · Post by **Daydreamer** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:19 pm

Nope, both my computers are Dells, of vastly differing ages. Everything works fine on the PC, which runs Windows 97. My laptop runs Windows XP and none of the hotkeys work. Unfortunately, this includes the spacebar, making the game practically unplayable. Even with the frame rate at max it doesn't always work and the combat runs so fast it's still barely playable.

Icewind Dale II is the only game to give me this trouble. Icewind Dale I works fine on both computers.

Grombag · Post by **Grombag** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:18 pm

You could try connecting a external keyboard to the laptop. Not sure it helps, but at least your sure it doesn't conflict with the laptop keyboard.

btw windows 97?

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:53 pm

I'm wondering if the problem isn't related to your OS. I've heard that Windows XP has caused some weird things here and there. Try upgrading to SP2.

Daydreamer · Post by **Daydreamer** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:13 am

Grombag wrote:You could try connecting a external keyboard to the laptop. Not sure it helps, but at least your sure it doesn't conflict with the laptop keyboard.

btw windows 97?

Hmm, that's an idea. Now to try to convince my flatmate to let me borrow his. Or try to install the game on his laptop. And, yes, windows 97.

I've had to for years, it does everything I need it to and besides, I hardly ever use it since I'm away at university.

I'm wondering if the problem isn't related to your OS. I've heard that Windows XP has caused some weird things here and there. Try upgrading to SP2.

SP2= Service Pack 2? If so then I have it already.

mr_sir · Post by **mr_sir** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:39 am

Daydreamer wrote:Hmm, that's an idea. Now to try to convince my flatmate to let me borrow his. Or try to install the game on his laptop. And, yes, windows 97. I've had to for years, it does everything I need it to and besides, I hardly ever use it since I'm away at university..

Do you mean Windows 98? There is no such thing as Windows 97, but there is Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP and Vista

Aerich · Post by **Aerich** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:57 am

I tried a search on the forum, and it appears that this problem has cropped up before. See [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/icewind-dale-ii-31/keyboard-not-working-properly-in-the-game-60969.html"]here[/url]. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem anybody found a solution, but you may be able to rule some things out.

I remember having some problems with SP2 apparently interacting strangely with games when I first upgraded, but they went away when I had to reinstall my OS (with SP2, then reinstalling the games). That's pretty drastic. Make your own decision whether it's worth it. I didn't have the exact same problems as you have, so there's no guarantee it'll work.

We could theorize that having games installed on XP then installing SP2 "over" those games might cause some lingering effects, but it's weird that the effects could survive a game reinstall.

I don't know what else to suggest.

Daydreamer · Post by **Daydreamer** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 4:34 pm

mr_sir wrote:Do you mean Windows 98? There is no such thing as Windows 97, but there is Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, XP and Vista

Really? I could've sworn...Ah, never mind. Label me confused then.

I probably mean 98

I don't know WHAT I mean half the time.

I tried a search on the forum, and it appears that this problem has cropped up before. See here. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem anybody found a solution, but you may be able to rule some things out.

I remember having some problems with SP2 apparently interacting strangely with games when I first upgraded, but they went away when I had to reinstall my OS (with SP2, then reinstalling the games). That's pretty drastic. Make your own decision whether it's worth it. I didn't have the exact same problems as you have, so there's no guarantee it'll work.

We could theorize that having games installed on XP then installing SP2 "over" those games might cause some lingering effects, but it's weird that the effects could survive a game reinstall.

I don't know what else to suggest.

Very weird. Definitely seems to be a laptop only problem and looks like an external keyboard is not the answer. Don't think I'll be going to the hassle of reinstalling my OS, seeing as I have a basically workable (though imperfect) solution. One of my flatmates is going to let me try installing it on his laptop, so that might shed a little light on the issue.

Thanks for the help guys.

Wraith[x] · Post by **Wraith[x]** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:31 pm

I had some problems with IWD2 myself (although completely different to this, it just crashed on game load) which solved when I downgraded my graphics drivers to an older version.. might be worth giving that a try before you reformat your PC - If it works, it saves a format, if it doesn't, it wastes five minutes

Lumberjudge · Post by **Lumberjudge** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:59 pm

I'm having exactly the same problem. I'm on a Dell Latitude D820 now, but my olllllld Gateway crotchtop handled the game without this hiccup. The only key that works with no delay is Esc.

In fact, I found this forum just today while searching for an answer to this very problem.

Sigh.

Lumberjudge · Post by **Lumberjudge** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:51 pm

Has anyone run across a fix for this problem?

Lumberjudge · Post by **Lumberjudge** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:11 pm

Oddly enough, I just discovered that the hotkeys work as fast as they are supposed to if I hold Alt when I press them. Is this working for others with this problem?

DaringCommander11 · Post by **DaringCommander11** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:22 pm

So, no solution to this issue?

Wicket · Post by **Wicket** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:14 pm

none that i know i got the same problem in the last thread there were alot of dell's though.. i'm thinking of borrowing the external keyboard i have downstairs and using that when i got time i'll buy some battery's for it (it's wireless) and tell you how it goes

bertyboy1 · Post by **bertyboy1** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:05 am

I also have a dell (latitude d430) running xp and had the same problem. It seemed to be fixed after I reinstalled a few drivers - I reinstalled a few at the same time but I am guessing it was the driver for the touchpad which did the trick.

incripshin · Post by **incripshin** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:05 am

I have the same problem with a Sony VGN-S460. I tried reinstalling some drivers (starting with the touchpad) and ended up messing my system up. I reinstalled Windows XP, and now that I'm done stabilizing my system, the problem persists. I can confirm that USB keyboards are of no help. At least my system is cleaner.

I'm grasping at straws, so I've also tried:

closing background applications
dialing back graphics settings for the game
disabling any mouse/keyboard/HID devices that could be disabled in the device manager
run in compatibility modes
checking Turn off advanced text services for this program (whatever that does) in the shortcut's properties

I wonder if I should just throw in the towel until I get a real computer. I'll try it in Linux with wine, but then I'm giving up.

incripshin · Post by **incripshin** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:37 am

The game works phenomenally in Linux with wine. Here's a page from winehq that gives detailed information:
Wine Application DB - Viewing App: Icewind Dale II 2.01

I just did a straight copy of the directory from my XP directory that included a full install, the 2.01 patch, and a no-CD crack. The page above indicates that it installs under wine correctly.

Some people may not believe it, but games usually run better in Linux.