Why doesn't the game like my Dell USB keyboard?

[GFShill]

For some reason, the game doesn't recognize my + key, nor the [ key and seems to think my ] key is my [ key and my \ key is my ] key.  Is there a bug fix for this?  I find it hard to believe that I'm the only one with this problem.  It's a QWERTY keyboard that I've had for 3 years.  I recently reinstalled the game after doing a virus fix.

[gyrene81]

what virus did you have? and how did you "fix" it?

so far you're the only one with the problem...

[Bizman]

Sounds like your country and language settings aren't quite right. Check it:

Open Regional and Language Options by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Clock, Language, and Region, and then clicking Regional and Language Options. Click the Keyboards and Languages tab.

[Skuzzy]

The game only acts on what Windows will give us.  We do not define the scan codes for the keyboard.  That said, there are plenty of keyboards which violate the accepted standards for keyboards.

You can always use the "Fix Key" function in the Options->Controls->Map Keys panel to allow the game to remap what the keyboard is giving us.

However, if it used to work, and it does not work now, then you would be masking the problem.

[GFShill]

Thing is, the game wasn't working with the keyboard before the virus either, but the problem was so minor that I could play without it.  Specifically, "Before" when I looked up/right, the game wouldn't let me change the view to go left or right and see around the cockpit panes.  I could work around that.  But now, "After", the game is ignoring a different set of keys that I used quite often to zoom in and out.  When I try the Map keys function, the game doesn't recognize the input from those specific keys.  More of an annoyance than anything.  I'll just have to re-learn the game a bit.

[Skuzzy]

The game does not have the ability to ignore key input.  It only reacts to key input.  If the input is not what the game is taught, then the game acts like nothing was pressed.

Key scan codes do not change.  If the keyboard behavior is changing for the game, there is some external influence causing it.

Have you tried teaching the game using the "Fix Key" function in Options->Controls->Map Controllers?

All games are pretty simple when it comes to inputs.  Either the game gets it, or it does not get it.  If it is not getting the input, then you have something on your computer intercepting those keys before they can be sent to the game.

[Bizman]

Is it possible that you have spilled something sticky into your keyboard? Like Coke or other sugary liquid? If a button gets stuck it can cause behaviour like that. Instead of one single button the game thinks you'd be pressing two at the same time. And if the stuck button isn't something that'd affect normal use, you wouldn't notice anything in normal use. All the upper row f-keys, print screen, scroll lock and pause can be pressed down without them affecting typing.

[GFShill]

Keyboard works fine in all of the other programs, including stuff I type online.

1234567890-=
qwertyuiop[]\
asdfghjkl;'
zxcvbnm,./

But in the game... not so much.  At this point I'm not going to worry about it.  I'll just remap my keys away from = and \.

[Skuzzy]

Typing in irrelevant.  Those are ASCII codes.  We use the actual scan code from the keypresses.

Did you try using the "Fix Key" button in Options->Controls->Map Keys???????????  That is what it is there for.