Why Keyboard types only numbers in all browsers?

Hi everyone,
one of my computers is an acer aspired one with windows 7. Since a week ago every time I go online using Opera, Firefox or IE I can only type numbers on the address bar. I already tried the number lock key with the FN key and the Shift key....but doesn't work. I tried restarting the computer and checked for updates and it is up to date. Do I maybe have to install something else after updates? What confuses me is that I can type letters if I use any program from the computer. The problem is only when I go online.

Any help would be deeply appreciated. Thank you.

1) Are the numbers that appear consistent? That is, do you always get the same number(s) for a given letter?

2) What are the exact numbers you get for each of the vowels a, e, i, o, and u?

3) If you type a number, do you get the same number in the address bar?

4) Do you ever get any character in the address bar besides a number?

5) Around the time you first observed the problem, did you install anything (especially an OS update) immediately prior?

No matter what letter I type it always types the numbers from 0 to 9.

For example, I press a key it begins to type the number 0 if I press again the same key or a different one it types number 1 then number 2 and so on. If I stop pressing the same key after let say number 5 the next key I press will type number 6. When I press any key and hold it will type all the numbers from 0 to 9 and repeat them again and again.

I haven't installed anything, just run windows updates regularly but usually windows updates tell me what is going to install and there was nothing new. That's why this is so confusing for me.

Thanks again.

I've never encountered anything like what you describe. From your description that all your browser brands act the same way, it isn't a browser issue connected with one browser design. Also, since it seems only to affect online activities but not other "local" or offline software, that seems to leave as a cause either something in the OS software that's common to all the browsers when they're running or some form of virus/malware. So... a few more questions to try to break things down a little further...

A) Is it possible to type out a URL address in Notepad or something similar and successfully copy/paste into the address bar and then navigate to that site in any of the browsers?
B) Also, with a browser open in one window, type a letter into its address bar (which, of course, will render a number). Then immediately try typing letters into Notepad in another simultaneously open window. Does the Notepad typing work correctly while the browser is open? And if not, does the problem clear up in Notepad after you close only the browser?
C) Open a browser window, attempt to type a few letters into the address bar (which will show as a number string). Then copy/paste that information from the address bar over into Notepad... does it render in Notepad as the same number string?

UPDATE ---
In a ComputerChimp thread at Keyboard Keys Typing Numbers Instead of Letters, part way down the thread there are a number of complaints about a problem not unlike what you're describing (letter keys causing cycling numbers to be typed as 0 thru 9), involving several brands of computers. Many of those users found that certain protection software was to blame, specifically programs listed as GuardedID, Comcast Constant Guard, Comcast Protection Suite, or possibly IDVault. Apparently these are anti-keyloggers and/or parental control software and can interfere with the keyboard for certain online activities, especially games. You might check out that thread and see if anything fits your situation. In the success cases within that thread, uninstalling the offending software (or disabling its anti-keylogging features if it has such an adjustment) provided the solution.

blackbird71 You were right. I went to uninstall the Comcast Constant Guard and saw the GuardedID. We didn't even know the GuardedID was installed. We email Comcast to ask if this software belong to them or if they have any contract with them. We are waiting for the response. In the mean time I uninstalled the GuardedID and we have no problems with the keys when typing online. All browser are working perfect like before. I noticed in the Control Panel under Uninstall Programs that the Comcast Constant Guard was installed in a different date than the GuardedID. The GuardedID was installed much earlier. We don't know how. We are going to keep an eye on this and we will report here anything different we see. Hopefully this will help other people like you have helped us.

Thank you so very much. We really appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you blackbird71. Thank you. It was GuardedID. Now everything works!! I can continue with Opera as my default.

This isn't really Opera related, so I moved this to Software forum.

Thank you blackbird71. You're the greatest. And thank you Vickyniki, I'm glad you had the problem 1st.

Originally posted by Vickyniki:

We are going to keep an eye on this and we will report here anything different we see.

Yes, please do report back with any new info, especially if there turns out to be any malware aspect or you figure out how it got installed. Fascinating problem!

Glad you got it fixed.


Great catch, blackbird71!!! (...and like I said, a fascinating problem!)

Originally posted by gdveggie:

Fascinating problem!

Exactly, i just shooked my head after reading the post....

Brilliant! It's October of 2012. I googled something silly like 'nothing but numbers when i type in my browser', and this was the first or second result. What an ODD problem.

My husband has an acer emachine, rebooted last night because it had been many days since he'd done this (I'm being kind, it's surely been weeks). This morning he had nothing but numbers regardless of which browser he used when he typed. I tried them all. I was able to type in skype and in his word processor though. That led me to my PC and google and then here.

We got almost to the tail end of the troubleshooting here only to discover that for some unknown reason, we were able to type letters again. We didn't have to de-install Constant Guard Protection Suite, but that IS what we have. Thanks again for making my day turn from troublesome to worry free...and even before my second cup of coffee. ;o)

Update...problem continued sporadically so de-install of Constant Guard was necessary. I was requested to fill out a survey as to why I was removing the product. The 'numbers instead of letters' was one of the known problems and actually a selectable item on their list of 'reasons' for de-installation. The reboot prompt even suggested that I reboot immediately so as to regain control of my keyboard. Geez.

Originally posted by skraley56:

Update...problem continued sporadically so de-install of Constant Guard was necessary. I was requested to fill out a survey as to why I was removing the product. The 'numbers instead of letters' was one of the known problems and actually a selectable item on their list of 'reasons' for de-installation. ...

Thanks for the updates, skraley56. This is one of the oddest problems I've come across in quite a few years, and it defies almost any kind of logical analysis in trying to troubleshoot a cause. The only hope seems to be for the victim to stumble across a thread like this that describes the problem and the offending software that causes it. I find it troubling that the Constant Guard folks are so aware of the problem - yet seem not to have done anything (yet) to prevent it. Anyhow, I'm glad you got it fixed!

Just had the same issue on my Acer Aspire 5733Z-4633 and landed on this page upon Google search (THANK YOU!). Uninstalled Comcast ConstantGuard and no further issues. -Jesse