Windows Tablets

[whiskey]

---

kjwhite0530 wrote:

I found this on another ACER form for the ACER Iconia W700.  It appears forthis machine, activating Bluetooth caused the problem.  

In case someone searches and finds that above post....

No, the issue with he W700 and the stuck Windows Key has nothing to do with the bluetooth radio or drivers. Activating/disabling bluetooth is a non-issue.

Unlike the Switch wih its capacitative Windows Key, the W700 has a mechanical button that often does get physically stuck when squished between the face of the tablet system and closed on the included keyboard/portfolio case, which just happens to be a bluetooth keyboard.

The only relation (other than Acer's poor quality control....) to the Switch issues are that either system's Windows Keys are getting 'stuck' but for different reasons. The symptoms are the same, as indicated with the Windows Key combo and the Power, Volumes, buttons, etc..  The 'fix' with the W700 is simply to press the Windows Key on the tablet to free it from the depressed position.  This is not possible on the capacitative Switch which is why you folk may have to suffer and disable OS shortcuts to get a nearly functioning system....

I hope this clears up any confusion that the previous post may have entered into discussion. 

[lg0808]

Still no word from Acer after a week. The last time I sent my Switch to Acer for "repair" it only took 3 days for them to repair it. Maybe it is a bigger problem than they expected...

[lion_hart11]

I disabled the Bluetooth, but the problem is here again...

[nojah]

I'm just curious, have anyone here had their faulty switch 10 successfully serviced?

And have anyone seen where the Acer folks are hiding.

[lion_hart11]

I didn´t sent my Switch 10 to replacement or service, because i had afraid that the problem couldn´t be solved, and i was correct, since there is some users that already posted their experiences about replacing for a new one with the same problem, or the problem continue to exist after a repair. Unless Acer assume a viable solution for this problem (hardware or software) i will not do neither a replacement or service.

By the way, for the folks that are starting to get annoyed by narrator, i give you a simple solution to "shut up" the narrator ... include it on your blocked app´s on your antivirus/firewall program... i have Comodo Internet Security Premium, and it works fine because it blocks the app directly from C:\Windows\System32\Narrator.exe. When i press the volume keys, nothing happens (the app is not initialised, although the buttons continue to mallfunction).

Hope it helps...

[kjwhite0530]

A little more investigation, I have discovered the issue may not.. I repeat MAY NOT, be caused by a stuck button.

But human error.  It appears MS W8.1 has setup Narrator to activate when hitting the combonation of 'Windows'+ 'Enter' keys. Which can be done very easy when using the on screen keyboard.  For me personally, this issue has never occured using the keyboard, but only when I using the device in tablet mode. And 2nd, I have never used the windows button on the screen, so, someone needs to explain to me why it would stick if I have never use it. 

ACER users are not the only ones with this issue, this appears to be a W8.1 use'rs issue others are complaining about it as well.  One method was to update the registor to disable Narrator.exe by doing the following:

The easiest way I've found is described here: http://www.dzhang.com/blog/2012/12/19/disabling-win-enter-narrator-hotkey-in-windows-8

You just create a reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Narrator.exe with String value "Debugger" = "%1"

There's also a reg file you can directly merge on the site linked above. This survives windows updates, but can be easily reverted by just deleting the key.

The second method is to remove narrator from you systems, using this method. 

I have elected to deactive the narrator feature all together, by doing this. 

However, is this is an issue, you can do one of the following

1. Navigate to %systemroot%\System32
2. In this folder a file called Narrator.exe is to be found
3. Right click the file and choose Properties
4. Choose the Security tab and press Advanced
5. In the top of the window press Change to change the Owner permissions
6. In the text field write your username and press OK to all the dialogs

Now you should be able to change the permissions of the file, this is where we remove all the permissions from your user and the user back to system, this way your user will not be able to start the Narrator.

1. Right click the Narrator file again and choose Properties and Security
2. Press Advanced
3. Now that you are the owner you can change permissions for other users. Choose your own user and press Edit
4. Remove the Read & Execute and Read permissions and press OK
5. Now press Change in the top under Owner and write system in the text field
6. Press OK to all dialog
7. Rename the Narrator.exe to something else. (Narratorxx.exe) 

After doing this I can't activate Narrator usng any functions. Just the way I want it, because I have never used it. 

[pprior]

Wish you were right, but no... it's not caused by user because as the narrator appears, also the print-screen on vol- is activated and the Power buton gets the lock screen.

It's amazing how we have more than 150 posts and no correction or information from ACER!

The part on disabling narrator.exe and other "tricks" are usefull, however I managed to solve my problem another way, just undocking and docking the device 1 or 2 times

Thanks to all the users who try to solve this, don't let this die! 

[kjwhite0530]

And it's amazing how we all have diffent issue. For example, undocking and redocking does not work for me.  Disabling Narrator, until a real solution is the only thing that appears to work for me. So, I'll stick with that work around until this issue is resolved.   

I post more, if the issue returns w/narrator being disabled. 

Maybe around post 300 they'll have a real fix. We can only hope. 

[lion_hart11]

just wanted to say that the solution that i presented doesnt eliminate the problem, just avoids the narrator to be executed. It is the same effect as your solution of removing the narrator correct?

[kjwhite0530]

Yes, that is correct, I elect the way I pointed for those who don't have software to restrict Narrator from executing..