Major Keyboard Problems ... only with EQ2

[Nervaaz]

After playing EQ2 since launch, suddenly this past week, my keyboard started acting in a really bizzare fashion.  Letters started repeating themselves as I typed .... halfway through a sentence my character would jump in the air, windows would pop up on screen, and whatever text I had typed to that point would be lost ... text on screen would lag a second or two behind what I am actually typing.   Movement keys has major issues: my character would keep on running long after the key was released, or turning in circles 3 or 4 times when I'd released the key long before.

I am using a logitech wireless keyboard, the same keyboard I have used since launch, and even put new batteries in to ensure that wasn't the problem.  I tested the game with a corded keyboard as well, and had all the same chat issues, tho the movement issues did not manifest themselves.  My next option is to try to buy a new keyboard and test it with that, tho I don't really expect that will make any difference. 

The only changes to my computer prior to this problem occurring, was to update to the 2008 version of PC-cillin, but I had that installed for a few days before any problems occurred.  More immediate, I updated .net framework to version 2.0, and the problems seem to arise immediately after that.

I had tested several other programs and games, including going on Vanguard to see if a problem occurred there, yet everything worked normally on every other program and game.  Vanguard worked just fine.  It appears that the only place that  am getting  this issue is on EQ2.

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully accepted, as EQ2 is virtually unplayable as it now stands.

Thanks! 

[TSR-DanT]

Try re adding the game to your security software's exception list.Also try backing up and removing the following files from your EQ2 directory.  Then log in and let the patcher get new versions of them.  If that does not work, report back here.cache folderUI foldereq2_recent.inieq2_default.iniEverQuest2.exe and all files named after the character with which you're having this issue.The character specific files will appear as such:Servername_CharacterName_EQ2_uisettings.iniSt ationname_characters.iniTo do this please follow these directions:1. First look for your EverQuest II directory. You can find the directory in the default directory:2. Click on MY COMPUTERCRIVEPROGRAM FILESSONYEVERQUEST II3. Next look for any files explained above and delete them.4. Afterwards, please start EverQuest II to have these files re-downloaded by the patcher.

[Nervaaz]

DanT,

I followed all your instructions.  Made sure game was on exception list and tested game, with no change.

Then backedup and deleted all the folders and files you listed.

Text when typing chat seems to move a little bit faster, but still lags slightly.  Did not have any jumping or windows flying open during the test.

However, the movement issues are still just as bad.  Character dosn't stop running or turning when the applicable keyboard key is released.  Might not run quite as far, but still runs some extra steps and spins 2 or 3 extra circles.

Prior to doing all this, I spent 2 hours on Vanguard just to make sure it wasn't my computer, (thankfully I have Station Access)  and Vanguard performed perfectly.  No chat lag, no movement issues at all.

Also, I ran all the tests at PC Pitstop to see if there were some unknown performance issues that my computer might be having, but all the tests came back green.

I still believe this problem occurred not immediatly after the PC_cillin update, but immediately after I updated to .netframework 2.0 .  It seemed no sooner had I done that, then the game started acting wierd.  But that is just a very uneducated observation.

I really do hope this is fixable.  

[DGTell]

i had the same problems for a long time too, i also had a wireless (bluetooth) logitech keyboard. just returned to eq2 after a year break, windows set up new also everquest installed new and another keyboard, now its working fine.

[BobbyTheRobot]

edit: read all the posts, doesnt sound like what I had to say would have helped.

[Nervaaz]

Problem continues to seriously affect gameplay. Still no solution.

[Deathspell]

Nervaaz wrote:

Problem continues to seriously affect gameplay. Still no solution.

Can you even confirm if you have tried what that other user with the same problem did to get rid of his problem or are you just waiting for things to pass by?Have you tried putting back a Windows restore point? or putting back any kind of system backup?

[Wingrider01]

Nervaaz wrote:

Problem continues to seriously affect gameplay. Still no solution.

try this, in trend micro there is a option to tell the real time scanner to ignore files or directories, I am running 2007 at the momentm in this version it is in the Virus and Spyware controls, then settings, then file monitor, then the ignore files or directories. place your eq2 directories in it.

Been a 10 year TM user, but given the new bloat ware they have in the Internet security package and the fact they split it into 2 different packages levels I am shifting to Karpersky next month when my subscription runs out.

[Nervaaz]

Thanks for your reply Deathspell.  I did follow all the instructions that DanT suggested.  Since then, there hasn't really been any other advice.  I'm not sure I know how to set Windows back to an older restore point, but I'd be willing to try it if it has a chance of working.

[Nervaaz]

Thanks for your reply, Wingrider01.  I did place my eq2 folders into my TM exception list, tho not with any change ingame.

[Miladi]

Have you tried it with another keyboard just to make sure its not something funky between EQ2 and that keyboard? Just a thought, especially if you have access to a wired keyboard, eliminating the entire wireless setup.

[Wingrider01]

Nervaaz wrote:

Thanks for your reply, Wingrider01.  I did place my eq2 folders into my TM exception list, tho not with any change ingame.

Are the drivers up to date?

I hooked up my kids Microsoft wireless to one of my gaming systems and did not expierence the issue, did get a bit of a slow down with my wife's bluetooth keyboard/mouse rig from dell.

[TSR-DanT]

Wingrider01 wrote:

Nervaaz wrote:

Problem continues to seriously affect gameplay. Still no solution.

try this, in trend micro there is a option to tell the real time scanner to ignore files or directories, I am running 2007 at the momentm in this version it is in the Virus and Spyware controls, then settings, then file monitor, then the ignore files or directories. place your eq2 directories in it.

Nervaaz wrote:

Thanks for your reply, Wingrider01.  I did place my eq2 folders into my TM exception list, tho not with any change ingame.

He told you to turn off real time scanning, not add it to the exception list.  I don't know if it's the same thing, but I don't think it is.

[Nervaaz]

Thanks again for the responses.   Drivers are fully updated.

As for Trend Micro PC-cillin Antivirus ..... I called their tech support the the tech gave this sage advice ... turn off the Trend Micro antivirus and go in game and see if problem still exists.  It did. 

So, ruling out the antivirus software, the ONLY change I made prior to this problem showing itself, was the upgrade my .NET framework to 2.0.  I am going to try rolling that back, and see if it helps at all.  Barring that, I'm at a complete loss as to what it would be. 

Oh, and for Miladian ... as I stated earlier in post, I did try a wired keyboard .. in fact I've not gone back to wireless, so all present testing will be done on wired.

I'll post back again after rolling back .NET framework and testing game.  

[Nervaaz]

Ok, rule out .NET framework.  Rolled it back and game is just as bad.

I give up! Something is making my keyboard controls go all haywire, but I have not a clue, and nothing suggested so far has worked.

I've deleted all the files DanT suggested, switched to a wired keyboard, turned off Trend Micro antivirus, rolled back .NET framework ... and my character still twirls in circles merrily by himself, runs after I let up on "w" key, makes multiple letters when I try to type, jumps in the middle of sentences, etc etc

Yet I can go to Vanguard, another newer MMO, with even higher system demands, and everything is perfectly fine.

Question, should I completely delete the entire game and do a full fresh installation?  I'm ready to try anything.

[Wingrider01]

TSR-DanT wrote:

Wingrider01 wrote:

Nervaaz wrote:

Problem continues to seriously affect gameplay. Still no solution.

try this, in trend micro there is a option to tell the real time scanner to ignore files or directories, I am running 2007 at the momentm in this version it is in the Virus and Spyware controls, then settings, then file monitor, then the ignore files or directories. place your eq2 directories in it.

Nervaaz wrote:

Thanks for your reply, Wingrider01.  I did place my eq2 folders into my TM exception list, tho not with any change ingame.

He told you to turn off real time scanning, not add it to the exception list.  I don't know if it's the same thing, but I don't think it is.

By putting the directories in the exception list it basicly turns off all realtime scanning of the incoming data stream to and from the directories that are in the exception list. One of the configuration options of the TM product that I am going to miss when I switch

[Nervaaz]

Ok, I just uninstalled EQ2, deleted all files and folders relating to it, and did an entirely new install.  Result ..... keyboard commands still malfunction.  

I can think of nothing else to try.

[Nervaaz]

Well finally some success to report!

I bit the bullet and phoned SOE tech support, and after chatting with the techie for a few minutes about the problem, he felt that the game was in conflict with some unknown program running in the background on my computer. 

He had me go to msconfig and turn off all the start up programs under the "start" tab, reboot, and then try the game.  And Voila! absolutely no keyboard troubles at all.  So finally a solution!!

Only problem is, there were 24 running programs that msconfig shut down, and now I have to go through that list one by one to find which one it is that is screwing up the game .... which means potentially 24 reboots as I turn them on one by one, and 24 times logging in to EQ2 test out which one affects the keyboard.  .... .... *sigh* ....  its never easy! *LOL*

[Wingrider01]

Nervaaz wrote:

Well finally some success to report!

I bit the bullet and phoned SOE tech support, and after chatting with the techie for a few minutes about the problem, he felt that the game was in conflict with some unknown program running in the background on my computer. 

He had me go to msconfig and turn off all the start up programs under the "start" tab, reboot, and then try the game.  And Voila! absolutely no keyboard troubles at all.  So finally a solution!!

Only problem is, there were 24 running programs that msconfig shut down, and now I have to go through that list one by one to find which one it is that is screwing up the game .... which means potentially 24 reboots as I turn them on one by one, and 24 times logging in to EQ2 test out which one affects the keyboard.  .... .... *sigh* ....  its never easy! *LOL*

Ain't computers FUN!!!!!!

Been on a major system conversion this past week and half, sitting in the airport to head back to the states, going to take 10 days off on some land I have where the most modern conveince is a outhouse for plumbing.  So I pretty much know what you are talking about.

[aias]

This problem has also affected me today.  I think it may have something to do with Avast antivirus upgrading from 4.7 to 4.8.

[aias]

Nervaaz wrote:

Well finally some success to report!

I bit the bullet and phoned SOE tech support, and after chatting with the techie for a few minutes about the problem, he felt that the game was in conflict with some unknown program running in the background on my computer. 

He had me go to msconfig and turn off all the start up programs under the "start" tab, reboot, and then try the game.  And Voila! absolutely no keyboard troubles at all.  So finally a solution!!

Only problem is, there were 24 running programs that msconfig shut down, and now I have to go through that list one by one to find which one it is that is screwing up the game .... which means potentially 24 reboots as I turn them on one by one, and 24 times logging in to EQ2 test out which one affects the keyboard.  .... .... *sigh* ....  its never easy! *LOL*

Were you able to determine what was conflicting with eq2?

[Allora]

Pandarus@Kithicor wrote:

This problem has also affected me today.  I think it may have something to do with Avast antivirus upgrading from 4.7 to 4.8.

I also upgraded avast today and I'm now having all the same keyboard problems as the op. I'm going to try turning off avast and see if that fixes it.

[Allora]

Allora wrote:

Pandarus@Kithicor wrote:

This problem has also affected me today.  I think it may have something to do with Avast antivirus upgrading from 4.7 to 4.8.

I also upgraded avast today and I'm now having all the same keyboard problems as the op. I'm going to try turning off avast and see if that fixes it.

Turned off real time protection and it made no difference - problem is still there.

[wullailhuit]

I tried copying over EQ2 to a spare PC running the latest Avast....and .... the same problem , on my main PC running another anti-virus I don't have any keyboard problems , looks like avast is the culprit.

[Frijoles]

I'm having the EXACT same keyboard/control problems (they started on April 1st) - and I've also recently upgraded from Avast (home edition) 4.7 to 4.8

Short of getting rid of Avast altogether (which I'd really hate to do because it's been serving me well for years now), what can be done to correct this?

EDIT: P/S

I just found this thread on Avast's board site:

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=34347.0

Although most of the posters appear to be WoW players, some EQ2 and SWG players have posted as well.

  

P/S/S:

I tried the registry changes suggested on the Avast forum and so far no problems.

[aias]

I uninstalled Avast, problem went away.  May want to use another antivirus until Avast finds a solution.

[Blinn]

Yep, it's Avast. I had the exact same issues on one comp (with avast installed) but not on the other (with norton). Uninstalled avast 4.8, issues gone!

[Corella]

I am having this keyboard lag and repeat issue with one of my PCs.All my PCs run AVG and Zonealarm Free Editions so I cannot do the Avast fix that seems sort everyone else out.All the drivers are up to date and I have tried the file deletion and re-download tricks suggested on Page 1 but they don't work.The major changes I have done to the PC that must be the source (assuming this is not an EQ2 issue) are:1/  Installed the built in webcam for my monitor (via a new USB cable).2/  Removed the 1 GB RAM stick and added a matched pair of 2 x 1 GB sticks.The system isn't awsome in it's power but it used to play well on the balanced setting before the upgrade and running around with the mouse only, give me a similar FPS to that which I had before.Any thoughts?System:Athlon 64 3200+2 x 1 GB RAMWindows XP SP2ATI 3850 512 MB GraphicsLogitech G11 USB Keyboard

[Xanthia]

Corella wrote:

I am having this keyboard lag and repeat issue with one of my PCs.All my PCs run AVG and Zonealarm Free Editions so I cannot do the Avast fix that seems sort everyone else out.All the drivers are up to date and I have tried the file deletion and re-download tricks suggested on Page 1 but they don't work.The major changes I have done to the PC that must be the source (assuming this is not an EQ2 issue) are:1/  Installed the built in webcam for my monitor (via a new USB cable).2/  Removed the 1 GB RAM stick and added a matched pair of 2 x 1 GB sticks.The system isn't awsome in it's power but it used to play well on the balanced setting before the upgrade and running around with the mouse only, give me a similar FPS to that which I had before.Any thoughts?System:Athlon 64 3200+2 x 1 GB RAMWindows XP SP2ATI 3850 512 MB GraphicsLogitech G11 USB Keyboard

This one was fixed by removing the Webcam software from Autorunning at boot.

[Thmy]

Use the binary process when trying to find out which of a number of processes is causing the problem

ie  turn off 1/2 of them test  then  remove 1/2 and test on average you will need a lot less re-starts.

also called the binary search.