Windows – Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 volume hotkeys delay

keyboardwindows 7

When I press the volume up or down hotkeys on my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard(s), there is a delay – sometimes of up to 30 seconds, before windows reacts to it. At other times they work instantly.

I think the delay happens if I have not used the keys since last reboot – or maybe after the computer comes out of sleep.

I have observed this same behaviour on 3 different PCs and 3 different physical keyboards (all same model). They have all run Windows 7 64bit, and I have not installed any special software, other than what Windows itself decides to install with the driver (Intellitype).

How can I fix this issue?

Best Answer

Seems to be a horrendous interaction with a virus scanner.

Here's how I reproduced:

  1. Reboot computer
  2. Enable Microsoft Security Essentials
  3. Press Volume-Down key once
    • ==> Wait 52 seconds for a response.
  4. Reboot computer
  5. Disable Microsoft Security Essentials
  6. Press Volume-Down key once
    • ==> Normal response (Kinda-instant. <1s anyway.)

Specs: Win7-64, Core2 i7-860 (4-cores), SSD system drive.

UPDATE:

  • No clues from running Resource Monitor: no high CPU, disk or network activity was apparent.
  • Excluding the Microsoft IntelliType Pro folder from scanning did not help. :-(
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