factory fresh X201s is stealing the <Shift+Esc> keystroke

[jGoff]

I've noticed that some part of the Lenovo pre-installed software/drivers is stealing the <Shift+Esc> keystroke combination. My application expects it, but Lenovo is unexpectedly filtering it out. This has never happened on my other Thinkpads, it even works on a brand new X100e Thinkpad. I'm going to have to do a custom re-install on the X201s and omit the offending Lenovo utility, but I don't know which one. Can anyone provide some guidance?

Thanks in advance.

[Benjamin Reagan]

I have also encounter a situation where Thinkpad system is stealing my Shift+Esc command. Have you found any solutions to this problem, other than a custom reinstall?

[jGoff]

There's no solution as far as I know. Lenovo wasn't particularly interested because not many users are interested in <Shift+Esc>. I wasted an untold number of hours on this, and remain frustrated. I'm using 32bit Windows 7 Pro. How about you? I wonder if this glitch is also present in the 64bit version?

[Benjamin Reagan]

I've got two users operating on new Thinkpads (t410 series) that have encountered this issue. I'm not schooled well enough to know what bit we are running or where to find that.

In the particular program that uses Shift+Esc to invoke a function (and thus the OS seems to supress that), I have just modified the user's keyboard map within the particular program so that Shift+Tilde will send the same command to invoke the function. But now, of course, I have one addtional keyboard map to maintain/install/keep up with.

[jGoff]

I remapped my keyboard so that <Shift+F1> is a surrogate for <Shift+Esc>, but it's a pain-in-the-neck. I have many other machines (including several older Thinkpads) which work correctly. Should I be required to change all of them so I have consistency across all my different environments. I wish I knew a way to pressure Lenovo on this. It seems as they should be interested in adhering to the Windows standard. I couldn't even figure out how to properly register this as in issue. If it's not a hardware problem, there doesn't seem to me a mechanism. I miss the good-old-days when IBM had stewardship of the Thinkpad line.

[thinkpod]

Here's a random suggestion: look at the bluetooth utility. Really.

A few years ago I ran into a problem where hitting caps lock would pop up a little message on the bottom right of the screen (above the normal windows icons) which would STEAL THE FOCUS. [censored] me off to no end until I tracked it down to the bluetooth utility.

My new x201t had a more recent version of the same SW installed which still insanely has the caps lock indicator, but is thankfully no longer stealing the focus. IIRC, it has some hotkeys that do random crap? Anyway, as #1 stupidest "real SW" I've ever seen, it sounds like a possible suspect...

[dr_st]

When you say it steals Shift+Esc, does it also steal additional modifiers of this combination? E.g., Ctrl+Shift+Esc (Task Manager)?

[jGoff]

<Ctrl+Shift+Esc> works fine, as does <Ctrl+Esc>. These both are common key combinations used by Windows. If they weren't behaving properly, it wouldn't have slipped underneath the radar as <Shift+Esc> has.

[doktorek]

It's a known issue. My friend had this problem with brand new T400. I researched this a few months ago and the tool responsible for that was some preinstalled skype binary. I don't remember the details, but googling "skypedl lenovo" skould give you some hints.

Edit: Oops - for some reason I read "Shift+E", please disregard my answer.

[morgan.rh]

I was having the same problem with a new Lenovo T410, running Windows 7 Professional (64 bit), and using IBM i Access for Windows (aka iSeries Access or Client Access). The <Shift>+<Esc> key sequence is mapped in the emulator to the host's System Request function, and it was not registering at all. The problem occurred with two different versions of i Access for Windows. The problem was not happening with any other Windows 7 or XP computer.

I called Lenovo, and they reported that there are no programs or utilities provided by Lenovo that trap this keystroke combination.

I disabled all the Lenovo services and Thinkpad programs I found when I ran MSCONFIG , rebooted, and found the <Shift>+<Esc> combination worked. After re-enabling/re-booting after turning each one back "on", I found the " Thinkpad Power Manager " in the Startup tab was the culprit. I've reported the problem to Lenovo, and have yet to hear back re: any solution... I'll update this thread if there's any other work around or solution.

Hope this helps someone else...

[Benjamin Reagan]

I would certainly look forward to a solution from Lenova since we are deploying this model are our current hardware lease. I now have about 20% of my 100+ staff needing to use the work-around for this Shift+Esc problem. What a pain.

[morgan.rh]

Seems I spoke too soon about the Lenovo program, the problem started recurring about 60-90 seconds after the laptop had booted up. But, I was on the right track.

There’s a program called “ Intel PIconStartup “ in the Startup tab when you run MSCONFIG . When it’s enabled, the <SHIFT>+<Esc> combination will not work. When it’s disabled, it’s fine… I'm leaving it disabled for now, and will watch for any issues.

I Googled the program name, and found reference to malware, viruses, freezing etc. I am confident my system is clean of malware & viruses. I've got a PMR open with IBM on it re: i Access for Windows.

Benjamin - can you ask some of your staff to check and see if disabling this works on their systems and let me know? I'll pass the info along to IBM if that's the case.

Hugh.

[jGoff]

Congratulations Hugh, I think you may have found the culprit. I haven't done exhaustive testing, but I've just used MSCONFIG to disable PIconStartup and my software can now sense <Shift+Esc> for the first time in almost a year. I cannot begin to say how much time I wasted trying to solve this stolen key problem. And I failed (not that Lenovo was much help. )

Nice piece of detective work. Thanks for posting what seems to be the solution. I'd be curious to know what "good" PIconStartup was supposed to achieve and what if anything useful will be lost from turning if off. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Thanks again,
Jim Goff
Beautiful Systems, Inc.
(original poster of this problem.)

[Benjamin Reagan]

Had to do some work to access the MSCONFIG program on some machines, but I can validate that deactivating the PIconStartup program, and restarting the machine, was the trigger that allowed the Shift+Esc command function to work properly on our Mainframe system.

Thanks for everyone's input and support.

[jGoff]

It looks like you don't even need to disable PIconStartup application. You can just redefine the hotkey by running "Intel Management and Security Status" from the Start button and going to the "Intel AMT" tab. There you will see that Intel has chosen to use <Shift+Escape> as the default "Disconnection hot key" for one of its "Support sessions".

All this is exhaustively described in:

C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\IMSS\Intel(R)_IMSS_User_Guide.pdf

-----------------------

P.S. Before unearthing this final piece of the puzzle. I asked Lenovo Support the effect of disabling PIconStartup. I was told it was a "chip set driver" provided by Intel, that Lenovo didn't know its purpose, that Intel didn't tell them, and that there was established mechanism for finding out. This so-called support person seemed satisfied that he had just provided complete response to the problem.

[morgan.rh]

Hi Jim.

Great find! And I'm really surprised (not!) that Lenovo wasn't that helpful!

I've changed mine to <Alt>+<F12> and will re-enable the program. I've also passed the information on to IBM to update their support database (they actually do provide good support).

BTW, I've got a noise coming from the driver's side exhaust manifold on my Nissan... any chance you could take a look?

Thanks,
Hugh.