KVM Key Combo problem w/ lsass.exe crash on Gateway laptop

[kemperr]

Here is a strange problem.

I have a cheap KVM switch that works just fine most of the time. It is USB into the CPUs and PS2 to the mouse and keyboard. Switching is accomplished in the usual style by hitting the ctrl key twice.

However, if I hit a ctrl command followed quickly by the ctrl key again, let's say ctrl-c then ctrl-v, it will sometimes (but not always) switch. Everything on the second computer (which has just been switched to) works fine, but back on the 1st computer (which is a Gateway laptop) the keyboard hooked to the KVM doesn't work, and the mouse moves but will not click on anything. The keyboard on the laptop works, but the touchpad is very slow to respond. In fact, everything is very slow to respond and lsass.exe takes up most of the system resources, and things respond very very slowly. I fix the problem through a hard reboot. This is obviously a bit problem, as sometimes I wind up having to do a hard reboot several times througout the day.

This is the only time that this problem occurs. (I have not noticed the problem with another KVM switch I occasionally use, but have not tried to replicate it.)

The Gateway that experiences the problem is a 4530GZ running windows xp professional with sp2. I have tried several mice and keyboards with the KVM switch,

I am suspicious because of the way the Gateway locks up -- is this really the fault of the KVM switch? Should I get another? Any ideas??

[glc]

I think you have narrowed it down pretty well - get a different switch. You usually get what you pay for.

[kemperr]

How could it be causing the laptop to become so unresponsive? After such an event, even if I unplug the KVM switch and just use the laptop indepently with its own keyboard and touchpad, it is fairly unresponsive -- lsass.exe is taking up 99% of system resources. If I am patient I can slowly perform tasks (save my open documents, look at the error log--no errors). What is lsass.exe trying to do?

[glc]

If this is a problem with the switch disconnected and using the laptop's keyboard and touchpad, then of COURSE it's not a problem with the switch. Scan for viruses and trojans.

[kemperr]

I think I am still not communicating the problem exactly. I think that this is a very interesting (and annoyying) problem, and any help in troubleshooting it would be appreciated.
The problem is caused on the laptop when it is attached the to KVM swith and ctrl - (something) ctrl is pressed rapidly (note the normal route to switching is just ctrl ctrl). This doesn't happen every time, it seems to depend on the timing.
The problem appears to be on the laptop -- the KVM switch still functions -- it will switch back and forth. The laptop itself, at that point however is consumed by lsass.exe and is fairly unresponsive. The external mouse attached to the KVM still moves around, but can't really click on anything. The external keyboard works, but of course response time is slow.
*At that point*, I disconnect the laptop from the KVM switch and look at the laptop's own screen, keyboard, and touchpad. Despite the fact that the KVM switch is now detached, lsass.exe still takes up all the resources and the laptop responds as before. Like the external keyboard and mice, the laptop's keyboard is somewhat usable and the mouse moves but can't really click on anything.
There are no viruses, spyware or trojans on this laptop. It works just fine, other than this problem.

[kemperr]

Here is a situation where the problem seems to occur reliably. This shows what a MYSTERY this situation is.
I copy a large amount of data out of EditPad Pro to the clipboard using ctrl-c.
I switch over to excel, and press ctrl-n to open a new worksheet, followed shortly by ctrl-v to paste the data.
The KVM switch transfers over to the other monitor as soon as I hit ctrl-v.
When I switch back over, the DATA HAS BEEN PASTED, HOWEVER a "v" has been inserted into the first cell! STRANGE!
When I pushed ctrl-v, three things seem to have happened -- the data was pasted, a text "v" was typed into the first cell, and a switch command was recieved by the KVM switch.
Any clues??

[glc]

Try a different keyboard - your ctrl key may have a bit of "bounce" and the KVM may be picking it up as 2 hits. Can you change the KVM hotkey? I use a Linksys KVM, which is hit scroll lock twice.

[kemperr]

I have tried other keyboards, but they exhibit the same behavior. I haven't tried a USB keyboard (it is a 9 pin socket), but I can try that with a little converter on it and see if it makes any difference.
The KVM switch in question here is a MPC2100L made by http://www.pct-max.com.tw/ (Power Max Communications.) I have emailed them but not heard back from them yet.

[glc]

If it's not the keyboard, then it pretty much has to be the KVM. You did say it's cheap - this says a lot right there. You generally get what you pay for, but I've also had Belkin KVM's act stupid and those are NOT particularly cheap.