Option + Spacebar no longer creates a non-breaking space

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Level 1

111 points

Option + Spacebar no longer creates a non-breaking space

On my G4 Powerbook:
This seems utterly whacked to me, but all of a sudden the key combination of the option key + spacebar does not create a non-breaking space in any word processing application where just a day ago it did. Word, Nisus Writer Pro, Scrivener. Type that combination of keys and nothing at all happens. Since it is consistently malfunctioning across apps, I have to assume it's something in the OS.

I've run permissions repair, I've logged out. I've shut down and rebooted. I've combed through the keyboard shortcuts. But the option key has stopped working in combination with the spacebar. Yet just to check that I'm not dealing merely with a dead key, Option + Command + Spacebar does bring up the Spotlight window, so in that respect it's still recognized.

Dual 2GHz G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Powerbook G4

Posted on Mar 15, 2008 7:33 PM

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Answer 1

smithrj

Level 4

1,541 points

Mar 15, 2008 7:45 PM in response to Gregory Frost

Hi, I would set up a non administrator account to determine whether or not it;'s a system error or user issue. A guest account only for this purpose. Post back as soon as you can and I'll have you try something else. I am quite sure the first option is the solution.

Ray

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Answer 2

Gregory Frost Author

Level 1

111 points

Mar 16, 2008 12:43 PM in response to smithrj

Ray,
Good advice. I flipped over to the "Test" persona, and indeed the option + space key works perfectly fine there. Switched back, and still no luck. Now I suppose it's a hunt to see what has abruptly begun interfering with typing.

greg

P.S. A seemingly unrelated thing I discovered in combing through the machine for answers was that the 1GB SDRAM that it's running is operating at half capacity. Something wrong there, but as your test 'fixes' the problem, a separate issue.

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