Vista: Boot Loader, Edit Boot Options and Keyboard, bizarre situation, world first?

Hello Everyone.

I'm a newbie and like pistas, as you can deduce from my screen name. :D.

Alright, seriously, i have a bizarre situation with my laptop it may be a world first!!!. Details as follows:

OS: Vista Home Edition 32 bit. with latest Service packs installed. System runs fine except two major issues of late.

Laptop (the one this query concerns):Acer Aspire 3682.

1) Problem (Multi faceted): The vista boot loader loads on start up with 'Edit Boot Options' menu when the keyboard is connected to the motherboard. However, when i unplug it (the keyboard) from the motherboard the 'Edit Boot Options Menu' automatically does NOT appear and the OS loads just fine. I do not want this edit boot options to appear as it is a nuisance.

Note: i have read numerous 'tutorials' about how to 'disable' the windows boot manager on this site and elsewhere and i'm also a geek professionally(attempted suggested solution eg tweak BCDEDIT, Start Up Recovery, no change). I can 'normally' figure solutions to most techie things quite easily. Except this one it seems. Replacing the keyboard is a possible solution, any other suggestions?

Secondly: The keyboard's Del key and Home key as well as 'RIGHT SHIFT+2' to give " (quotation marks) do NOT work. All other keys and functions work just fine. All keys on keyboard are intact like new (eg no dirt underneath the button). All worked fine before a re-install was necessary due to Disk Management issue, but bizzarely it has now stopped working since....there is a golden connector thats sits near the Optical Drive on the motherboard labelled PAD3 thats broken. So whats the purpose of this connector (not the ribbon connector to the motherboard), is it the issue?...can post pics later perhaps if asked. Note: Disk Management issue was resolved after re-install.

Solutions attempted:
Attempts at solving the keyboard keys issue:

a) I know commonly suggested solution: language bar tweaks ; adding languages and choosing a different layout (e.g English US and English Taiwan). conclusion: its not a keyboard layout issue .

b) Update Driver for the keyboard. Done latest driver installed, outcome :no change. ie the keys mentiond do NOT work.

Problem 2: LCD Screen. All is well except for a suspiciously appearing Circular White Ring on the left hand side of the screen. That circular ring is also visible when BIOS screen loads. MBR (Master Boot Record) issue? Is this some kind of malware, virus, trojan attack on the MBR?....

Solutions attempted:

2a) Attempted 'virus etc' detection software using Anti-Virus soft. Norton, Symantec, McAfee Security. None detects anything bad. Microsot tools used Windows Defender, Update..no problem detected.

2b) Latest Driver for graphics card from manufacturer installed. Problem still persists.

Scratching my head...still searching for solutions to both these problems.

Note: Warranty: has expired.

Thanks for reading a lengthy post...


ETA: I suspect some kind of keylogging going on at root level, kernel level. For example, as BIOS loads up, this keylogging seems to start and once OS is loaded then Del and Home keys are disabled by the logger. Anyone, here from the security side of things? Suggestions?

Re: Vista: Boot Loader, Edit Boot Options and Keyboard, bizarre situation, world firs

Of all your problems, I think all I know how to help with will be your monitor issue. I suspect it's probably a physical problem with the pixels, (as in it's broken somehow) and there's not much you can do about it short of buying a new screen for it. But to be sure, try to take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool (type that in the Search bar in the start menu) and see if the ring appears in the picture. If it does, then there may be a software issue, although I doubt that would be a virus if that's all it's causing. If the ring doesn't show up in the pic, then it's probably just your monitor that's mess up and you need a new one.

Re: Vista: Boot Loader, Edit Boot Options and Keyboard, bizarre situation, world firs

slammer, the monitor/LCd screen itself is fine. Its the assembly code running in the background at BIOS thats the problem.

1) An update on this. There has been some kind of 'keylogging' type hack (of Spanish origin or written in Spanish) that has embedded itself at the root level of the booting process. It has basically, overriden pre-empted all steps in the boot up sequence. Even before the systems POSTs to BIOS, the 'hacking element' forces the system to wait for the user to touch any key on the keyboard before the the BIOS screen even loads. Its some Assembly code (hex), which has been written to override the systems pre-BIOS steps.

No 'easy' software based solution found as yet. I can sort it if i spend time figuring the code and re-programming it myself, not worth my time unfortunately!

2)As a knock-on its possible the del and home keys have also been 'disbaled' from being read by the system. Possibly registry entry for Del and Home keys have been alterered... need resetting...

System has an easy kill for these hackers to record your 'key strokes' and steal your information. It renders a system useless in a time pressured environment. Microsoft and Acer, pull your socks and pants up!!!

Re: Vista: Boot Loader, Edit Boot Options and Keyboard, bizarre situation, world firs

Ok try downloading a free copy of Malwarebytes and run a full scan. Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware, anti-virus and spyware removal download This is a highly recommended program around here. It solves A LOT of problems. Run that, along with whatever normal Anti-virus program you use.

Also, I'd say try running sfc /scannow in command prompt running as an administrator. That should repair any problems with your essential windows files. Run that one three times, restarting in between each run. See if this resolves your keylogger issue.