Suddenly stuck always moving left.

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Help and Tips > Topic Details

Nostalginaut 16 hours ago

Posted about this on a couple forums for the games I first noticed this issue with, but it's been several now, so I'm posting here.

Several games I've tried playing for the past few days have me stuck moving left - some in menus, some in gameplay, some in both. Some of them enable me to "override" this movement by moving in another direction (pressing right, up, down, whatever), but whenever I'm not holding another movement button, it reverts back to just moving left. Some of these games don't do anything at all when I press other buttons - I'm just stuck moving left no matter what, so I just can't play.

Games with this issue:
- How Fish is Made
- Final Fantasy IV 3D Remake
- Death to the Dragon King
- Actraiser Renaissance

Games with no issues:
- Dead by Daylight
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- Beetle Barrage
- Guardian of the Grave
- Quest for Glory Collection
- Zoomers versus Boomers
- Frostpunk
- Bartholomew.exe

Using a controller or a mouse+keyboard seems to make no difference. I had previously encountered a similar issue a long time ago when I was trying to use a PS5 DualSense controller, but was able to resolve that issue by uninstalling then reinstalling the device.

I have since simply removed all controller devices from my PC and this persists. What else might I try?

< >

Showing 1-8 of 8 comments

miamew3 16 hours ago

Sticky keys maybe? Need to give your keyboard a clean.

Nostalginaut 16 hours ago

Originally posted by miamew3:
Sticky keys maybe? Need to give your keyboard a clean.

Keyboard's pristine, and that wouldn't explain why it's happening in some games persistently and not at all in others.

DarkCrystalMethod 15 hours ago

Perhaps you've set a book on your joystick. Unplug when you're not using it.

There's also resetting/re-centering your joystick so that the neutral position isn't considered moving left and holding it to the right is for not moving. Refer to your manual.

Nostalginaut 15 hours ago

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
Perhaps you've set a book on your joystick. Unplug when you're not using it.

There's also resetting/re-centering your joystick so that the neutral position isn't considered moving left and holding it to the right is for not moving. Refer to your manual.

I've removed all the devices from my computer AND unplugged them. I have a mouse, keyboard, and trackball - and I've switched between removing the mouse and trackball with no different outcomes.

DarkCrystalMethod 15 hours ago

Do any non-games experience a left-drift? Notepad? minesweeper?
Got any Windows macro key software installed?
Are you sure none of your keyboard keys are stuck?
If its not a hardware issue and its some setting/extra program in Windows then you may have to clean install.
But to avoid all that try booting into the tiny desktop of any linux Live CD (try Linux Mint?) and see if your hardware issues continue. I'd use this method only for diagnosis.
Or maybe put in that original Windows USB installer and do the factory reset(or the other tools on that image). I'm certain it will either find nothing or it won't be able to tell you the issue, just that it couldn't fix it.
I hope you don't have to drag your computer to any 'experts' that want money to take a look.
I'm out of ideas without witnessing this and examining your setup directly.

Nostalginaut 14 hours ago

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
Do any non-games experience a left-drift? Notepad? minesweeper?

Nope.

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
Got any Windows macro key software installed?

I have an Ultimate Hacking Keyboard v2 which has macro software built-in, and the agent software is for editing those macros/bindings. I've been using it for years, though, and there hasn't been any recent update.

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
Are you sure none of your keyboard keys are stuck?

Absolutely. One lovely thing about this keyboard is how easy it is to clean and to keep clean. That, and I don't eat at my computer or anything, so nothing really gets in/on it.

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
If its not a hardware issue and its some setting/extra program in Windows then you may have to clean install.
But to avoid all that try booting into the tiny desktop of any linux Live CD (try Linux Mint?) and see if your hardware issues continue.

Should the downloadable version of Ubuntu in the Windows Store work?

Originally posted by DarkCrystalMethod:
I hope you don't have to drag your computer to any 'experts' that want money to take a look.
I'm out of ideas without witnessing this and examining your setup directly.

My PC is a minifridge-sized mess of tubes and wires and not even Microcenter will look at it anymore. This is a hopeless option.

Thanks for the advice!

Last edited by Nostalginaut; 14 hours ago

crunchyfrog 10 hours ago

The only advice I can offer is to ask this - even when you're using keyboard do you have any USB controllers (or any other USB devices) plugged in?

It can often be that they're doing something wonky or the drivers are messed up and causing this issue - it would certainly explain why it only happens in game.

The best approach is to launch your games with ALL the USB devices disconnected, then conect them one by one starting a game and see when it pops up. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a controller that causes it.

If it is, then it's either the controller has some drift or other fault, or the cable or connection is wonky (USB cables and connectors are easily messed up) or the driver involved is corrupt.

Iceira 10 hours ago

Try safe boot mode and no OC or other things like that, you try Aim for stability atm, that also mean test with other mouse even. because the abouve user is right typical a anolog jostick not in center can cause this. ( some game switch to controller if detected, i had a MS flight stick pro once and then i start a shooter i lost all mouse and keyboard, who play a shooter with a flightstick that my point but you also dis miss other controller device.

Last edited by Iceira; 10 hours ago

< >

Showing 1-8 of 8 comments

Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Help and Tips > Topic Details

Date Posted: 2 Aug @ 9:57am

Posts: 8

Start a New Discussion