Why does my e-mail message disappear while I'm typing it?

[kimwag]

I've noticed that, when typing an e-mail message in reply to a message I've
received, my reply will sometimes simply disappear! It has happened often
enough that I think I've narrowed down that it occurs when I type some
combination of a period, then one or two spaces, and then a capital H.

Is this a default command that I can somehow disable?

Thanks so much for your help!!

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Can you reproduce this?

Are you composing using Outlook's build-in editor, or using Word? What
version(s)? What operating system?

This is NOT default behavior, not it is something you can enable (who'd want
to enable such random behavior). If you can reproduce it, I would suspect
some kind of virus at work.

 

[kimwag]

Hello, Herb. Thanks so much for taking time to respond. To answer your
question, I can't exactly reproduce it, but I have noticed when it happens,
since it has happened several times recently.

I am using Word as my e-mail editor. Could it be something set up in Word?

I scan for viruses on a regular basis, and use McAfee Virus Scan Online,
which updates automatically whenever an update is available. Could the
problem be some sort of spyware or adware rather than a virus?

Again, thanks so much for your assistance.
Kim Wagner

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

It could be something in Word, but it doesn't sound like anything built in,
unless you're accidentally pressing some really evil key combination (can't
think offhand of anything in Word that would do that, either).

Spyware and adware, from what I can tell, don't affect application behavior
in the way you're seeing.

There are programs that log every keypress. They're generally used for evil
purposes. However, in your case, it might be revealing to obtain one,
install it, then look at the log to see exactly what you did right before
the email disappeared. Either that, or aim a video camera at your fingers so
you can get an instant replay.

 

[kimwag]

Thanks for your help! Love the camera idea, but somehow I think it would
prove to be too depressing to see how vastly my typing skills could be
improved! I'll post if I find out anything about the cause of this, just in
case anyone else experiences this, too.

Thanks again! I am so glad to have found these discussion boards...what a
great resource!! Thanks for being so helpful and responsive!

Kim Wagner