Accidentally set off mode that ignores keyboard input except to toggle actions, windows
I think the most likely scenario is that your Windows key is getting stuck “on.”
Certainly if Win+D is pressed, then it minimises windows, so if the Windows key is stuck, then D on its own would do this.
Usually just hitting the Win again should unstick it.
The other option is that you have Sticky Keys enabled, and you have "Lock modifier keys when pressed twice in a row" option enabled, and have then pressed the Win key twice to lock it.
You can enable sticky keys by hitting shift five times in a row, which is easier than it sounds (at least in my experience).
You can check the status of this by going to
Control Panel\Ease of Access\Ease of Access Center\Set up Sticky Keys
What does the R key do when this happens? It sounds like your Windows key could just be a bit faulty?
- Windows Logo: Start menu
- Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
- Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
- Shift+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
- Windows Logo+F1: Help
- Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
- Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders
- Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
- Ctrl+Windows Logo+F: Find computer
- Ctrl +Windows Logo+Tab: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use Right Arrow or Left Arrow to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
- Windows Logo+Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons
- Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box
- Application: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item