[PmbPhy (OP)]

The title states the problem. It's really bad. The computer's only a few months old too. I ran Norton and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and cleared all problems and its still a problem. How do I find out what the problem is and fix it? The keyboard is wireless and I think it started when I started using the new keyboard. Or at least it got severe at that point.

[CliffordK]

What programs are you experiencing the problem with?  Are you surfing the web at the time?

I have the problem with some websites.  It is annoying because one website puts the "return" out of order.  Personally, I believe that FLASH is very very inefficient.

Anyway:
How much memory do you have?
Are you running a 64 bit operating system?
Do you hear the hard drive thrashing during these episodes?

Bring up your memory manager and check how much free memory you actually have vs swap usage.  Also check the CPU usage.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

What programs are you experiencing the problem with?  Are you surfing the web at the time?

It happens with all software e.g. the web, MS-Word, e-mail, etc.

Anyway:
How much memory do you have?

16 GB Ram

Are you running a 64 bit operating system?

Yes. Windows 8.1. My computer says of itself

"System Type: 64-bit Operating System, x64-based processor"

Do you hear the hard drive thrashing during these episodes?

No. It's very quite.

Bring up your memory manager and check how much free memory you actually have vs swap usage.  Also check the CPU usage.

It says 15.2 GB usable.

My old system was very slow like this and my computer guy told me it was because I have so little RAM. So when I was deciding on what computer to buy I decided to buy one with as much RAM as possible.

[CliffordK]

Hmmm
It sounds like you have more than enough memory.

Are the letters actually appearing on the screen, or is it skipping letters?  If you think it is the keyboard, it never hurts to try a generic corded keyboard.

What about CPU load?  If you have a multi-core CPU, is one core getting slammed?

[RD]

Topic: computer problem - severe delay between typing and it . It's really bad. The computer's only a few months old too. ... How do I find out what the problem is and fix it? The keyboard is wireless and I think it started when I started using the new keyboard. Or at least it got severe at that point.

That sounds like the computer could be busy (swamped) doing something else in the background, e.g. trying to download Windows updates , ( it can get stuck in a loop doing that ).

+1 for CliffordK's suggestion to have a look at what the CPU is doing, via Windows "resource monitor" , [ when only looking at thenakedscientists webpage the CPU should average below 5% ,  unless the computer is doing something else in the background ] .

Microsoft's instructions on how to see the "resource monitor"...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/open-resource-monitor


[ I'm assuming you've tried new batteries in the wireless keyboard ]

[PmbPhy (OP)]

That sounds like the computer could be busy (swamped) doing something else in the background, e.g. trying to download Windows updates , ( it can get stuck in a loop doing that ).

That was the first thing I checked and it was all very small.

+1 for CliffordK's suggestion to have a look at what the CPU is doing, via Windows "resource monitor" ,

I have Windows 8.1 which doesn't have a resource monitor. Windows 7 comes with it, not the one I have.

[ I'm assuming you've tried new batteries in the wireless keyboard ]

The keyboard is only a few weeks old. Besides the problem is intermittent. If it was the batteries then it'd be a constant problem.

Thanks anway.

[RD]

+1 for CliffordK's suggestion to have a look at what the CPU is doing, via Windows "resource monitor" ,

I have Windows 8.1 which doesn't have a resource monitor. Windows 7 comes with it, not the one I have.

OK , Windows 8 does have "Task Manger" which shows a CPU graph ... 

 [ Invalid Attachment ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Task_Manager

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/open-task-manager [ press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" keys simultaneously, then click on "performance" tab to see CPU graph].


[ I've got a computer with windows 8 , (not 8.1) , and I'm certain it does have resource monitor , but I'm not using it at the moment so I can't check ...

" Resource Monitor ... Included with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 "  ]

[CliffordK]

I've been Microsoft-Free for quite some time.  But, they'd have to seriously break things if the task manager was removed. 

Try Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and see if you get an option for task manager.

Of course, real-time monitoring is only important when the problem is actually occurring. 

If the problem is intermittent, it still could be either the keyboard, or your PC just thinking it is too busy to listen to you.  Your antivirus might also be triggering a system scan or something too. 

You should have the task manager screen that RD posted, as well as the "processes" tab that will give you memory usage and CPU usage for each process.  You used to be able to customize the displayed columns to show things like file access.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

I've been Microsoft-Free for quite some time.  But, they'd have to seriously break things if the task manager was removed. 

Try Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and see if you get an option for task manager.

Of course, real-time monitoring is only important when the problem is actually occurring. 

If the problem is intermittent, it still could be either the keyboard, or your PC just thinking it is too busy to listen to you.  Your antivirus might also be triggering a system scan or something too. 

You should have the task manager screen that RD posted, as well as the "processes" tab that will give you memory usage and CPU usage for each process.  You used to be able to customize the displayed columns to show things like file access.

I've been using Task Manager all along. I thought that RD was talking about a special program called "resource manager" which I don't have.

[RD]

wherever you're getting the CPU graph from, this is what one looks like when the computer is idle ...
 [ Invalid Attachment ]

If CPU is spending most of the time above say about 15% then it's actively doing something, which will be listed in "processes" tab of task manager.

In my case the CPU would have to be constantly at about 50% before my computer would ignore the keyboard.

[RD]

I've been using Task Manager all along. I thought that RD was talking about a special program called "resource manager" which I don't have.

It's not important , but there's a link to "resource monitor" in the small-print on the Windows 8 "task manger" ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[PmbPhy (OP)]

In any case none of this has led me to solve the problem. Thanks anyway guys.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

This seems useful - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665220

[RD]

This seems useful - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2665220

That cure is specific to Internet explorer {8} : it wouldn’t explain keyboard sluggishness on software which does not require an internet connection , like MS-Word.

The point of looking at the CPU was to see if it is constantly running very high (~50%) when it should be idle ( below 5%).

If the CPU is not high when the wireless keyboard is unresponsive I’d try a wired keyboard ,  or a virtual on-screen keyboard, which Windows 8 does have built-in ...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/type-with-the-on-screen-keyboard

If a wired or the on-screen keyboards work OK then the problem is specific to the wireless keyboard.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

That cure is specific to Internet explorer {8} : it wouldn’t explain keyboard sluggishness on software which does not require an internet connection , like MS-Word.

It was too complicated for me to follow anyway. Thank you my good man.

[CliffordK]

The point is that you need to do some sleuth work.

If the problem first started occurring when you installed the wireless keyboard, then unplug the wireless and plug a wired keyboard back in, and see if the problem continues. 

If it is unrelated to the keyboard, then you'll need to start evaluating what your computer is doing when it should be listening for keyboard responses. 

That "fix" you found probably won't hurt.  Just follow the "fix it for me" links. 

I find with my habits of opening multiple windows that Firefox ends up taking way more memory than it should, and drags my whole computer to a halt.  But, I don't have 16 GB of RAM (maybe my next PC).

Windoze updates can be a culprit if the problem is intermittent, especially if it occurs at about the same time every day.  I often turn off my auto updates then manually run them every few months.  Your antivirus and anti-spyware programs can also be set to do updates or scans at the wrong time of day too.

Most of these issues will show up in your task manager, either as high memory usage, high CPU usage (which can be a single core pegged), or high disk usage.

[RD]

...  I often turn off my auto updates then manually run them every few months.

Rather than turning updates off there is another option ...
"check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them " ,
 which is my preference , you get a notification telling you updates are available, but no update/s  is/are  downloaded until you authorise it ...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/change-windows-update-installation-notification

When the new Windows 8 computer was first attached to the internet it would have several months of updates to catch up on , 100's of megabytes of data.
The default setting is to download all updates automatically , without asking your consent.  My suggestion is change windows update setting to "check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them " , then only select a few updates from the backlog to download one go, a few tens of megabytes, ( a digestible amount ) , rather than attempting to download the entire backlog,  100's of megabytes, of updates in one go, ( which it could choke on ).

You should install all the recommended updates Microsoft sends you , as they fix security vulnerabilities.

[CliffordK]

You should install all the recommended updates Microsoft sends you , as they fix security vulnerabilities.

You mean they didn't fix all of the security vulnerabilities a decade ago with Windows XP?

[syhprum]

Do you have a good solid wired internet connection fibre optic to be preferred, have you tried any other operating systems  such as windows 7 or even olde worlde XP and have you reverted to a wired keyboard wireless ones can be a bit eccentric.
How about an on screen keyboard is that any better.

[PmbPhy (OP)]

Do you have a good solid wired internet connection fibre optic to be preferred, ..

There's nothing wrong with the hardware. I was a very good electronics technician in my day and the entire system is brand new. I know the hardware is fine.

have you tried any other operating systems  such as windows 7 or even olde worlde XP and have you reverted to a wired keyboard wireless ones can be a bit eccentric.

I don't have any other operating system than Windows 8.1. I have to find out what's wrong with it now because in case it happens again I need to know what to do. I'll try a hardwired keyboard and see what happens.

How about an on screen keyboard is that any better.

Impossible. That'd require buying a monitor that allows the user to do that.