Horizons Totally Unworkable Key Bindings

Neiloch · Jan 26, 2016

After being gone a while I bought Horizons and was looking forward to playing again. Unfortunately when I first got in my controls were completely totaled. MANY if not most keys were 'blanked' out of bindings, default bindings refuse to apply. I even went as far as to complete re-install the entire game with no improvement.

Every time I try to rebind keys they show up as seemingly random key names and symbols.
For example:

All I am trying to do is rebind them to 'A' (left) and 'D' (right) and it shows....this instead. And even after I rebind these keys it refuses to save, but they seemingly work properly until I go back into key bindings and everything is reset again.

Things I have tried
-reinstall the game
-make sure .bind files and all parent folders are NOT read only
-run patcher and game itself as 'administrator'

Ian Skippy · Jan 26, 2016

What controllers and misc devices are plugged in?

sbdags · Jan 26, 2016

What keyboard language mapping are you using in Windows as well?

Neiloch · Jan 26, 2016

No other devices, its a Logitech G110 keyboard.

English, United States.

Neiloch · Jan 26, 2016

I also tried
-manually editing key assignments in the new bind file (custome.1.8.bind is re-wiped on application)
-renaming the edited bind file to something unique both in file name and in the file itself (simply will not apply)
-Everything in this thread (some already mentioned): https://steamcommunity.com/app/359320/discussions/0/523890046871508974/#p1
-other games rebind keys just fine with none of these problems

I find it odd that numpad and arrow key bindings work fine and remained intact but other keyboard bindings refuse to work properly

CDR Michael Darkmoor · Jan 26, 2016

Sticky Function key? Keyboard Macro HotKeys? A profile issue?
The way it is described --->>> "RANDOM Things appearing when I hit the "X" key - but the Number pad works OK"
This sounds like an issue with the profile on the keyboard itself and not so much with the game.
http://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/gaming-keyboard-g110#knowledge For all there is to do with the G110. Since it is a gaming keyboard it may have Macros enabled that remap the keys for certain functions... ED may not be able to translate these to emulate a standard keyboard. Setting the default or standard keyboard emulations profile on your keyboard may correct the issue.
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As Sleutelbos inferred... there may also be some interference issue with other USB items or their drivers. Disconnect/unload those unneeded (for the game) items and see if that helps.
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To test this... recommend trying a different type of keyboard and if that works... you've pretty much narrowed the field at that point.

Aasgard · Jan 26, 2016

key bindings are still a problem that FD are working on see all other threads on control bindings...

Neiloch · Jan 26, 2016

I've seen that elsewhere but the thing is I used to play and set up custom keybinds perfectly fine with all this same hardware (pre-horizons)

I did try another keyboard, a gearhead 89 mini usb keyboard. No change.

I'm inclined to think its something windows based, MAYBE game based. Because not only are attempted key bindings not showing their corresponding letters (numpad and insert, delete, home end etc work fine) but profiles are not being saved. Even when I load the default kayboard and mouse profiles the only things that show bindings are the ones that use the aforementioned exceptions or the mouse.

EDIT: not sure if this info will be useful but I decided to try using the windows on-screen keyboard for the game. When I tried to bind keys it was the same odd symbols but with MOUSE 1+ since I was clicking on the on screen keyboard.

LameoveR · Jan 26, 2016

Uninstall your KBs software.

Neiloch · Jan 26, 2016

LameoveR said:
Uninstall your KBs software.

Nope, still broke. I did try some other random keys, it seems tab also doesn't assign correctly but Caps Lock and all the function keys do.

Neiloch · Jan 27, 2016

Well I started a scorched earth campaign. I uninstalled the game and deleted literally everything remotely related to elite dangerous including the installation folders and folders made in my documents and every registry entry.

I restarted, downloaded a fresh installer, installed it, patched and launched the game and the bindings are still broken. Short of completely reformatting or replacing my computer entirely I can't think of anything else.

SentineI · Jan 27, 2016

even after I rebind these keys it refuses to save, but they seemingly work properly until I go back into key bindings and everything is reset again.

That sounds very much like the problem I had for several weeks, until some kind soul helped me out:

Make sure you don't have any extra ".binds" files in the same user folder. It confuses the hell out of ED. Simple solution: Delete all user .binds files (into the Recycle Bin).

More specifically, if you have the (game created) "Custom.binds" file, and then create a copy called (say) "Custom - Copy.binds", what is very likely to happen is that ED will *read* your settings from "Custom - Copy.binds" but *write* any changes to "Custom.binds". And then it may reload them again from "Custom - Copy.bind", thus loosing your changes! This happens because both ".binds" files contain the same name stored inside them, and ED is not consistent about which file it reads/writes when two have the same name inside them.

P.S. Your user .binds files can be found here:
%localappdata%\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

Monk · Jan 27, 2016

Before doing anything drastic...have you tried a different keyboard. Just a basic junk one. I usually keep one around for backup just in case something happens to the good keyboard.

I know Windows 10 has had some issues with Logitech gear so it might be related to that.

EDIT: NVM, I skipped over one of your replies.

What about drivers for the keyboard? Try update/unistall/reinstall on that?

EDIT: Also try a different mouse if you can. Possible it could be sending something weird.

Neiloch · Jan 27, 2016

ChrisH said:
That sounds very much like the problem I had for several weeks, until some kind soul helped me out:

Make sure you don't have any extra ".binds" files in the same user folder. It confuses the hell out of ED. Simple solution: Delete all user .binds files (into the Recycle Bin).

More specifically, if you have the (game created) "Custom.binds" file, and then create a copy called (say) "Custom - Copy.binds", what is very likely to happen is that ED will *read* your settings from "Custom - Copy.binds" but *write* any changes to "Custom.binds". And then it may reload them again from "Custom - Copy.bind", thus loosing your changes! This happens because both ".binds" files contain the same name stored inside them, and ED is not consistent about which file it reads/writes when two have the same name inside them.

P.S. Your user .binds files can be found here:
%localappdata%\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

Well since I un-installed, nuked anything related to ED including registry entries and re-installed this this was already the case. I double checked any way, none of my own bind files were in the folder.

Monk said:
Before doing anything drastic...have you tried a different keyboard. Just a basic junk one. I usually keep one around for backup just in case something happens to the good keyboard.

I know Windows 10 has had some issues with Logitech gear so it might be related to that.

EDIT: NVM, I skipped over one of your replies.

What about drivers for the keyboard? Try update/unistall/reinstall on that?

EDIT: Also try a different mouse if you can. Possible it could be sending something weird.

I'm using Windows 7
The keyboard I used was quite generic and I uninstalled all Logitech related software before trying since the keyboard is the only logitech thing I have.
I tried launching the game with literally no mouse, just using the keyboard to launch the game and navigate the menus, still messed.

The 'odd' bindings is one thing, and I could actually work with that but the problem is they don't save, not even the pre-set DEFAULT bindings work. For what ever reason the game refuses to acknowledge any keyboard I use as valid, except for the aforementioned numpad, function keys and arrow keys. I can even rebind functions to say the DELETE key and those save, but not the letters and numbers.

But to make things even more fun I am getting some other problems as well.
-every time I start the game it prepares the 'Computer Shaders' which says it only has to do this on first run, yet its doing it on EVERY run.
-When I go into keybindings, try to change bind but then hit 'CANCEL' instead of 'APPLY' I get an error dialog out of game saying "Error! - Failed to set controls preset."

SentineI · Jan 27, 2016

Neiloch said:
The 'odd' bindings is one thing, and I could actually work with that but the problem is they don't save, not even the pre-set DEFAULT bindings work. For what ever reason the game refuses to acknowledge any keyboard I use as valid, except for the aforementioned numpad, function keys and arrow keys. I can even rebind functions to say the DELETE key and those save, but not the letters and numbers.

But to make things even more fun I am getting some other problems as well.
-every time I start the game it prepares the 'Computer Shaders' which says it only has to do this on first run, yet its doing it on EVERY run.
-When I go into keybindings, try to change bind but then hit 'CANCEL' instead of 'APPLY' I get an error dialog out of game saying "Error! - Failed to set controls preset."

It does sound like the game doesn't have security permissions needed to write to where-ever it is installed. Where is it installed? Have you tried changing the installation location?

Is your user an Administrator?

You might also try disabling your anti-virus, if you haven't already. (Shouldn't make any difference, but...)

Neiloch · Jan 27, 2016

ChrisH said:
It does sound like the game doesn't have security permissions needed to write to where-ever it is installed. Where is it installed? Have you tried changing the installation location?

Is your user an Administrator?

You might also try disabling your anti-virus, if you haven't already. (Shouldn't make any difference, but...)

It was originally installed under a Steam directory where the same problem was occurring. When I uninstalled it from there and used the devs provided installer it did go to a different directory. Same issues.
My user is an administrator but just in case I made sure the patcher and client are ran as administrator as well, no change.
I did run some scans but I dont keep any sort of anti-virus protection running.

SentineI · Jan 27, 2016

Neiloch said:
I did run some scans but I dont keep any sort of anti-virus protection running.

O_O;

You don't normally have any anti-virus running at all? Do you also walk around with live grenades in your pockets? And leave your front door unlocked while you sleep? :-(

Neiloch · Jan 27, 2016

Yes, because I know how to use the internet. I don't smash yes, accept, and next blindly when installing anything and anything I do install I actually check out first. I don't use any random websites and I use an adblocker in my browser. I also don't read spam, random attachments or take part in sweepstakes/contest or other bait for suckers. I dont say 'yes' to everything until something goes wrong, I say 'no' to everything until I specifically seek it out.

FYI when I ran my first scan in probably almost a year all it found was some questionable cookies.

SentineI · Jan 28, 2016

I'm a little doubtful a virus would cause the issues you are seeing, but I can't rule it out completely. I can't think of anything else helpful, so I shall bow-out of this thread...

Neiloch said:
FYI when I ran my first scan in probably almost a year all it found was some questionable cookies.

I don't want this to turn into some kind of bashing thing, so my very last comment on the topic: The worst viruses (root kits) don't turn-up in most virus scans, once they're already burrowed into your system. It certainly sounds like you are taking good precautions against the common ways of getting viruses, but that's not protection against hijacked websites, or certain other exploits. A better analogy might be driving without a seatbelt: If you drive carefully you probably don't need it, but there is still a small risk.

CDR Michael Darkmoor · Jan 28, 2016

Neiloch said:
It was originally installed under a Steam directory where the same problem was occurring. When I uninstalled it from there and used the devs provided installer it did go to a different directory. Same issues.
My user is an administrator but just in case I made sure the patcher and client are ran as administrator as well, no change.
I did run some scans but I dont keep any sort of anti-virus protection running.

You shouldn't run (read that as "don't have to" as you would have to run all the subs as Admin and the program already has an "elevate" function to deal with that) the game as admin...
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- You can make sure that SYSTEM is set to allow Read/Write/Mod access of the entire Path for your ED install and all it's sub-directories as well as your profile Local directory. This is something you have already done according to your first Post. C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings\ for the bindings themselves... and your installation directory for everything else.
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- Something seems to be remapping your keyboard... when used in ED... but everything else works in Windows... Is it completely beyond belief that a Keymapper/Logger program didn't get snuck in as some completely legitimate and Innocent DL?
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- Here is a Site that will allow you to check which key you press and give you the read on the ASCII character set (it is JAVA Script box down in the bottom of the page marked "Test"). Not that this output could not be emulated for the browser you use by some malicious warez, but it may shed some light on things if they do not match up with standards.
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- Question - Do the default key bindings work like they are supposed to? .... and you are just having issues changing them - From your original post it seems that these do not work either (anymore - as you say you've "come back" to ED : Horizons - this assumes they worked once before - What has changed?).
- - Select one of the other preset binds - Do these apply? If so... Do they Work? (gotta ask... "Apply" button?)
- - - Are there any other USB (or other) plug in devices that might be interfering? Make sure that they have their drivers disabled and restart your computer with them unplugged... then try ED. if works.. now it is down to figuring out which one is the cause. If still not working...
- - - Check your system for Viruses, Key/mapper/logger Malware using a vetted Anti-virus/anti-intrusion software
- - - - The next step is to get a ticket going and hope the ED folks have seen this before.
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Hope you get 'er going.