enseagui,

Do you know whether Esc stopped working correctly after installing SP1, or was it before that?

If you can let me know more details about the Esc problem, I will be happy to look into it. Please include what language you are working in (it makes a difference some times).

It would be best if you could go to Help|About, copy the contents there, and paste the contents back here.

Thanks,

  -- Jon

and this is from Win 2008

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Version 9.0.30729.1 SP
Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 3.5 SP1

Installed Edition: Enterprise

Microsoft Silverlight Projects 2008   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Silverlight Projects 2008
Version 9.0.21022.108

Microsoft Visual Basic 2008   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Basic 2008

Microsoft Visual C# 2008   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual C# 2008

Microsoft Visual C++ 2008   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer
Version 9.0.30729.1

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Tools for Office   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Tools for Office

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Architecture Edition   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Architecture Edition

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition

Portions of International CorrectSpell™ spelling correction system © 1993 by Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V.  All rights reserved.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 Houghton Mifflin Company.  Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V.  All rights reserved.

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Edition   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Edition

Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008   91899-270-6431653-60728
Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008

CodeSmith 4.0   4.0
CodeSmith Tools Visual Studio Add-in Package

Crystal Reports    AAJ60-G0MSA4K-68000CF
Crystal Reports Basic for Visual Studio 2008

Devart MyDirect .NET   4.70.31.0
Devart MyDirect .NET
Copyright  2002 - 2008 Core Lab. All rights reserved.
Web: www.devart.com/mysqlnet
Support: mysqlnet@devart.com

DXCore for Visual Studio   3.0
DXCore for Visual Studio

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB945282)   KB945282
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945282.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB946040)   KB946040
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946040.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB946308)   KB946308
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946308.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB946344)   KB946344
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946344.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB946581)   KB946581
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946581.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB947173)   KB947173
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947173.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB947540)   KB947540
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947540.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU (KB947789)   KB947789
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (integrated mode) - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947789.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU (KB946260)   KB946260
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946260.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU (KB946458)   KB946458
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946458.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU (KB947171)   KB947171
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947171.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU (KB947180)   KB947180
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947180.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU (KB948816)   KB948816
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948816.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB944899)   KB944899
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944899.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB946673)   KB946673
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946673.

Hotfix for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB948127)   KB948127
This hotfix is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this hotfix will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948127.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU Service Pack 1 (KB945140)   KB945140
This service pack is for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Team Explorer - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this service pack will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945140.

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU Service Pack 1 (KB947888)   KB947888
This service pack is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this service pack will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947888.

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU Service Pack 1 (KB948484)   KB948484
This service pack is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this service pack will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948484.

Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU Service Pack 1 (KB948560)   KB948560
This service pack is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this service pack will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948560.

Microsoft.SpecSharp   1.0.20411.0
Microsoft® Spec# Compiler, Version 1.0.20411.0

MySQL Connector/Net   5.2
Data design and management tools for MySQL.  Copyright © 2007 MySQL AB

NGEDIT Software's ViEmu   v2.2.6
ViEmu 2.2 - vi/vim editor emulation for Microsoft(TM) Visual Studio(TM)
(c) 2005-2008 NGEDIT Software (www.ngedit.com)

Process Editor WIT Designer   1.2.0.0
Process Editor for Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server, Version 1.2.0.0

ReSharper 4   Full Edition build 4.0.819.19 on 2008-06-09T22:00:24
ReSharper add-in for Microsoft Visual Studio. For more information about ReSharper, see the ReSharper website at http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper. Copyright © 2003–2008 JetBrains, Inc

SourceGear Fortress Visual Studio Enhanced Client   1.1.2.18185
SourceGear Fortress Visual Studio Enhanced Client

SourceGear Fortress Visual Studio Work Item Client   1.1.2.18185
SourceGear Fortress Visual Studio Work Item Client

Team Foundation Server Power Tools   March 2008
Power Tools that extend the Team Foundation Server integration with Visual Studio.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB947520)   KB947520
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947520.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB949325)   KB949325
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949325.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB950630)   KB950630
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950630.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB950631)   KB950631
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950631.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951455)   KB951455
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951455.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951456)   KB951456
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951456.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951457)   KB951457
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951457.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951458)   KB951458
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951458.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951459)   KB951459
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951459.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951460)   KB951460
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951460.

Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU (KB951461)   KB951461
This update is for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite - ENU.
If you later install a more recent service pack, this update will be uninstalled automatically.
For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951461.

VisualSVN   1.5.2
Integration with Subversion version control. For more information about VisualSVN, see the VisualSVN website at http://www.visualsvn.com
Copyright (c) 2005-2008 VisualSVN Ltd.

Application Styling Configuration Dialog
For more information about Application Styling, please see the Infragistics, Inc., website at
http://www.infragistics.com
Copyright (c) 2007 Infragistics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

DevExpress Tools
DXCore extensibility layer for Visual Studio .NET, from Developer Express, Inc. (www.devexpress.com).

Thanks for all the info. There is one piece of evidence in the second list: you have DevExpress' DXCore installed. This is the plug-in framework they use for Coderush, Refactor, and all their tools, and they also license it freely to third parties in order to develop add-ins. This framework is notorious for swallowing Esc keypresses, unless well configured. You can either uninstall it using the Windows control panel, or you can follow the instructions in this forum post to configure its keypress handling:

  http://www.viemu.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=269

If you uninstall DXCore, it's possible some other plug-in from your list will stop working. I can't readily recognize which one might use it from your list - I can't think of any other way of checking than uninstalling it and seeing what stops working.

This is very likely to be the cause, so I wouldn't bother with installing SP1 on the laptop before trying this out. It's unlikely that MS have done something in SP1 to break Esc processing (but of course possible).

If this doesn't fix it, I will also try installing SP1 on one of my systems and see what happens.  I have to try out the Service Pack in any case.

Let me know about your experiments.

Regards,

  - Jon