Hotkeys in C++ app suddenly stop working

[Patrick G]

Hi. We have a problem with our software that we’re struggling to fix. The app is a MFC C++ media player for Windows, the FTW Transcriber: http://www.theftwtranscriber.com/

Program users can use hotkeys to play files, including stop, rewind and forward functions. However, users who upgrade to Windows 10 sometimes experience problems with the hotkeys. They work for a while and then suddenly stop, and we don’t know why. Restarting the PC or reinstalling the software makes the hotkeys work for a while, but then they stop again.

While the hotkeys are working, F1 plays the file, as it should. After they stop working, F1 opens help. In other words, it appears that Windows 10 is stealing the keyboard input from our program. But it's strange that everything works fine at first but then stops for no obvious reason.

Most of the DEFAULT hotkeys are "F" keys, but the software allows them to be remapped to other keys, but they still don't work even after remapping. Any ideas why?!

Please note our question is not why the hotkeys don’t work – the question is why they DO work, and then STOP working.

Thanks!

[Arjay]

Have you tried setting the app compatibility mode to an earlier windows version (like Win 7) to see if that makes a difference?