Troubleshooting a Mysterious Copy-Paste Glitch: My Journey to Find a Solution

Introduction

If you have ever experienced a tech nightmare, you might relate to my recent struggle with my computer. What began as a simple task quickly spiraled into an overwhelming challenge that left me frustrated and desperate for answers. Let me share my experience and the steps I took to uncover the source of the problem.

The Begining of the Glitch

It all started when, out of nowhere, my computer began copying random text and files without my consent. Although I attempted to restart the machine multiple times, the issue persisted, cropping up again shortly after a brief reprieve. I executed several troubleshooting measures, including uninstalling the troublesome driver, but those efforts yielded no results.

Determined to leave no stone unturned, I also unplugged my keyboard and connected a different one, hoping that this would resolve the situation. To my dismay, the same copying behavior continued.

Discovering the Possible Culprit

After a bit of investigation, I recalled downloading a medical viewer application called Radiant Viewer, which I used to open some DICOM files transferred from a USB drive given to me by my professor. Following this download, the chaos on my desktop began. Intriguingly, I later discovered that my laptop, which I had also used to access the same viewer and files, was now experiencing the same glitch.

In an attempt to capture the issue for better advice, I recorded videos demonstrating the erratic behavior and gathered them for reference. (Check them out here: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3).

A Deeper Dive into the USB Drive

As I delved deeper into troubleshooting, I realized that the USB drive itself could be the source of my woes. After performing a full reset and formatting my disks, my computer ran smoothly—at least until I reinserted the USB drive. The glitch immediately returned. This alarming discovery led me to attempt a factory reset, which initially appeared to resolve the problem, only for the issue to resurface an hour later.

Despite trying multiple malware detection options recommended by helpful community members, I found no signs of infection. The persistent problems pointed towards the need for a clean slate with a fresh installation