Very Strange Keyboard Problem (Vista, laptop)

I have only recently started using my laptop, bought in September 2007.

Every time I started Opera (9.63) I had the error message referred to 
in http://www.opera.com/support/kb/view/889 , so I decided it was now 
time to do something about it. I determined that I had indeed what is 
termed a single user installation, and made the recommended changes. 
This made no difference, so I reinstalled Opera. Then I reinstalled 
Opera again. And again, and so on. Each time clearing more and more 
stuff from the hard disk, e.g. from Program Files, from Users, from 
Windows and so on, including Local and Roaming and so on and so 
forth. Eventually I had what appeared to be a pristine installation 
which worked perfectly.

And then I discovered that - except for immediately after leaving 
'Start Opera when I hit Finish' tocked (checked) - the computer 
resolutely declines to recognize any keyboard input except characters 
(with or without Shift), Enter etc. This includes Ctrl-Enter, i.e. 
the keyboard shortcut for inserting Wand data.

In other words, I cannot use the Wand, and I cannot correct any 
typing error I make in a URL or Google search field since the arrow 
keys and Backspace are not recognized.

Has anybody any ideas for me? I've searched the forums on the opera 
site but to no avail.

Oh yes, one more thing: on uninstalling Opera I now consistently get 
an error message: 'Error 1721. There is a problem with this Windows 
installer package. A program required for this Install to complete 
could not be run. Contact your support personnel or package vendor.' 
Very helpful... But could it be relevant?

Could it have anything to do with the Windows update that was 
downloaded at about the time all this started?

Cheers,

Harry

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