Keystroke Recorders for USB keyboards ("KeyCarbon USB")

The KeyCarbon USB device records all typing on a USB keyboard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Any questions? The FAQ has the answers.
This FAQ has 5 years of product feedback.

Frequently Asked Questions for the KeyCarbon USB series of products.

What is the KeyCarbon USB?

The KeyCarbon USB is a miniature device used to record all typing on a USB keyboard. It looks just like a USB thumb drive. It takes seconds to plug it into the keyboard port of any PC or Macintosh computer.
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How do I plug the KeyCarbon USB in?

Use the KeyCarbon USB just like a regular USB extension cable - unplug the USB keyboard, plug it into one end of the extension cable, then plug the USB extension cable back into the PC.
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How do I record typing on my computer?

Simply plug the unit in - the unit starts to record everything typed from the moment it receives power.
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How do I view the typed keystrokes?

Keystrokes can be retrieved on any operating system, using a standard text editor. Read the manual or view the animated demo.
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What's the difference between a PS/2 and a USB keyboard?

A USB keyboard has a square plug. A PS/2 keyboard has a round plug; see the diagram below:

Can I record keystrokes on one computer and retrieve them on another?

Yes. Even if you unplug the device, it never forgets the typing that it has recorded. The device does not need batteries to hold its memory. For technical types, the device uses non-volatile flash memory.
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Does the KeyCarbon USB work with any USB keyboard?

Yes. The device works with every known USB keyboard, including Logitech keyboards (other hardware keystroke recorders do not work with Logitech keyboards).

Whats more, the unit will work with any keyboard introduced in the future.

If any manufacturer introduces a non-standard keyboard that does not work, we can email you instructions to upgrade your units firmware via the internet. This makes your unit future proof. None of our competitors offer this service.
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How do I change the password?

Go into the configuration menu, there is an option to change the password.
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How do I reset the password?

It is possible to reset the password in the unit. This has the side effect of deleting the existing keystroke log. It also requires a fair amount of technical skill, and involves popping open the case of the unit and shorting two pins on the circuit board together.

Resetting the password for the KeyPhantom USB and KeyCarbon USB.

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Does the KeyCarbon USB work on a PS/2 keyboard?

No. For a device that records PS/2 keystrokes, see www.keykatcher.com. If you are unsure which type of keyboard you have on your system, check the shape of the plug on your keyboard cable. If it is rectangular, then the KeyCarbon USB will work. If it is round, then you have a PS/2 keyboard - see www.keykatcher.com.
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What happens if the keystroke log fills up?

There are two options for this: either the oldest keystrokes are discarded, or the recording halts. This option is selectable from the configuration menu.
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Are the keystrokes are safe, even if device is unplugged?

Yes. The device is just like a USB memory stick, it does not lose its memory if it is unplugged.
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Will the KeyCarbon store non-printable keystrokes such as Alt, Ctrl, or Function keys?

Yes. Any non-printable character is converted into a series of printable characters. For example, the "escape" key is listed as "<esc>" in the log. F1 becomes "<F1>" in the log. Alt becomes "<alt>" in the log, and so on for every other non-printable keystroke.
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Does the KeyCarbon USB work with an external USB hub?

Yes, however it is not recommended, as it may lower the entire hub speed to USB 1.1. It is recommended that the KeyCarbon USB device is attached directly in line with the cable that the USB keyboard uses.
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Does the KeyCarbon USB work with any keyboard that has a built in USB hub?

Yes.
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Does the KeyCarbon USB work on a laptop?

The KeyCarbon USB will not record keystrokes typed on the laptops built in keyboard. The KeyCarbon USB will only record keystrokes typed on an external USB keyboard that is plugged into the laptop.
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Can I record typing on a Macintosh computer?

Yes, as long as the Macintosh computer uses a USB keyboard. The device is compatible with any USB keyboard.
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Can I record typing on a Windows computer?

Yes, as long as the Windows computer uses a USB keyboard. The device is compatible with any USB keyboard.
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Can I record typing on a Linux or Solaris computer?

Yes, as long as the Windows computer uses a USB keyboard. The device is compatible with any USB keyboard.
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Why would I want a KeyCarbon USB when I can use a keylogger program available off the internet?

Software keyloggers can be difficult to install and/or use. If the PC is password protected, it will be impossible to install a software keylogger. The KeyCarbon device installs in seconds, onto any desktop PC with any operating system. The KeyCarbon device can be installed when the computer is switched off. It will also pick up passwords used to access the BIOS before boot up.
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How long can the password be?

Up to 20 characters long. The number of combinations for in a password 20 characters long is 26 to the power of 20 - over 19,000 million million million million. Yes, thats over 19,928,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. This number is quite large, nobody could guess it unless they tried for more than a billion years.
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During downloading of the keystroke log, can I stop the download half way through?

Yes. Pressing the escape, enter, or space bar keys will halt the download.
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I am using Microsoft Word 2003 - how do I fix the double numbering in the menu?

Go into "Tools ... Autocorrect ... Autoformat as you type" and switch off 'automatic numbered lists'.
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I enter the menu - but it exits immediately, and goes into "recording mode"?

The reason that the menu is exiting immediately into recording mode, is that by default any unknown key will exit the menu.

Do not press "enter" after the password, or press keys any extra keys before the menu has been completely displayed.

This weakness in the product has been fixed in firmware v1.13 and above, available by downloading the KeyCarbon USB Series Firmware Upgrade Utility .
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Why is the "Found New Hardware" box invisible under Windows, in all critical situations?

The "Found New Hardware" notification is 100% invisible, if the unit is plugged in when:

The computer is switched off.
The user has yet to log into the computer.
The user has logged out for any reason.
The computer is password protected.
The computer was protected by a screensaver with a password.
The computers screensaver is active.

The "Found new hardware" is visible for 5 seconds, for the first time only that the unit is plugged in, if:

The Desktop is visible (ie: the computer is logged in).
- However, this system tray message will automatically disappear within 5 seconds.
- The system tray message will only ever happen once; Windows will never display the message again.
- And, since you are sitting in front of the computer, you can simply wait for the message to disappear.
- To hide any messages, switch the screen off, or activate a screensaver. You can activate a screensaver manually from the desktop.

NOTE: This has been tested under Windows XP, but not Vista. If any users finds that Vista behaves differently, please email support@keycarbon.com, and we will update this FAQ immediately.

Why is the device undetectable from the Windows "Device Manager" or the "Unplug or Eject Hardware" box?

The device does not show up in the Windows "Unplug or Eject Hardware" dialogue box.

The device shows up in Windows "Device Manager" as a generic USB hub. This generic USB hub has no ID strings, and is indistinguishable from the generic USB hub found in 90% of all USB hubs, 90% of all Macintosh USB keyboards, and 30% of all IBM-PC keyboards.

If any software (such as a virus scanner) attempted to detect this generic USB hub, it would also flag warnings on 90% of USB hubs, 90% of all Macintosh USB keyboards, and 30% of all IBM-PC keyboards. In short, there is no way to detect the device via software.

When the menu is displayed, the device shows up in "Device Manager" as a temporary external USB keyboard. This temporary USB keyboard is completely removed from "Device Manager" once the menu is exited.
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Why is the device undetectable, in practice, by software?

In short, if software attempted to detect the KeyCarbon USB, it would generate false alarms on almost every keyboard in existance.

What if someone else types in the access password by mistake?

For a random 20 character password, there are over 19,000 million million million million combinations. That number is over 19,928,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. This is the same chance as someone trying to find a single grain of sand, somewhere in the Sahara. In short, there is no chance that someone else would type the access password by mistake, if you choose a password of sufficient length.
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Do you have any hints for choosing a password?

Do not use a password or subset of a password that you are using elsewhere on your system.

A password should be a consecutive set of characters that would never be typed, except by someone who knew the password.

The password should not be a string of characters that would be typed in normal usage. Examples of poor password choices would include the words father, avenue, and your pet's name. Some good password choices would be tabatha, gbefhome, and ghureee.
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Where can I download the user manual for the KeyCarbon USB?

A printed manual is included with the KeyCarbon USB. Download the KeyCarbon USB Series User Manual .
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Firmware upgrading

When would I need to perform a firmware upgrade?

Very rarely. You only need to perform a firmware upgrade if the manufacturer recommends it.
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How do I perform a firmware upgrade for the device?

See the KeyCarbon USB Series Firmware Upgrade Utility .
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How do I perform an "Emergency Firmware Upgrade" for the device?

If the unit does not respond to a firmware upgrade, you can always resurrect the unit by shorting two pins on the device when power is applied.

Even if your unit loses power in the middle of a firmware upgrade, you can still recover your unit, see the emergency bootload procedure.
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