While playing skyrim i cant open the console without first opening the options menu.

when at the main menu the console opens normally using the ~ key, while running along in game i can sit and pound on the ~ key all day long and nothing happens, if however i hit esc key to open the options menu, then while the options menu is still open, if i hit the ~ key the console opens.

i am by no stretch of the imagination new to bethesda games, nor am i new to using the console, so i know this is not how the console should behave.

this is with a new install via steam, fully updated, no DLC, and only things i have added/changed are: SKSE 1.7.1, Enhanced Character Edit , ShowRaceMenu precache killer. i edited the controlmap.txt file in data / interface to unlock the numpad keys for mapping, and did not touch any thing else in the file.

i tried a google search, but found no mention anywhere of anything like this. unfortunatly having the words skyrim and console just give 10,000 results about using the ~ key to open the console, console command lists, or people bellyaching about skyrim being a console port or comparisons between consoles and the like.

so im wondering if anybody has seen, heard, experienced this behavior, knows anything about it, or has any advise about it.

i am putting off downloading any mods, or modding myself to see if this can be fixed first, and i can play the game fine the way it is i guess, but its annoying as a swarm of cliff racers having to open the options menu to use the console, and would love to fix it if possible.