=As is se=lf==ev=ident, when I type an equals sign is being i=n==serted a=utomatically. Can anybody please recommend some actions I can take, short of throwing the machine out of the window?
Many thanks
ES
have you tried another keyboard? 
Most likely a sticking equal key.
If the problem is not in the keyboard, well, a new virus is round 
try the old turn it over and slam it down hard trick
clean up