some notebook keys malfunctioning

andrewfisher300 · 10-15-2006, 03:46 PM

Hi,

I have a solid 1998 vintage Compaq Armada 1750 with massive 6 gig drive which has worked fine, if slowly!, until today. It also has a massive 192meg of RAM. I wanted to install Kubuntu Linux and to remove win2k, so, to make some space, I initially removed some programmes by using the control panel windows remove software tool. I tried to leave the basic windows 2k and remove pretty much all the rest - office, acrobat reader etc. I think I may have removed something important because now the keyboard has become patchy. By that I mean I can't get 1,2,3,t,y,a,s,\,c,v,<,or> or the capital equivalents - there may be some others. Importantly, I can't get the ENTER key to work either..

I still have the W2k installed and have not yet attempted to install the Linux, so its not that. I'm not sure if its a w2k or a BIOS issue or what. whatever the solution, I may need to acomplish it without the use of these keys.... hmmm!

Any one have any suggestions of what has caused this and, more important, how I might fix it?

You may have spotted that I'm not a techie but prepared to have a play (Dohh!)

Grateful for any assistance, and thanks in advance,

Tony, Cherie and the kids
(No, not really!)

**laboye** · 10-15-2006, 04:24 PM

Welcome to TSF! Well, if you plan to install Kubuntu, a format is necessary. While the system is starting up, hold F8. You should be presented with an advanced boot menu. Select and option and hit enter. If it works, it's a driver problem or a Windows problem and you can move in with your work. If not, it's a hardware problem which needs further diagnosing.

andrewfisher300 · 10-16-2006, 01:04 AM

Hi. Thanks for the tip but, sadly, it didn't fix it. When I enter the BIOS screen (tapping F10, by the way), I get an initial message which I need to hit ENTER after reading in order to get beyond it..... and I have a failed ENTER key.....

So, another route needed, I think.

I am thinking along the lines of clicking on some sort of driver download - to save typing and entering? Not sure I need a download though, so I'd like to get clearer on the reason before I commit to anything which might be irreversible.

Thanks anyway, and still open to suggestions..... ;-)

andrewfisher300 · 10-16-2006, 01:12 AM

Further to the above. Just realised that tapping F8 does get me into the advanced boot menu after all - but same problem. No ENTER response. I guess that is what you meant this to test for.

So, looks like a hardware thing then. Do you think it's something for me to try to fix or perhaps it would be better to take it to the repair man for a new piece of PCB or something?

andrewfisher300 · 10-16-2006, 02:54 AM

Looks like it is the hardware. I plugged in a spare keyboard and it works fine... thanks anyway.

**laboye** · 10-17-2006, 11:47 AM

Well, that was never meant to be a fix. I was trying to see if it was a Windows problem or a hardware problem. Since it didn't work, it was a hardware problem. Then is was narrowed down to the keyboard controller or keyboard. Since the external keyboard worked, it is the keyboard. You can try removing the keyboard and reseating it. If it all goes bad, get a new keyboard. Impact has one:

http://www.impactcomputers.com/316227-001.html

and a refurbished one for slightly cheaper:

http://www.impactcomputers.com/316227-001-rb.html

andrewfisher300 · 10-17-2006, 01:57 PM

Found one on ebay for £6. Fingers crossed!

Very many thanks for your time; I do appreciate it.

A

10-15-2006, 03:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
andrewfisher300 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: w2k	some notebook keys malfunctioning Hi, I have a solid 1998 vintage Compaq Armada 1750 with massive 6 gig drive which has worked fine, if slowly!, until today. It also has a massive 192meg of RAM. I wanted to install Kubuntu Linux and to remove win2k, so, to make some space, I initially removed some programmes by using the control panel windows remove software tool. I tried to leave the basic windows 2k and remove pretty much all the rest - office, acrobat reader etc. I think I may have removed something important because now the keyboard has become patchy. By that I mean I can't get 1,2,3,t,y,a,s,\,c,v,<,or> or the capital equivalents - there may be some others. Importantly, I can't get the ENTER key to work either.. I still have the W2k installed and have not yet attempted to install the Linux, so its not that. I'm not sure if its a w2k or a BIOS issue or what. whatever the solution, I may need to acomplish it without the use of these keys.... hmmm! Any one have any suggestions of what has caused this and, more important, how I might fix it? You may have spotted that I'm not a techie but prepared to have a play (Dohh!) Grateful for any assistance, and thanks in advance, Tony, Cherie and the kids (No, not really!)

10-15-2006, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Welcome to TSF! Well, if you plan to install Kubuntu, a format is necessary. While the system is starting up, hold F8. You should be presented with an advanced boot menu. Select and option and hit enter. If it works, it's a driver problem or a Windows problem and you can move in with your work. If not, it's a hardware problem which needs further diagnosing. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-16-2006, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
andrewfisher300 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: w2k	still short on keys.... Hi. Thanks for the tip but, sadly, it didn't fix it. When I enter the BIOS screen (tapping F10, by the way), I get an initial message which I need to hit ENTER after reading in order to get beyond it..... and I have a failed ENTER key..... So, another route needed, I think. I am thinking along the lines of clicking on some sort of driver download - to save typing and entering? Not sure I need a download though, so I'd like to get clearer on the reason before I commit to anything which might be irreversible. Thanks anyway, and still open to suggestions..... ;-)

10-17-2006, 11:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Well, that was never meant to be a fix. I was trying to see if it was a Windows problem or a hardware problem. Since it didn't work, it was a hardware problem. Then is was narrowed down to the keyboard controller or keyboard. Since the external keyboard worked, it is the keyboard. You can try removing the keyboard and reseating it. If it all goes bad, get a new keyboard. Impact has one: http://www.impactcomputers.com/316227-001.html and a refurbished one for slightly cheaper: http://www.impactcomputers.com/316227-001-rb.html __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

10-17-2006, 01:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
andrewfisher300 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: w2k	Thanks Found one on ebay for £6. Fingers crossed! Very many thanks for your time; I do appreciate it. A

10-16-2006, 01:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
andrewfisher300 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: w2k	Further to the above. Just realised that tapping F8 does get me into the advanced boot menu after all - but same problem. No ENTER response. I guess that is what you meant this to test for. So, looks like a hardware thing then. Do you think it's something for me to try to fix or perhaps it would be better to take it to the repair man for a new piece of PCB or something?

10-16-2006, 02:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
andrewfisher300 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5 OS: w2k	Looks like it is the hardware. I plugged in a spare keyboard and it works fine... thanks anyway.