Keyboard go die die?

BigbagOQQ · 01-14-2009, 05:49 AM

Hello Vista Survivors,
I wasn't sure where to post this, Don't know if it's a software or a hardware problem...

I was using my computer and I noticed random keys like
e, f, and alt just stopped working. I thought it was weird
puzzled as I was, more keys stopped working. (By the way, its a laptop, Toshiba Satellite M100) So it's got to the point where the only keys left working are a bunch of the "Function keys", Q, A, Z and caps lock. This actually happened a while ago I just didn't go and seek help immediately, do I need to reformat? Or is it something where I would have to bin the piece of silt? If anyone has any info on this or advice, it would be much appreciated.

~BigBagOQQ~

Dracia · 01-14-2009, 11:29 AM

My laptop keys also went in a similar manner to this, and I worked around it by buying an external USB keyboard. You can of course ge tthe keyboard replaced, but I think it costs more and you'd need a tech to do it if you weren't familiar with the process.

It could be a case of food stuck under the keys which can short the circuit, or a power failure which caused a surge. Keyboards can act quite erratic when they're shorted, with random keys typing over and over, like "kkkkkkkkkkkkk" when you press k, or just random keys not working altogether.

rbalaji · 01-15-2009, 02:55 PM

What brand laptop is it? If it is a dell, an internal keyboard is only about $30 and it is considered a user-replaceable item. The user manual or service manual (both available online at service.dell.com should guide you through the 5 to 10-minute process. I am not sure about other laptop brands.

BigbagOQQ · 01-15-2009, 11:35 PM

It's a Toshiba Satellite M100... I want to sell it but I can't really do that with a broken keyboard, aye. e.e

rbalaji · 01-16-2009, 07:47 PM

There is no harm in searching online for replacement keyboards for the laptop and seeing if there is a service manual or something like that floating around for it online also. That way, you can replace it and then sell it. Even otherwise, there are always people who are looking to buy laptops with defects so that they can fix them up and resell them, so you might still be able to sell it (obviously a $30 fix could raise the value of your laptop by $100 or more and that is precisely what these resellers are relying on, but if you don't have the parts and/or expertise to do the repairs, then you can't do anything about it).

Scarthos · 01-16-2009, 08:33 PM

The easiest way to tech a bad keyboard in a laptop is to get your hands on a USB keyboard. If the USB keyboard experiences any of the same symptoms, then it's a software problem, more than likely OS related. If NOT, then there is a problem with the keyboard, whether it be a loose connection or simply dead.

HTH

01-14-2009, 05:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
BigbagOQQ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP>9000	Keyboard go die die? Hello Vista Survivors, I wasn't sure where to post this, Don't know if it's a software or a hardware problem... I was using my computer and I noticed random keys like e, f, and alt just stopped working. I thought it was weird puzzled as I was, more keys stopped working. (By the way, its a laptop, Toshiba Satellite M100) So it's got to the point where the only keys left working are a bunch of the "Function keys", Q, A, Z and caps lock. This actually happened a while ago I just didn't go and seek help immediately, do I need to reformat? Or is it something where I would have to bin the piece of silt? If anyone has any info on this or advice, it would be much appreciated. ~BigBagOQQ~

01-14-2009, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dracia Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 470 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 My System	Re: Keyboard go die die? My laptop keys also went in a similar manner to this, and I worked around it by buying an external USB keyboard. You can of course ge tthe keyboard replaced, but I think it costs more and you'd need a tech to do it if you weren't familiar with the process. It could be a case of food stuck under the keys which can short the circuit, or a power failure which caused a surge. Keyboards can act quite erratic when they're shorted, with random keys typing over and over, like "kkkkkkkkkkkkk" when you press k, or just random keys not working altogether.

01-15-2009, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
rbalaji Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,193 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Keyboard go die die? What brand laptop is it? If it is a dell, an internal keyboard is only about $30 and it is considered a user-replaceable item. The user manual or service manual (both available online at service.dell.com should guide you through the 5 to 10-minute process. I am not sure about other laptop brands. __________________ Balaji Ramanathan Computers - You can't live with them, you can't live without them!

01-15-2009, 11:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigbagOQQ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP>9000	Re: Keyboard go die die? It's a Toshiba Satellite M100... I want to sell it but I can't really do that with a broken keyboard, aye. e.e

01-16-2009, 07:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
rbalaji Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,193 OS: Windows XP SP3	Re: Keyboard go die die? There is no harm in searching online for replacement keyboards for the laptop and seeing if there is a service manual or something like that floating around for it online also. That way, you can replace it and then sell it. Even otherwise, there are always people who are looking to buy laptops with defects so that they can fix them up and resell them, so you might still be able to sell it (obviously a $30 fix could raise the value of your laptop by $100 or more and that is precisely what these resellers are relying on, but if you don't have the parts and/or expertise to do the repairs, then you can't do anything about it). __________________ Balaji Ramanathan Computers - You can't live with them, you can't live without them!

01-16-2009, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scarthos Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Over Here Posts: 33 OS: XP SP2	Re: Keyboard go die die? The easiest way to tech a bad keyboard in a laptop is to get your hands on a USB keyboard. If the USB keyboard experiences any of the same symptoms, then it's a software problem, more than likely OS related. If NOT, then there is a problem with the keyboard, whether it be a loose connection or simply dead. HTH __________________ Scarthos