chrisfixit
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Laptop keyboard not working..
A friend's Compaq Presario V4000 (XP SP2) was having keyboard problems.. the keyboard either wouldn't work at all or random keys would occasionally work.
The touchpad was playing up as well - left-click acting as right-click - etc..
Anyway I uninstalled the dreaded Norton AV on it and cleared up a bit of spyware (nothing nasty), checked for viruses with Kapersky, rebooted..and all was well . I installed SP3 and updated drivers etc... added a bit of RAM, and it seemed fine. Keyboard working normally.
I powered off and then just before I was going to give it back, powered on again and the keyboard problem was back - it's not Windows - I couldn't get it to work to boot to safe mode or get into BIOS.
I took the keyboard out and made sure it was re.connected properly but no luck - although the [enter] key mysteriously started to work.
Before I spend on a replacement keyboard, is it possible that it could be another more serious problem, bearing in mind the keyboard worked fine for an hour or more ???
The touchpad was playing up as well - left-click acting as right-click - etc..
Anyway I uninstalled the dreaded Norton AV on it and cleared up a bit of spyware (nothing nasty), checked for viruses with Kapersky, rebooted..and all was well . I installed SP3 and updated drivers etc... added a bit of RAM, and it seemed fine. Keyboard working normally.
I powered off and then just before I was going to give it back, powered on again and the keyboard problem was back - it's not Windows - I couldn't get it to work to boot to safe mode or get into BIOS.
I took the keyboard out and made sure it was re.connected properly but no luck - although the [enter] key mysteriously started to work.
Before I spend on a replacement keyboard, is it possible that it could be another more serious problem, bearing in mind the keyboard worked fine for an hour or more ???
Howdy,
sounds to me like hes been eating at his keyboard too often.
when you take the keyboard out, if its got a clear back check to see if any residues of liquid or food is in there, even give the keyboard a good vacuum out. i had a similar problem where the girlfriend spilt a bit of coke on her keyboard. random keys would work / not work / start repeating, etc. just gave her a usb keyboard. shes now waiting for her new laptop =/
sounds to me like hes been eating at his keyboard too often.
when you take the keyboard out, if its got a clear back check to see if any residues of liquid or food is in there, even give the keyboard a good vacuum out. i had a similar problem where the girlfriend spilt a bit of coke on her keyboard. random keys would work / not work / start repeating, etc. just gave her a usb keyboard. shes now waiting for her new laptop =/
It might be Hardware problem. Take it to be fixed (hopefully under warranty).
since it seems to not even respond to the up/down arrows keys on the bootloader, it seems it is a hardware problem.
since it seems to not even respond to the up/down arrows keys on the bootloader, it seems it is a hardware problem.
Try running a live bootable cd like Knoppix. If the keyboard is flaky in knoppix then its a hardware issue and the keyboard or motherboard needs replacing.
If the keyboard works in knoppix then you may have further software issues in windows. At that point a restore of the OS would probably need to be done.
If the keyboard works in knoppix then you may have further software issues in windows. At that point a restore of the OS would probably need to be done.
It does sound like a hardware problem. If it was software, the external keyboard wouldn't work.
I could be the thin connector between the keyboard and motherboard is lose. If it's under warrenty you should be bringing it in (like gsnshankar says above) but if it's out of warrenty I'd have a local computer place look at it. Or if you have worked on laptop hardware before you could open, and inspect the keyboards connection.
I could be the thin connector between the keyboard and motherboard is lose. If it's under warrenty you should be bringing it in (like gsnshankar says above) but if it's out of warrenty I'd have a local computer place look at it. Or if you have worked on laptop hardware before you could open, and inspect the keyboards connection.
ASKER
have ordered a new keyboard - hopefuly that will solve te problem.
It should. let us know how things work out.
Was the keyboard covered under warrenty?
ASKER
It's not abandoned . I am in london and have taken delivery of a new keyboard. I will be home in greece next week and wil post.
ASKER
The new keyboard didn't work either.. must be a motherboard problem.
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