Laptop keyboard troubleshooting

[manofthefield]

I've got a dell latitude D6-one-zero - and there's my problem, the number keys intermittently don't work.  5 and 6 work, but the rest usually don't after the computer gets kinda warm.  I think there's a few other keys that don't work, maybe some of the F keys and insert, delete, home, end etc.  I tried pulling the keyboard off and plugging it back in; nothing obvious seemed to be wrong with it and it's still having problems.  Has anyone heard of problems like this?  Is it something I can fix, do I need a new keyboard, or is it a deeper problem? 

Thanks

[DoD#i]

Look for a new/used keyboard. You can try disassembly (it that's even possible) and cleaning, but 90% of the time that hurts more than it helps, if it's even possible (many are welded/glued closed at time of assembly - I don't know for that particular model, but I see a lot of laptops at work).

[scottpA_GS]

Yea, time to hit eBay for a new keyboard. 

[manofthefield]

Cool, looks like that will cost 15 or 20 bucks for a new keyboard, but its easy and hopefully that's the whole problem

[JeremyP]

heyy,
I have dealt with computers that had spyware/virus that would execute certain commands when only a few select keys were pressed.
If you have a usb keyboard lying around, plug it in and check its functionality. If the usb keyboard works then replace your keyboard.
goodluck!

[mach1]

check the connections. getting a keybord may not fix your problem if its a mobo problem

[manofthefield]

I pulled out the keyboard and connection then plugged it back in.   What else can I do to check the connection?

In any case, new keyboard is already on the way for $9.05 shipped.  Thank you ebay!

[LOUiE]

i used to do laptop tech support...

1) remove and dust off your RAM (should be a small flap you can unscrew on the bottom of your laptop)
2) do a hard-reset. Sould be a button on the bottom you can hold down for 20-30 secs after removing the battery (some models might not have one)
3) remove and dust off the keyboard connections then put it back in.
4) if problem still persists, uninstall drivers from 'Device Manager' and reboot computer. (should automatically reinstall again)

If it still doesn't work after this, I would back up my stuff on an external harddrive and reformat my computer.

AND if that doesn't work, let me know.  There are tons of stuff you can try before buying a new keyboard

[manofthefield]

Interesting... I'll have to work on that tonight.  Keyboard was cleaned up pretty well, but who'd of thunk to clean the ram?  Actually that may make sense as it's seemed that the ram has been getting pretty warm, I've noticed this even with my lapdesk.

[pkhoff]

Blowing the dust out of the fan and ensuring that it is even turning can head off a lot of heat related issues.
Latitude D610 has #1 RAM slot under the keyboard, #2 slot is under a panel on the bottom.

[manofthefield]

I pulled the keyboard and the ram and everything looked pretty clean, especially considering we have 3 shedding dogs   (my desktop on the other hand contains piles of dust, though that is almost always on)  I don't have compressed air, so I just picked out the couple specks I could see and blew hard to get rid of dust in the fan.  I put things back together and so far so good, but I didn't get to run the laptop too long.  Fan definately works.  I'll try to run it longer tonight if I remember.