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Main Area => Odds n Ends => Topic started by: manofthefield on August 17, 2008, 11:23:32 AM

Title: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: manofthefield on August 17, 2008, 11:23:32 AM
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
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: DoD#i on August 17, 2008, 04:21:30 PM
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).
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: scottpA_GS on August 17, 2008, 05:01:07 PM

Yea, time to hit eBay for a new keyboard.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: manofthefield on August 17, 2008, 06:10:58 PM
Cool, looks like that will cost 15 or 20 bucks for a new keyboard, but its easy and hopefully that's the whole problem
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: JeremyP on August 17, 2008, 06:19:21 PM
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!
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: mach1 on August 17, 2008, 09:34:35 PM
check the connections. getting a keybord may not fix your problem if its a mobo problem
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: manofthefield on August 18, 2008, 09:12:32 AM
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!
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: LOUiE on August 18, 2008, 09:50:46 AM
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 ;)
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: manofthefield on August 18, 2008, 09:56:05 AM
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.
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: pkhoff on August 18, 2008, 11:11:44 AM
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.
Title: Re: Laptop keyboard troubleshooting
Post by: manofthefield on August 19, 2008, 09:55:34 AM
I pulled the keyboard and the ram and everything looked pretty clean, especially considering we have 3 shedding dogs O0  (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.