Some laptop keyboard keys not working

[markwilding]

Some of the keys on my laptop dont work any more. I cant do contractions with apostrophes or the @ in emails
Any clues how to solve this?

[gerryh]

Are you saying the key with @ on it doesn't do anything or that it gives a character other than @?
If the latter then you have changed your keyboard layout to a different language keyboard layout.
Cheers
Gerry

[Enrique]

Hi Mark,
Try a "hard reset".................

Power down, remove any attached peripherals, remove Battery and power cord.
Press start button and hold for 60 seconds
Replace battery and power cord ,power up and report back................

[markwilding]

Thanks Enrique,
Did that and still nothing

[knowal]

Some of the keys on my laptop dont work any more. I cant do contractions with apostrophes or the @ in emails
Any clues how to solve this?

Is this happening in all programmes?
My daughter-in-law was over recently and reported her laptop keyboard not working on certain letters.
She was on a Gmail page, editing a message.
When I opened a Text file the keyboard worked properly, so the bug was obviously in the script used by Gmail.
I suppose you have tried the obvious, such as bits of biscuit or other debris under the keys, hampering movement. Try vacuuming it, but not to suck up the keys!


Edited for spelling

[Andrew Stewart]

Hi,
you still haven't answered gerryh's question. It's a very relevant one to help you get a solution.
If the @ key is giving a different character to '@', then, as he says, you have somehow changed the keyboard language. If that's the case we can help you get back to English keyboard. That's the easy scenario.
But, if you are getting nothing when you select the @, it indicates that the keyboard has gone faulty, either the shift key or the @ key. The @ key also has ' (ie. none-shifting the key). Does that work? Also try the other shift key (other side of keyboard) when pressing the @ key.

Cheers

[gerryh]

Hi Andrew
Glad you thouht my question was relevant.
I usually find that once someone actually defines the exact and full symptoms of their problem then it is difficult to give a solution.
"Doesn't work" is not usually sufficient.
Cheers
Gerry

[Enrique]

Spot on Gerry, have to tease the info out, sometimes it takes a week to get to the real problem....

[markwilding]

Hi guys,
Ive checked the all the points mentioned and still no luck.There seem to be two keys not working apostrophes and the @ on one key and the plus and equals on the other.
BTW, I have an English laptop

[knowal]

Mark,
This thread:
Suggests it might be your keyboard language settings.
Make sure it is set in control panel to English United Kingdom, not Australia or something weird?

[markwilding]

Ive just checked with the on screen keyboard and it works fine.
I suppose my keyboard might be on its way out

[flan_taster]

I wonder if you can borrow another keyboard and test ? Or if all else fails just plug in a new key board? A little silly isn't it ?

[El Cid]

I suppose my keyboard might be on its way out

I think that has always been a certainty since the start.

Press a key and get no response at all means it's bust.

If it was a software problem you would get some sort of response.

Sid

[janda_grant2]

You have tried cleaning it I suppose? A good blast with one of those compressed air in a can thingys can move all sorts of debris lurking under a key. I expect you have done this, but it does sometimes work.

[El Cid]

It could be the keyboard connector (but unlikely unless it has been dropped).

I recently had to replace the disk in my laptop and after reassembly not all the keys worked. The keyboard connector was not seated properly.

Sid

[markwilding]

I started losing more and more keys and it started acting erratically so I took it to a local computer place.
All fixed now at a cost of 35 euros including new keyboard.