My computer keyboard starting doing its own thing
I have a Satellite M35X. I use this laptop for work and personal use. It was purchased January 2005, so it’s 18 months old. Recently, I purchased Scan Disk to back up my documents file on a chip that you can carry around your neck, — I don’t know the technical name for what they call this. The day I plugged this in to a USB port, 20 minutes later when I was working in Microsoft Word, my computer keyboard starting doing its own thing. If I hit the shift key, it would take off typing “n” across the page or the backslash symbol. It would reboot but I could not get past the password screen. When I started to enter my password – the touch pad still works well in moving the cursor to an area. It would permit me to enter 3 characters, then it would return wiping the display out and back to reentering again. I purchased a new keyboard and replaced the old. The same thing occurred. I purchased an external keyboard, and unplugged the laptop’s keyboard. For the first 4 hours everything went well, then it did the same thing. When I went into Word it would start typing capital “b” across line upon line. Hitting Escape did not stop it. Holding down the backspace key just caused it to delete the last typed letter, but as soon as it was released, it would continue across the page. Sometimes it would type three characters on a line then return and start with a backslash symbol and type a couple more alphabets on that line, then return and start with a backslash again and a few more characters, return again, and do the same over and over. The alphabet typed on the lines were not always the same – it liked a capital “A” and “n” quite often. When you then go into Microsoft Explorer it will not let you type in the search bar or the address bar but inserts backslashes, continual, never ending Since the laptop keyboard has been replaced, and an external purchased and plugged in, it is not the keyboard, but must be something in the computer. HELP! Any suggestions????
According to the description you’ve provided, I would assume that the keyboard is bad, but you already replaced it. That is a very strange problem. I assume that it might be a software problem.
You can try to reinstall the keyboard drive. Open the device manager and find the keyboard line. Click on the plus sign to expand it. Right click on the “Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard” line and click on uninstall the driver. After you reboot the laptop, Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. Try it first – it might help.
Also you can try this. Revert the operating system back in time when the keyboard was working properly. You’ll have to use the system restore utility. Go to Start – All Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Restore. Choose date and time when the keyboard worked fine and run the restore. This process will revert only system files and you shouldn’t loose any personal data.
If it still doesn’t help, you can reload the operating system from a recovery DVD. It will take the laptop software back to original factory defaults. When you re-image the drive all data on your hard drive would be erased. BACKUP all important files before you run the recovery DVD. This process should eliminate any software related problems.
One more thing. Try to re-flash or update the laptop BIOS. May be the BIOS is corrupted and it causing the keyboard problem.
If it still doesn’t help, then I would assume that the keyboard controller on the system board can be bad and the system board has to be replaced.
June 16th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I have Hp dv5 so my keyboard and mousepad stopped working i did nothing i just turn it on and it stopped i already tried to remove the battery for some sec. and then i turn it on again with the battery and nope nothing any help? i cant log on D:
March 6th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
I have a dell laptop. Running Vista Home Prem. I have had my keyboard replaced 3 times and each time vit does the same exact thing. I type a sentance and it starts inserting the words in the middle of the completed words. I have to go back and remove the wrong letters and then back to where they should be and retype them. This happens during E-Mails, Word pad, on sites Everywhere I type. There seems To be no solution to this problem. Can you Help Solve this problem. Dell has tried and I have tried 3 new keyboards. I have to watch my screen constantly and constantly correct this or I would look like a blooming idiot. Dell would not admit it is the PC causing it and 3 replacement Keyboards have done the exact same thing. That says it is not the Keyboard. I even tried formatting and reloading and the same problem still exists.HELP!!!
February 28th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Hi. Did you try and hold the shift key and at the same time press num lock on the keyboard? This will normally set the keys back to alpha.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Hi, I have an acer aspire 4736z. I used notepad, wordpad, ms word,openoffice, etc. I got this laptop, may 2008. It was working well until about September last year. Then the keyboard
started getting weird. When I type, the letters jump back to the beginning of a sentence or upwards to another notepad window that is open at the same time. or when I’m typing, other apps like the acer movie arcade opens or the start menu opens. I was thinking this could bea trojan or backdoor. I don’t know what to do with this. can anybody help? This problem sometimes
occurs out of the blue then stops fro a while but when I’m typing, the letters jumble around on the screen. Appreciate any help por suggestions. thanks.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Hi
I have a LG E500. The problem that I am facing is the keyboard keys such as Space bar , Down Arrow , Numlock , 7 and delete dont work. Sometimes they work out of the blue perfectly without a problem but say 75% of the time they dont work can somone please help me out. thanks.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I’ve got a Toshiba Satellite a105-s2194. After editing the registry to repair my dvd burner my keyboard and touchpad have stopped working. I tried using a usb mouse but that will not work either. However the keyboard does work when in the BIOS and OS selection screens. Once windows is started in safe mode everything stops working.
I also have taken out my battery in the hopes that it would help after seeing it offered as a solution for a couple other laptops. No luck though.
One other weird thing, I have noticed when hitting caps lock the green light is barely visible. They are dimmed. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Mouse
October 21st, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hello, everyone can someone here help me? I’m facing the same problem you guys are i can’t seem to get my keyboard to work i’ve tried almost everything. i know its not the keyboard where the ploblem is because when i installed windows xp some keys worked fine and some were just sluggish,so i uninstalled and and installed windows 2000 and i got almost all the keys to work except G,H,ENTER,and some numbers so I upgraded xp on top of 2000 and now my keybord is acting weird to where some keys instead of typing is opening some windows and all kinds of shortcuts and some keys don’t even work at all. any advice would be appreciated thanks.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi, just wanted to let you know you have been my guide thru all my laptop troubles and I tried to read through all the threads like i always do but didn’t see anyone with the same problem this time.
I have a Toshiba laptop Sattelite L305D. The keyboard seemed to be locked since NONE OF THE KEYS ARE RESPONDING but when I press CAPS lock on the onscreen keyboard my light on the laptop keyboard would turn on. Also the numlock light below the F11 key is turned on all the time which leads me to believe my keyboard works…so my solution:
–i was removing my laptop keyboard (with the laptop still on)but before I could remove the ribbon from the mother board I noticed the numlock light below the F11 key turned off. So I decided to press a few keys and VOILA! keyboard works perfectly fine. so my problem:
– I tried replacing the keyboard back but everytime it’s back in place multiples of zzzzzzzzzzzzzz starts geting typed along with random forward and backslashes OR the numlock light comes on again,its one or the other…and keyboard becomes unresponsive.
Is it possibly a grounding problem? I noticed these aluminum pieces on the corners but I don’t know where exactly the ground is for the laptop or if it even has one.
FEW THINGS I TRIED ALREADY:
-system restored to a point where keyboard was working fine.
-added foil to the aluminum pieces (that only made the problem worse…made the keyboard unresponsive before i could even place it back all the way)
THANKS in advanve for your help!!
September 26th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I have sort of the same problem with toshiba L305. All of a sudden one day, the keyboard malfunctioned. When the laptop starts up, the bios gives beep error and i couldnt get past the password screen coz keyboard stopped working. sometimes, it fills up the field with some characters just like in the above problem. if i do manage to log in, such as using extl keyboard, the windows media player starts up on its own..and if u take notepad, the keyboard does it own typing, sometimes repeating a character, of typing a combination of keys..
the strange part is, it resolved on its own after a couple of days, keyboard started working perfect! i took it to service center that day, and my laptop is still in warranty..well they didnt touch it because, they said now we cant find any prob, its perfect..we cant do anything..
2days back i got the same prob..and i shot a video of it, so that i may show it to them and atleast then they would agree to do something about it.. well today, i am surprised to find it working perfectly again, in fact i am browsing from it.. so what could be the prob..? pls tell me what to do.. i can send the video also,pls suggest a solution..
July 31st, 2009 at 11:28 am
my daughters @ key and # key and ] do not work everything else does please help.. could something be locking the keys
May 21st, 2009 at 8:23 pm
the letter u is messed up, it feels like its popped out of place. is it safe to pop it off?
March 30th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Andrew,
Press and hold down the Fn key and at the same time press once on the NumLock key.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hello can anybody help me with my acer aspire notebook problem
I accidently split somthing on my keyboard and whilst drying it with a towel i must have pressed a number of keys and turned on a keyboard function which on certain keys i.e. J=1 K=2 L=3 now instead of giving me the selected letter now gives a number or symbol of which on the keys are in blue in the corner, further examples are P=* U=4 and I=5 help would be much appriciated
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Can’t use my keyboard on my laptop. Acer Aspire 5100
i have to use external mouse and on screen keyboard
can anyone help me?
Ed
December 16th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I had a big problem with my mom’s Compaq laptop keyboard. And I found the answer on your site. Just wanted to say thanks, thanks, thanks. It may have saved my sanity.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
steve Tucker,
Most likely bad keyboard.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Hi, I have a problem with the keyboard on my toshiba
Satelite pro SP2100
the following keys do not work:
3,e,d,c
note: these keys are diagonally in a row,
I’m not sure if that means it is is problem with the keyboard itself , or the controller.
any idea ?
I’ve managed to remove and refit the keyboard and he problem persists, so it isnt just a loose connection.
Many thanks in Advance
Steve
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hi,
My Acer laptop behaves like the left ctrl key is pressed.
I am not ale to enter the password in xp logon screen. (but it works if I hold down the F8 key while window logo is flashed). After logging is successfully if I try to use the left Ctrl key it doesn’t seem to respond for the press.(Same time right Ctrl works), If I continue to play with left Ctrl key, it acts like pressed permenantly. I need to restart then F8 the same procedure… Is my keyboard faulty? why it lets me enter password if I press F8 key while logging on(am not selecting any safe mode- even in safe mode I have the same Ctrl key problem)
November 1st, 2008 at 10:34 am
My Gateway Laptop started typing numbers where letters should be on the Laptop. I thought is was a virus.
I found that a recent windows automatic update, somewhere mid-october08, had corrupted the human interface drivers. I had to disable Norton’s program auto-protect and reload a prior set-point, pass the word. Be very careful with this current windows automatic update.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
hi.. just go a question..
i have a dell laptop.. when i start typing A.. the screen displays 123 and weired characters.. does anyone know how to fit it?
October 8th, 2008 at 4:39 am
I have provlem with my IBM T41 series laptop. When i type P it types * and when i type a it types $. Looks like it got in to a special character mode. Not sure how do i turn this one off. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
October 1st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
To Jenny and all who has keyboard problems,a repeated letters, a continuos beep at start up(post).
First, try to disconect the keyboard at startup the pc, if you have a normal PC unplug it, if is a laptop, is more dificult but no much,lift the small pannel on the uppside and unscrew, the KB, then disconnect it from the MB,(there are many sites on the web that described how), then startup the pc, if there no beeps, the problem is with the keyboard.
I lost 2 month finding the solution, thinking is a virus,malware or anything like this.
Today I fixed it,simply changing the keyboard.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hi,
I have a Hp DV5000. Lately the keyboard has been locking up. The computer doesn’t freeze; the clock works, and if something is being played, it continues. But the touch pad or the keyboard will not work period. I have to restart the computer, then it’s back to normal. I checked in my device manager, but it says that all is well.