Hi,

I've had my laptop for 9 months now and lately, some of my keys stop working on occasion. Before, I would just restart and it would be okay, but as of late, that hasn't been working. Sometimes, certain keys like the backspace and the H key work, stop working, then work again, all while typing the same email.

I called HP support and they had me re-install the driver. After doing so, the keys started working...but soonafter, I was facing the same issues. The guy helping said it was probably just a matter of re-installing the driver, but he also said it could be a hardware issue.

I was hoping the keys just needed cleaning or something, but now that he mentioned hardware issues, I'm very concerned, especially since the re-install he had me do didn't work. I'm a college student who does a lot of work on my laptop, so having something serious to deal with would be very difficult.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

PS: Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I wasn't sure where it belonged.

If it doesn't turn out to a problem with the key itself, then it sounds like it may well be a Keyboard Controller fault which would require the motherboard to be replaced (a job for HP).

In either case it is a hardware issue so you want to inform KP that they are to come collect, and repair it.
It's still under warranty.

Hi,
Have you tried a "normal" PS2 keyboard in one of the PS2 ports the machine has, or even a USB Keyboard. If you only have one PS2 port you can use a PS2 Y connector to connect mouse & keyboard.

Might help especially if you use the keyboard a lot.

hth

Ceri

Thanks for the responses.

Andrew: Acc. to HP, my warranty is up in a few weeks (which I know is wrong because I purchased it in late May). Even though I can prove it should be good until then, my worry is that they will claim it's one issue or another instead of trying to replace the motherboard like you said. I did, however, purchase an extended warranty plan with Circuit City. Even if the HP warranty runs out, will GE-Zurich (Circuit City) be able to replace it?

Thanks

I called HP again today and spent almost 1 1/2 hours with them. They did an MS Config, as well as a Diagnostic to see if anything was wrong (nothing). I also updated my BIOS and that's about it. I'll let you know what happens next.

Thanks again.

go the hp website (www/hp.com) and fint the support forum for your laptop. If it's a pavilion, there are are a lot of posts about this particular issue. One possibility is the keyboard cable is loose. Somewhere in that forum you can probably find a link to the manual for your, or a similar, model. This will have instructions for removing the cover etc. You might be able to find your model's manual at www.martini-man.com/pubs/manuals. Good luck

HP Can't diagnose through MSConfig whether there is a hardware issue or not.
I'm conserned that they are dancing rings round the route of the proplem.

Be VERY careful about opening your laptop up!
Even if HP advise you to do that, doesn't mean it that it won't void your extended warrenty with Circuit City (and I suspect it would!).

In answer to your other question...yes, Circuit City should repair the unit under the extended warrenty.
But at the moment it is definately a job for HP.

You want to tell them you are not happy, and that you EXPECT them to resolve it. Whether it be a lose keyboard cable to a faulty motherboard, it's not your job to start opening it up until all warrenties have ran you.

hp won't advise you to open your laptop up, and if it's under warranty, why take a chance. But do check out the posts over on the hp website, just today someone posted pictures on how to take off the keyboard cover and fix (at least temporarily) the problem. It seems that the cable connector is made of metals that expand/contract at different rates, so when the unit heats up, it gets loose. One way to identify if this is actually the cause of the problem is to put pressure on the lower left corner of the case (closest to you) and see if that affects the problem.

good luck:)

Think about this Trawz...
Why keep a dog and bark yourself?
If you have a maintainence contract on the laptop, exercise it. You paid for it.

Don't hesitate to e-mail if you require further assistance. I may even be able to get some answers from some of my contacts. Possible even my HP representative.

Thanks again Sue and Andrew.

I went ahead and sent my laptop into HP yesterday after I started having other problems in addition to the keyboard issues (neither of my batteries were charging when plugged into the AC adapter, even when I plugged both in).

Sue: I found that post in HP about the loose cable very helpful, but I'll try that if the problem takes place again after my warranty is up.

Just wondering--I know that desktops have a seal around the back so they know when you open it up, but I didn't see any such thing on my laptop. How can they tell?

Thanks,
Rinna

they can't, unless you scratch the case around the screws or break something:)

If you can find the service manual for your computer (there will be links in that forum on the hp website), you will find out how they decide if there has been "customer abuse"

Nice one buddy.
Congratulations. :o)

Next time consider either a Compaq Evo (N1015v is nice) or Toshibe Satellite Pro (2100 is sweet!). They're all I buy for coligues at work now.

Catch you later.