Ok, this has been going on a for a while on/off now and I'm basically looking for an answer on why it happens not so much a solution but if someone has one that doesn't require downloading windows updates, let me know. Basically, on my laptop, every now and then, for no apparent reason, the keyboard on it will act funny and certain keys that I use frequently will shut off and cease to function only to work again after a few hours. Those keys are: F2, F4, Print Screen, Delete, 6, -, Home. Thus making CTRL ALT DEL or ALT F4 impossible to use. I'm a shortcut using guy so that's why it's a problem. The hyphen is used for email addresses and such so it becomes a problem and such. Why does this happen for no apparent reason? It's been happening since Jan 2005 on and off then it stopped about Feb 05 then started again last summer then stopped and now it's back. I checked for viruses/spyware and no problem. Also, if I plug in an external Keyboard, ALL keys work which obviously means it's a problem with the LT keyboard. I realize it's probably broken/breaking down but why the sudden behavior fits with it? Also, my bro looked up on the net regarding this issue and he claims that it has something to do with disabling HKSERV.exe which is basically the hotkey program. I think that this is nonsense because Hotkeys are things that are used in conjunction with the "Fn" key and such that I don't really use and that they would not be connected to normal buttons. But sure enough, after re-enabling hotkeys, the misbehaving keys would work again. Then after a while, this stopped working. Is it just the timing or is there a connection here? Thanks, Faris,

My guess is that it is just a dodgy keyboard. Intermittent faults that come out of the blue are often the way with hardware. I used to do TV repairs and often customers would say "it was working yesterday" as if that meant it was very odd. Not really, because when anything breaks down it was always working immediately before that. Bad connections (often influenced by vibration or temperature) can be making the circuit fine one minute and not the next. DerekW

Ok, that was my suspicion. So is there anything I can do about it aside from getting a spare? Also, if I startup with a DOS floppy, the keyboard is the same. It started working again but I don't expect it to last. Also, the ~ key doesn't work which makes working in DOS impossible without another keyboard which I do from time to time. Thanks, Faris,

I assume the Hotkey program runs from Windows. As the keyboard plays up from a DOS floppy I guess it therefore proves that the Hotkey situation was just co-incidence. There are ways to clean "PC" keyboards (which means taking them apart) if you Google around. Having said that, as a number of keys "come and go" dirt is rather unlikely. Finding/fixing poor connections in a keyboard membrane can be real hard and "laptop" keyboards are probably difficult to access. Sorry, nice to chat but not much I can really suggest. DerekW

Oh well. Thanks anyway. I'll show this post to my family. I pulled the keycaps off and pulled out a lot of dust but it didn't really help. Yes, the hotkeys are functional in windows only. I'd just forget about it and plug in an external keyboard but I work in a confined space and the keyboard would take up too much space on my little desk, also, there's only one PS/2 connector in the back. I'm thinking about getting USB to PS/2 converters to get extra ones becaue I use a regular mouse. Thanks anyway. Faris,

It may be that one of the connectors that plug the keyboard into the laptop itself is dodgy or perhaps a bit of dirt inside. Try taking the keyboard completely out, unplugging from the laptop and blow in the connector. It would be a good time to check for a loose connection too, sometimes the flimsy plastic piece which contains the wires may get broken.