Solved Keyboard stops working frequently

kelper · Oct 25, 2025

I think the problem is triggered by switching accounts. I have a user account and an administrator account. The latter has fewer programs installed so I made the user into an admin and then deleted the original admin. (not the built in admin) and will see what happens.

dacrone · Oct 25, 2025

kelper said:
I am doing a complete reinstall as I have not been able to find the cause. As I have said, I don't think it's hardware related or a loose or defective cable because the key board ALWAYS works in BIOS settings.

kelper said:
If the keyboard stops working, I can't immediately get into safe mode. But I will try it when I can.

If it always works in bios, then it has to always work at post… thus you can get to safe mode. Not to mention you can just use your mouse and restart to advanced startup to do so. It may not be the suggestions you wanted, but random outage of ribbon cables of laptop keyboards is a tale as old as time… a new laptop keyboard is ~$15 now days. Plus, there is no need for a complete reinstall if you’re positive it’s software related, just boot into Linux via usb and test for a few hours.

kelper · Oct 25, 2025

dacrone said:
If it always works in bios, then it has to always work at post… thus you can get to safe mode. Not to mention you can just use your mouse and restart to advanced startup to do so. It may not be the suggestions you wanted, but random outage of ribbon cables of laptop keyboards is a tale as old as time… a new laptop keyboard is ~$15 now days. Plus, there is no need for a complete reinstall if you’re positive it’s software related, just boot into Linux via usb and test for a few hours.

Next time the keyboard stops working. I will boot into safe mode and revert.

kelper · Oct 25, 2025

The keyboard failed. I booted into safe mode and the keyboard worked. I booted normally and the keyboard is working again!

dacrone · Oct 25, 2025

kelper said:
The keyboard failed. I booted into safe mode and the keyboard worked. I booted normally and the keyboard is working again!

next time it happens, see if it can be fixed with disabling the keyboard and enabling it again. that can narrow down if a reinstall is necessary or not. if you cannot disable it in device manager, use this portable to do so:

https://www.sordum.org/7921/bluelife-keyfreeze-v1-4-block-keyboard-and-mouse/

kelper · Oct 25, 2025

dacrone said:
next time it happens, see if it can be fixed with disabling the keyboard and enabling it again. that can narrow down if a reinstall is necessary or not. if you cannot disable it in device manager, use this portable to do so:

https://www.sordum.org/7921/bluelife-keyfreeze-v1-4-block-keyboard-and-mouse/

If you can unlock the keyboard with Ctrl +Alt + F it obviously has not really disabled the keyboard, so it won't help me. But I appreciate the suggestion.

itsme1 · Oct 26, 2025

Next step: clean boot, I think. See the tutorial in this forum. When the keyboard doesn't work, you can use the virtual keyboard to perform the clean boot. I think it should work.

kelper · Oct 26, 2025

Even when I did a clean install of Windows I still had this issue. When the keyboard fails it still works in BIOS and Safe Mode.

itsme1 · Oct 26, 2025

It could be the laptop drivers. Have you been to the drivers page to see if there are any new or updated ones? Also, in Advanced Updates - Optional Updates.

kelper · Oct 26, 2025

It is fully up-to-date.

itsme1 · Oct 26, 2025

In Device Manager Keyboards, I have two entries:
PS/2 Standard Keyboard
driver June 21, 2006
10.0.26100.1882
And the same for the PIH keyboard device (second entry).

edit: You should look at the event viewer to see if there is anything at the time of the keyboard shutdown.

kelper · Oct 28, 2025

I made a clean install of 25H2 and created three users. I can log in to each and the keyboard works flawlessly.

kelper · Oct 29, 2025

Well, after two days of a flawless keyboard, the issue has returned. There there no Windows Updates today, so I wonder what has changed?

kelper · Oct 30, 2025

I found the cause but not the solution. The last program I installed was Webroot Secure Anywhere anti-malware. Uninstalling this fixes the problem. Reinstalling brings it back. I have contacted Webroot for advice.

kelper · Oct 30, 2025

Webroot seem to be aware of an issue. They had me run a utility that collects logs and other info from my system. They must be using Process Explorer as it triggered a warning that procexp152.sys was vulnerable and was stopped from loading. MS has known this for ages.
It does not exist on my system, so it must have run just once and been stopped by "Program Compatibility Assistant".

XxXxX · Oct 30, 2025

a lot of detective work here but i am glad you have found the cause.
best of luck Steve ..

kelper · Oct 30, 2025

I am running the beta, and Webroot keep extending its expiry date. So far, it has worked for three years at zero cost. They must like my feedback.

kelper · Oct 30, 2025

Webroot had me uninstall their program and install a new version, which fixed the problem. So, 10/10 for support.

jmsans7 · Nov 4, 2025

kelper said:
Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.6725 fully up to date.

Ten times today, the keyboard has suddenly stopped working. A few function keys work - wifi/airlpane mode and brightness +/- but no keys below the top line.

I have run sfc/ scannow which found and fixed some corrupt files.

I ran DISM RestoreHealth, which completed successfully.

In Device Manager, uninstalling the keyboard driver (a 2006 standard PS2 driver and rebooting fixes the problem, but only temporarily.

I have run Webroot and Malwarebytes, which found nothing.

If I boot into the BIOS, all the keys work.

DM does not show any exclamation marks.

Any suggestions?

After weeks of troubleshooting this I have discovered it is webroot software causing the issue. Uninstall webroot and your keyboard will work like normal.

kelper · Nov 4, 2025

Yes. Webroot are aware and sent me a link to another version which does not affect the keyboard. Webroot plans to remote in to my laptop and do some tests. I'll post when they have done that. Did you raise a support ticket? I find their technical support to be excellent over many years. I'll ask if I can share the link. Oddly. The version number is lower than the one that stopped my keyboard working. But I am on a beta.

If you want to keep using awWebroot. Reinstall it and sleep or hibernate you computer. If the keyboard stops, just uninstall it in Device Manager using the mouse and reboot. The keyboard will work untill the next time you need to log in. Another fix is to boot into safe mode and then boot normally.

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