Spacebar, Letters N and B and Arrow Keys Sometimes Not Working?


newmann

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I use an external wired keyboard with my laptop which is connected to 2 external monitors. I recently went to lock my computer. Then I typed in my windows pin/password wrong multiple times. I had no idea how this happened. Now because of that, I had to restart my laptop. I could click on restart laptop and then restarted it.





After this, I am on my bitlocker pin page. It showed incorrect bitlocker pin and I was confused why. Then I decided to type my bitlocker pin on the laptop keyboard and it worked. Then when it went to the windows log in screen where you have to enter your windows pin/password, I notice it didn't work with the keyboard. Then when typing it on laptop keyboard it worked. I then noticed several keys did not work. It is the spacebar, n and b keys and also some of the arrow keys. The up arrow key worked for some reason. I then pressed it many times and it didn't work. Then a bit later, it worked. Are these buttons stuck or something? Now my wired keyboard... is very old and dirty. There is literally dirt and trash inside the keys in the keyboard. The thing is I find this keyboard very comfortable so that is why I still use it. It is from an old dell xps 8100 desktop from over a decade ago and this keyboard is comfortable.





Now at the moment, the keys do work. But if it doesn't work again, is this 100% the external keyboard if my laptop keys work without any issue? Is it possible because I entered my windows password wrong many times, this occurred? However, I think that isn't the case since when trying to enter my windows pin/password when computer is locked, those keys already didn't work? The pin/password does contain either the b or n letter etc. This is certainly not a driver issue then again and it has to be the external keyboard? Is there a way to clean it or remove all the dirt and trash from it? I did wipe it with alcohol and tissue but you can't get into the dirty inside. It is literally like trash and dirty inside the keyboard.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
So as of now, those buttons sometimes doesn't work. I have lot of dirt, inside the keyboard but it has been like that for a long time though. So is this a stuck key or something else?


Dell keyboard from old dell xps 8100 desktop from back then.


Dell SK 8165 is the keyboard.


There is everything you can imagine inside the keys.



The thing is i don't want to risk damaging the keyboard as i cannot buy another english keyboard here. Also want keyboard like this.



As of now, the letters b, n, diagonal, arrow keys do not work.


So me posting a picture of my keyboard you can give me the best advice here? Thing is if i was in us now, i can buy another one but can't here so sort of don't want to risk damaging the other keys.



Any point in this below? Or is this the specific keys?



Run DISM and SFC if have not done so.



Check in Device Manager as to what Driver is being used for it. If it is a windows Driver from 2006 then that is possible issue as if taking Drivers from Windows Update it has replaced

it.

A common cure for keyboard and mice issues is to delete the driver in Device Manager and to reboot. It will be recreated at start up
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
You can't damage a keyboard.
There are plenty of youtube videos on how to clean any type of keyboards. For generic ones, all you need is a screw driver.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
Take a good, clear photo of the keyboard as, when you open it up, all the keys will probably fall out in a chaotic pile.

It's fairly evident that you have a mechanical problem with the wired keyboard. Just bite the bullet and open it up for a clean.

You can use an artist's paint brush and an air-duster aerosol. Be gentle. Good luck.

Alternatively, there are 41 on eBay, just make sure the language layout is correct.

Search eBay.com for 385375546393

As you are outside the US you can probably find one on the local eBay, I was looking at your timezone!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 23H2 OS build 22631.3296
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    13Mbps
    Browser
    Brave, Edge or Firefox
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
Yes, it is a USB keyboard, identical to what you have. Where are you?

There are 28 new keyboards with English layout currently on eBay, brand new.

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 23H2 OS build 22631.3296
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    13Mbps
    Browser
    Brave, Edge or Firefox
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
Before you try taking it apart, try canned air - that has often done the trick on it's own for me - it's very powerful. Also just the end of a paperclip around the edges of some keys in case there's a bit of grit that can just be easily scraped out.

Best way to check if it's mechanical or software is try using a different keyboard - if you can borrow one. It might even be a dodgy usb connection or something. Also have you tried disabling sticky keys and toggle keys in settings?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 14-ce3514sa
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 evo plus 2TB
    Cooling
    Could be better
    Internet Speed
    200mbps Starlink
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    Originally installed with a 500gb H10 Optane ssd

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