Weird Keyboard Problem for the last 6 months.

EClaptonXRoads · Jan 23, 2024

Over the last 6 months certain keys fall to work primarily the letter O, the Letter L and the key that the punctuation period is on. At first I could get them to work as long
as I skipped a space than the key would work but her lately that does not work. So I have been using the Onscreen Keyboard feature in Windows. That is a big help. It beats having to spend money on a keyboard at this time. However it becomes a pain in the ass when you first boot up the computer.

But after using the Onscreen Keyboard for a little while the keys that were inoperable start working again. I don't think it is a driver problem do you all think so?
These intermittent problems can be a devil to fix.

garlin · Jan 23, 2024

Check if something's stuck inside your keyboard, by carefully prying off those keycaps. O-L-(period) keys are lined up in a straight diagonal.

cereberus · Jan 23, 2024

EClaptonXRoads said:
Over the last 6 months certain keys fall to work primarily the letter O, the Letter L and the key that the punctuation period is on. At first I could get them to work as long
as I skipped a space than the key would work but her lately that does not work. So I have been using the Onscreen Keyboard feature in Windows. That is a big help. It beats having to spend money on a keyboard at this time. However it becomes a pain in the ass when you first boot up the computer.

But after using the Onscreen Keyboard for a little while the keys that were inoperable start working again. I don't think it is a driver problem do you all think so?
These intermittent problems can be a devil to fix.

Is it a laptop with integral keyboard or desktop with external usb keyboard?

glasskuter · Jan 23, 2024

IMO what you are describing is a keyboard failure. If it's a laptop attach an external keyboard to see if it happens. If a desktop try a different keyboard.
Borrow a keyboard to test with if necessary.
Wired keyboards are cheap about $15

Helmut · Jan 23, 2024

Most likely heat damage to the keyboard contacts. Feel across your keyboard and see what is the warmest area. Even a few degrees can cause the problem in time.

Try an external USB keyboard.
You can flip off the keytops and check the mechanism is free of debris and works properly.

Replacing the keyboard is a bit of a job on most Laptops these days.

kelper · Jan 24, 2024

Could be debris such as crumbs. If this happens to me I crush the crumbs with a downward rocking pressure on the errant key.

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

Onscreen keyboard is a big help but totally tedious to use regularly! Just had a keyboard fail in my laptop - and the keyboard isn't easily removable or replaceable (although that is an option if you can find a used spare on ebay for example). Advice on here to run a hardware diagnostics test, came up with "the keyboard needs replacing). With older laptop keyboards it was easy enough to pull a key off and you'd find crumbs etc underneath it and that did the trick. Not so easy with inset chiclet type keyboards (assuming it's a laptop?).