Laptop keyboard not working

[Endless-Wilso]

The integrated keyboard on my laptop stopped working none of the keys work so im not shure what to do . its an old dell btw

 

[cjmpe]

1. Have you dug up a USB or PS2 keyboard (depending on laptop age) somewhere and plugged it in to see if that works?
2. Check the device manager to see if the keyboard or keyboard driver has failed...if it has you may see either a question mark or an exclamation point over the keyboard.
3. Dells ship with a bootable diagnostics CD, but you can also download the diagnostics from their website. Run a comprehensive test suite to see if it spots any problems. Since you probably can't set the boot order to CD first (with a non functional keyboard you can't get into the BIOS), so you may need to yank the hard drive to force a CD boot.
4. Actually, this raises a point, just after the power on test (POST) you should see an option to enter machine setup by pressing either F2 or DEL. does this functionality work? If it does then it points to a software issue, if not then it is hardware.
5. Open up the laptop...Dell has detailed instructions on their website, searchable by model, and unplug / replug the keyboard just to see if it is a bad connection. While you are at it, you should probably carefully blow the dust out anyway.
6. Since it is a Dell it is probably running Windows - do a reinstall.

 

[bergauk]

How old is it? They sell keyboard replacements on eBay quite often, if you enter the model name it should come up with results on it. They're usually fairly easy to take out and replace too.

 

[Endless-Wilso]

Im not the best at screwing with software so ye . but the driver say's its working its a Microsoft natural PS/2 according to the driver . 1st off how does the CD boot work and a power on test. i do have a usb keyboard but its uncomfortable and cumbersome. EDIT its a Inspiron 2650 its real P.O.S gonna replace is sometime next year.

 

[Grayfox]

What kind of dell?

 

[Endless-Wilso]

Inspiron 2650

 

[cjmpe]

Im not the best at screwing with software so ye . but the driver say's its working its a Microsoft natural PS/2 according to the driver . 1st off how does the CD boot work and a power on test. i do have a usb keyboard but its uncomfortable and cumbersome. EDIT its a Inspiron 2650 its real P.O.S gonna replace is sometime next year.

First off, I take it from your response that you have tried an external keyboard and it works. I understand your feelings about the external keyboard, my original post was simply troubleshooting guidance to eliminate possible failures. It means that you can be pretty sure that a Windows reinstall is not necessary because the problem is more than likely hardware (however unfortunate that may be).

Next: the power on test is the first thing that happens when you turn the power on - the system does a self diagnostic to make sure that the important things like memory are connected. After the self test, also referred to as a POST (for Power On Self Test) there is a brief pause before the operating system loads up and during this brief period, the screen stays black except for a message telling you to press F2 or F8 or DEL (depending on the system) to enter BIOS setup. Anyway, some PC software CD's (typically windows distribution disks, and the Dell system diagnostics CD) contain a minimal operating system on them that supplies a set of instructions to do something, such as install an OS or run a set of diagnostics on the machine. In the computers BIOS there is always a selection to determine which order the system is to look for bootable media. For security reasons it is always best to set your system to look for a hard drive first, then look for other stuff such as CD/DVD drives or USB devices later (this will make it slightly more difficult to infect the system with malicious stuff). In this case, you are going to want to either make sure your BIOS is set to look for the CD drive first, or you are going to have to remove the hard drive, so the system fails to find it.

Once you have done this, the Diagnostics CD will start up and give you a menu of choices for various tests. I would suggest you select the comprehensive system tests and then go get at coffee, and another one, and another one, and maybe one more (sub beer if you prefer). Eventually (several hours later) the tests will have run and you will get a report that may or may not have information on the failure.

Unfortunately it does seem like a keyboard hardware failure, so the diagnostics may not provide any useful information. So, try the disassembly route so you can unplug and replug the keyboard just in case it is a dirty contact - if that does not work then you will probably need to get a new keyboard. Someone suggested e-bay, but another possible source of parts is the used equipment sales store at your local university if that is convenient to your location.

 

[alexza]

How old is it? They sell keyboard replacements on eBay quite often, if you enter the model name it should come up with results on it. They're usually fairly easy to take out and replace too.

Yeah, bergauk's idea is the most common one, my keyboard which was used for two years once didn't work, and then I replaced it, the new one worked well.

 

[nick09]

Here is a keyboard replacement straight from Dell. Read that you can call Dell up if you have problems removing your keyboard.

 

[bergauk]

Here is a keyboard replacement straight from Dell. Read that you can call Dell up if you have problems removing your keyboard.

I'd have thought they'd charge an arm and a leg for that. I'll keep that in mind for future problems with Dells at my work.

 

[Robin]

I would recommend taking the integrated keyboard off the machine and re-seating it. If you can find a service manual for your laptop online it will tell you how to do it. Sometimes the ribbon cable which connects it to the mobo comes loose. If that doesn't work then its probably busted but its very odd that all keys would fail, usually its a few that don't work.

Robin.