Laptop Keyboard issue

Soldato
Joined
26 Feb 2004
Posts
4,809
Location
Hampshire, England.
Hey guys,

An elderly neighbour dropped of their Dell Vostro laptop earlier for me to have a look at: the "W", "E", "S", "D", "X", "C" keys are doubling up when pressed... eg. if you press W, you get WE onscreen. If you press E, you would get WE! On screen keyboard works fine, the issue is the same on a Live OS boot and a known working USB keyboard works fine when plugged in.

So before I hit "buy" on the replacement keyboard, there's nothing I missed is there? There's no way I can recall that you could configure a keyboard at system level to behave this way, is there? Also, they said they "sprayed" the laptop/keyboard with a cleaning spray a couple of days back and had to wait for it dry - that gives me an idea of how much, fluid I'm guessing, was used :rolleyes:

And since then, problems.

Thoughts?
 
Sounds like the spray maybe causing the problem if its happening on a LiveOS also. You can always take the keyboard off, give it a wipe down yourself and just make sure nothing is under those keys in particular that maybe causing them to stick together or something.
 
You could strip it down and clean it with isopropanol...but for all it costs (<£20?) I would be just replacing the keyboard...avoids any future problems.
 
Thanks both! Yeah, have ordered a replacement. It's a 17" laptop and there doesn't appear to be any retaining screws on the reverse so it looks like a straight, top-swap... a single ribbon cable connecting.
 
Retaining screws are hidden behind the removable plastic panel above the keyboard .

I once (many years ago) spent the whole day stripping down the wifes faulty laptop keyboard...removed every key and stripped it right down...cleaned everything...still didn't work properly ....swore that day I would never do again lol :)

Fixed a few for customers where its the whole top part of the laptop that had to be replaced as the keyboard was not a separate part.....didn't cost £20 to replace....
 
Keyboard should be here tomorrow. I think the old one just pops out by running a pry tool round the sides and top on this one? You've got me thinking now...
 
Keyboard should be here tomorrow. I think the old one just pops out by running a pry tool round the sides and top on this one? You've got me thinking now...

guides online how to do it...pop the top panel off then 4 screws from what I saw for a 17" vostro but may vary by model...best to find out beforehand to be sure as forcing something that doesn't want to be forced doesn't end well :)
 
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