Windows 7: some keys on my laptop don't work, how to fix

So I have this hp laptop windows 7 and some
keys have just stopped working while some
serve as short cuts and open files. The first
keys left of the key board don't work entirely
like 1,2,tab and Esc key while E opens my
computer (where u see local disk and other
drives) , D minimizes any program I'm running
and returns me to the desktop screen and some
other keys do other things, this short cut key
thing turns off eventually but comes back again
while the one that don't work don't ever work.
Is this a hard ware or a software problem and
how can I fix it. (I think its a software problem).