Laptop keyboard problems.

[leroyleroux]

Ok, so I'm using my laptop tonight, and all of the sudden, no keystrokes register. Nothing. Kind of like the old scroll lock. But it doesn't have a scroll lock button. Using Windows 7 on a pretty new laptop. What the heck?

 

[IggyAZ]

Ok, so I'm using my laptop tonight, and all of the sudden, no keystrokes register. Nothing. Kind of like the old scroll lock. But it doesn't have a scroll lock button. Using Windows 7 on a pretty new laptop. What the heck?

I doubt if Win7 has anything to do with it.
Tell us about the laptop. Manuf. Model.
Is it still under warentee?
Have you been doing anything in the BIOS lately?
So you are saying none of the keys work on the keyboard.
If so I'd think it would be a ribbon cable problem where the keyboard attaches to the motherboard.

 

[leroyleroux]

It's a Dell Inspiron, nine months or so old. I'm pretty sure it is off warranty though. And yeah, none of the keys do anything. I guess I'd need to take it in, if it is the problem you are thinking? Oh, and no I never go into the BIOS.

Edit - I'm wondering if a system restore might help.

 

[IggyAZ]

It's a Dell Inspiron, nine months or so old. I'm pretty sure it is off warranty though. And yeah, none of the keys do anything. I guess I'd need to take it in, if it is the problem you are thinking? Oh, and no I never go into the BIOS.

Edit - I'm wondering if a system restore might help.

I would try the system restore if you can make it work without a keybaord.
I still feel it is the ribbon cable from the keyboard to the motherboard came loose.
Good luck


If you told me the exact model you have I may be able to find the service manual for it.
See link below for another Dell laptop keyboard.
LINK


You can also do a Google seach like this..
"dell inspiron keyboard removal"
and you will find many videos people have made to replace a damaged keyboard.

 

[Phone Man]

I would assume you have tried a power down/power up. If not go for it.

Jim

 

[Bill]

Do you move it around a lot? Maybe the keyboard ribbon cable came loose. Dell keyboards are usually pretty easy to remove and take apart. The information on how to do that would also be in the service manual. If that doesn't work, you can try doing system restore (doubt this would fix it) or try a restore point. If that doesn't work, you know the keyboard is dead. You can probably buy a replacement on Ebay for about $15 - $20.

Bill

 

[leroyleroux]

Thanks guys. I have a friend that deals with computers, so I'll give him a call or take it into the shop. And yeah, it does get moved around a lot so I'm hoping that the cable being loose is the problem. Weird though that it wasn't moving around at all when it happened.
Thanks for your help.

 

[pcs3657]

Function Key

You will have a Function Key just beside the window key. Denoted by "Fn"

One of your number keys will represent the keyboard.

You will need to press the function key plus the specific number key to get the keyboard working.

On my laptop it is Fn+7 it either locks the keyboard or opens it