toshiba notebook /keyboard malfuntioing

[PatrynXX]

My brother can't even access this page because his Toshiba laptop's keyboard is working only partially. Some of his keys work and others close windows for him. He'll reinstall Windows 98 again Wednesday cause he's got a paper to do. I'm trying to help out and I found this site. Any suggestions?

[Murf]

Hi Welcome to CTH

Are you sure he did not spill something on the keyboard, liquid getting under the keys will do this..

If he did a good hair dryer may dry it.

Tosh keyboards are pretty easy to remove, normally there's a plastic strip just above the kbd that pops out and a under this a central crosshead screw. Then very carefully release the zero insertion force clips that hold it into the motherboard sockets. Once seperated from the laptop the only thing you can do is shake it vigorously upside-down, swear at it, and put it back again gently reapplying the clips.

Don't think it is a software (windows) problem.

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[PatrynXX]

:no: Well, I don't believe he did. Let's just say, I know he didn't. (Dad has....um.... spilled beer on moms keyboard. And denied it of course. lol)

I'm thinking the alt key has gone haywire. Because other keys are doing things other than what they are supposed to be doing... but they do work.

I've had a problem similar, but usually fooling between the tab key and the alt key after a bit usually solves (or rebooting) but my brothers problem remains the same after rebooting. He's hedging toward installing the Windows XP copy he has. (I just told him that his Micro Solutions Backpack has an XP driver now. So maybe it's for the best. Unless it's a hardware problem.)

[Murf]

Also have him run a VIRUS SCAN.

It's rare that it would be a software problem, usually liquid, food, dog hair, junk under the keys (there is a film/rubber under the keys that make contact with contacts for each key), this stuff can prevent this contact.

Not by chance under warranty...

May want to GENTLY shake it sideways or runa vacumn cleaner hose over the keyboard.