Keyboard not responding - any ideas 4

[manhunter2826]

Hi all. My friend has been given a Win XP laptop (which he will eventually have to pay for if it works) but when you press the keys, absolutely nothing happens. I am pretty certain that this would indeed be a hardware issue but does anyone know what to look for if I open the laptop up (unscrew). And if it went to a repair shop, what would be the cost for repair (approx).

Is there anything to check first in the BIOS?
One other caveat: he does not have the admin account so we logged in as Guest (with limited privileges) but I am certain that could never be the issue (we logged in without using the keyboard as there was no password, so we just clicked Guest).

Any possible ideas? Otherwise, the cost of repair might not actually be worthwhile. Thank you all, as always for your help.

 

[xit]

without knowing more specifics, I would guess the keyboard.
Can you migrate to Device Manager & see if there is a problem there? Try using a USB keyboard to see if it works.

Unfortunately, laptop parts as a rule, are much higher than those for a desktop, so unless he can buy this laptop cheap, he may reconsider this purchase. Additionally, if this laptop has XP it may be dated, ask the owner how old the computer is.

There are many bargains right now on laptops, I have seen Windows7 laptops with 3 gig of memory & dual core processors going for less than $500.


xit

 

[manhunter2826]

^thank you x, excellent idea about device manager and usb keyboard. will try that tomorrow. thanks again. any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

 

[Freestone]

In my very limited experience with laptop surgery, the keyboards I've dealt with were fairly easy to remove and were attached by a thin ribbon cable to the rest of the unit. Seems like they may be inexpensive, but I don't know for sure.

Perhaps if you post the make and model of the laptop in question others may be able to advise you better as far as disassembly and/or repair costs.

 

[goombawaho]

Used laptop alert!!!!

Be very careful. Sure keyboards are easy to replace, but they cost mucho plenty dinero.

If the laptop is around three years old, I can't see spending $100 on it. And if the battery is poor, a keyboard and battery would be something like $125 easy.

Give us exact brand/model number if you really want to proceed.

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks Free and goomb also. Goomb, can I just ask: are you saying there is a relation between the keyboard and battery? The problem is that nothing happens when they keys are pressed so could it just be a loose connection as Free pointed out. Could it just be a case of reconnecting the ribbon?? Or is it far more complicated? Thanks. I will try find out the model/make of laptop.

 

[BadBigBen]

Man, why did you mention "Is there anything to check first in the BIOS?", when the KBRD is not working, how do you then get into the BIOS SETUP at all?

if the KBRD works in the BIOS SETUP, or a DOS environment, even with a Linux LiveCD (Ubuntu or Knoppix), then there is something askew with the OS instead of a Hardware problem...

if the KBRD does not work AT ALL, then check the ribbon cable connection, though unlikely, but not unheard of that they creep out of place due to vibrations etc. ...

if the KBRD does need replacement, then check eBay for a damaged laptop that you can skim for low bucks, before going out and purchasing a brand new one... IMHO...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[manhunter2826]

^^Ben, sorry, that was an oversight on my part re the BIOS; I have not entered it and would not be able to obviously. Thanks for your help, as always.

 

[manhunter2826]

Apologies also, just noticed this should have gone in the General Hardware sub-forum. Simple mistake lol.

 

[goombawaho]

No NO. NO relationship between battery and keyboard.

I'm just saying that two common things that crap out on a laptop are the keyboard and the battery (battery for sure - it only lasts for so long).

So, if the machine is getting old and thus not worth all that much, I can't see putting money into it to replace too many items - of which the keyboard and battery may be needed SOON.

 

[BadBigBen]

Ah, OK, no problem we all have a slip or two in time... ;-)

about eBay: what I meant was that you can find the exact same model, where you could skim the KBRD from, e.g. one with a damaged TFT or where the general hardware failed, these can be, most of the time, had cheaper then a new KBRD...

and as mentioned, if the lappy is too old, e.g. 4 years+, then just have owner get newer model, as the time you spend troubleshooting and replacing would usually cost more then a newer laptop...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[manhunter2826]

Thanks goombawaho and Ben again. Yes, I think you are both correct; something I did suggest to my colleague - for the costs involved, just buy a brand new laptop (given the price/value ratio).

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[MarcLodge]

manhunter,
what happened when you plugged an external keyboard in?
Also, what did you see in the device manager, anything unusual?

Marc

 

[manhunter2826]

^^Marc, yes, my colleague has not got back to me with the laptop. I will 'close' the thread and let you all know as and when. Good to do so, esp. when you folks have offered your time and advice.

 

[goombawaho]

Darn, I thought I posted something about the inability to close these threads. It's almost like a little bird came down and took it away. I must be getting senile.

Was it one of you or "the man" that took my post away?

 

[manhunter2826]

^^And I posted in kind and bird took mine away also. Paranoid?? Moi??

 

[goombawaho]

I'm being sarcastic. If you're not completely straight and sober with your posts, either an admin or a member will flag your post. I'm just trying to figure out which it is when it happens. NO one is confessing.

It's just a "limited humor tolerated" zone.

 

[manhunter2826]

^The weekends might be more forgiving?

 

[BadBigBen]

We love sarcasm...


and no I am not being ironic... ;-)

There are two reasons why or how posts disappear:

1. they are deemed inappropriate, in their content.

2. the server hick-uped and the posts where lost due to backups being applied...

which one it was, I would have no idea...

I've always propagated that if Posts get removed, due to red flagging, that the poster should be notified as to why it was removed, e.g. using inappropriate language poster should get warned, so that he/she may refrain from using such in the future...

PS: There are actually NO moderators on this site, just STAFF, any one can red flag a post and these get then noticed and looked after, they then deem if they get deleted or not...


Manhunter - the only way a weekend can be forgiving, is with a few steins...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[manhunter2826]

^Thanks Ben. Steins? Inebriated? On TT? Shame on you/everyone