keyboard trouble

[willhenderson]

so i was away this weekend and come home to a ransacked computer,few people over this and that long story short my keyboard dont work anymore....it spits out different commands than what i enter, some keys work/some do other things i dont even tell it to lol

dont seem as anything was dropped in it but after a nice cleanup im thinking that was the case, so anyway (ON THIS OTHER NOW) but before i trash this thing if i open it up do u guys think theres anything i can fix or trouble shoot or do u think its not wrth it,or could it be something else

[mats.hogberg]

Considering the price of a new kbd - Not worth the trouble (if it's not a very exclusive kbd).

/Mats

[Faustus]

Wow this sorta happened to me recently and I fixed it. For some reason XP thought there were like 4 keyboards and 3 HID Devices that were also keyboards. I removed them all and it tried to detect them all again. After the 2nd I told it no and everything works but I have all these devices with "!" on them now. Odd huh?

If you think its a real keyboard issue. Remember keys tend to go out in rows and columns. If its like that just go replace it ASAP.

[ROF]

Having all those "!" devices isn't a good idea. What if anything could possibly be misdetecting? My suggestion for starters would be to unplug all external devices. any scanners, PnP printers, handhelds, keyboards, mice, etc. Restart windows and plug only your keyboard and mouse in. If windows still continues to detect these other "HID" or keyboards you may have a problem with internal high speed mobo connections(1394, USB). If none of those extra "!" devices appear start plugging each device in one at a time and hopefully the culprit will reveal itself.

[Faustus]

ROF its because the driver for this keyboard (its not a standard driver) its total crap. (Hint: it came from Dell) It was fine before the situation changed. I.E. I switched to a USB KVM. Now it drives it crazy.

I'm fine in the meantime, it works perfectly now actually and I'm due for my Windows "Flushing" any day now. Reinstall always fixes this crap. I promise you its not the ports.

My only point was to suggest the OP check his device manager for weirdness before he runs out and gets a new keyboard.

[SingSing]

its because the driver for this keyboard (its not a standard driver) its total crap. (Hint: it came from Dell).

Actually, That's one of the good stuffs from Dell, their keyboards are very good. I replaced many compaq, hp, generic which are difficult to type on, with Dell keyboards. Many Dell keyboards has two USB ports, that ou can plug in a mouse, a flash drive, a USB wirelss lan...

[Faustus]

They keyboard IS cool. Its driver and what you have to do to make the special keys work is NOT cool at all unless you have a Dell with them preinstalling that software.

[ROF]

ROF its because the driver for this keyboard (its not a standard driver) its total crap. (Hint: it came from Dell)

I'm sorry for your loss of productivity.

The only thing positive that hopefully comes from owning a POS Dell product is the Detrimental Experience Learning Lesson you get from having to use it.

[Faustus]

Well the computer is not a dell. Just the keyboard because I used one like it on another machine so I went and got one.

Sadly the one I got is a older model and though it LOOKS the same its got a few issues such as crappy driver and for some reason the left shift is picky so sometimes I miss a cap when I shouldn't.

Overall its a decent enough board until I find something better that I like.

[SingSing]

Well the computer is not a dell. Just the keyboard because I used one like it on another machine so I went and got one. Sadly the one I got is a older model and though it LOOKS the same its got a few issues such as crappy driver and for some reason the left shift is picky so sometimes I miss a cap when I shouldn't. Overall its a decent enough board until I find something better that I like.

The best keyboard used to be from IBM, due to their type writer background. Their PC, AT, PS2 keyboards are all really, really good, and they are the ones established the standard drivers. IBM loosed it, after going USB and thinkmate.

Dell's quietkey and those followed are very good. I have not use the newer Dell keyboards with extra keys and USB ports, on a non-Dell PC yet. Can you tell us what/why their drivers can't make them work properly ?

[Faustus]

A number of reasons why they suck. 1) its hard to figure out exact what driver to use then 2) you have to change some services and stuff to get the advanced keys to work and its is (was at least) at the time hard to find the info on what exactly to do. 3) My exact problem, it works on a USB kvm but it tries to install the thing over and over again.

[Legendsk]

Sounds like an opportunity for something to have been dumped in the keyboard. Liquids with sugar or other additives leave residue that may be conductive enough to cause these kinds of problems. If you are patient and enjoy manual dexterity puzzles, it is very easy to take the keyboard apart, wash the goop off (with liquid glass cleaner or alcohol) and make sure it is thoroughly dry. Be sure to wash both the surface contacts and the little pads that press on them. Reassenble and leave for a couple more days to be sure it is dried out.

[ROF]

I've had liquid or syrup of any type cause a keyboard be recognized and attempted to be installed multiple times by any OS. I've seen it cause sticky keys, non-functioning keys, complete keyboard failure, or other similiar issue but never have a seen anything cause this issue but perhaps drivers.

[willhenderson]

I've had liquid or syrup of any type cause a keyboard be recognized and attempted to be installed multiple times by any OS. I've seen it cause sticky keys, non-functioning keys, complete keyboard failure, or other similiar issue but never have a seen anything cause this issue but perhaps drivers.

way to sidetrack the thread. lol

very nice post here ROF, youve encouraged me to open it up - and all it was was a sheet sticking to one other with gunk CLEANED IT WITH ALCOHOL AND AM NOW BACK IN ACTION! thank u so much

[willhenderson]

darn it 2 keys dont work - is tere a way i can assin tem somewere else

its te ones its not pickin up

tanks in advance-

[willhenderson]

bump

[Doramius]

darn it 2 keys dont work - is tere a way i can assin tem somewere else

its te ones its not pickin up

tanks in advance-

Looks like your H & G keys aren't working. Sounds like you probably need a new KB.

[jimmalenko]

For the price of them these days, I'd just buy a new KB.