What can I do if my keyboard is not functioning



Document ID: 4009208

 

Posted Date: 2016-06-28

 

Last Updated: 2016-06-28

 

Distribution: View Public Website

 

Information
Some keys (or a single key) on the keyboard make the wrong character appear when pressed, don't work at all, or sometimes make multiple characters appear. How can this be fixed?

 

Answer

Reinstall the Driver

If an external keyboard was also being used, unplug it. In Windows 10 or Windows 8, hold the Windows key and press the 'x' key to open the administrative menu, then select "Device Manager." In Windows 7 or Windows Vista, open the Start Menu, search for "Device Manager" and press ENTER.

In the Device Manager, expand "Keyboards." Right-click the entry for the keyboard nested under "Keyboards." Then select "Uninstall." Finally, restart the computer. The computer will reinstall the drivers for the keyboard.

Use System Restore

If that doesn't fix the problem, use System Restore to restore to the most recent restore point before this issue arose. For information on how to perform a System Restore, see the following video.

Clean the Keyboard

If that doesn't fix it either, try cleaning the keyboard. Turn off the computer.

If it's a laptop or tablet, unplug all cables and connections. Leaving the computer physically open, turn it upside-down and very gently shake the computer to dislodge any foreign objects that might be under the keys.

If it's a desktop, unplug the keyboard, turn it upside-down, and very gently shake the keyboard to dislodge any foreign objects that might be under the keys.

Please be very gentle when doing this. If anything is under the keys, sticking out, and can be easily removed (such as hair), you may want to remove it. Note that if you attempt to remove keys, you may damage the keyboard.

Perform a System Reset

If the previous fixes didn't help, it seems likely that there's a hardware failure of some sort. However, you may still want to perform a full recovery. For more information on performing a recovery, see the following articles.

Seek Servicing

If you're unable to get the keyboard to work properly you may want to seek servicing by contacting customer support by selecting seeing the Contact Us section sof our support web site

 

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