1 key dead

[matthias]

hi there,

i have an older notebook that has alt and AltGr keys dead. With an
external keyboard the keys are recognized. What could be the source
of error here? The notebook is pentium3 based.

matthias

 

[Rod Speed]

i have an older notebook that has alt and AltGr keys dead. With an external keyboard the keys are
recognized. What could be the source of error here?

A cracked trace in the physical keyboard printed circuit board.

 

[Gerard Bok]

i have an older notebook that has alt and AltGr keys dead. With an
external keyboard the keys are recognized. What could be the source
of error here? The notebook is pentium3 based.

Did this occur overnight on an otherwise running system or did
you observe this after reinstalling an operating system ?

In the latter case, my guess would be: wrong keyboard type
configured.

Lasy as I am, I would boot from a known-good CD, either Knoppix
or Bart PE. This pretty much reveils if any hardware is to blame


One other thing you might want to check:
Running Windows, I suppose, so there are settings for 'disabled
persons' which might impact Alt and AltGr behaviour.

 

[kony]

hi there,

i have an older notebook that has alt and AltGr keys dead. With an
external keyboard the keys are recognized. What could be the source
of error here? The notebook is pentium3 based.

matthias

The trace might be broken or have some dirt accumulation.

Take out the keyboard and see how far it can be
disassembled. If it can't at all, one way to clean it is in
the dishwasher, though preferribly with a small bit of
regular low-sudsing detergent, not the dishwashing machine
stuff with the chlorine bleach in it.

If all else fails you may need to buy a new keyboard.

 

[Matthias Pfeifer]

Thank you all for your answers. The error was due to a connector that
has lost contact (sorry for my bad english). when opening the keyboard i
could reinsert the connector and now its fine again.

matthias

 

[ajax2006]

Thank you all for your answers. The error was due to a connector that
has lost contact (sorry for my bad english). when opening the keyboard i
could reinsert the connector and now its fine again.

matthias

You lucked out. I replace keyboards about twice a year. Once a key
begins to stick I get pissed off after a few days of that crap, and I
always end up pounding on the thing with my fist. It never fails, I
always bust them in half. They are made so cheaply now, that they are
garbage right out of the factory. When I got my first computer in the
80s, the keyboard outlasted the computer. These days they are meant to
last a year at most. A few years ago I got so pissed at a keyboard I
took it outside and shot it full of holes with my rifle. Then I
poured gas on it and set it on fire. I took pictures while I
destroyed it. One of these days I'm going to make a website with
those pictures.

 

[Rod Speed]

You lucked out. I replace keyboards about twice a year. Once a key
begins to stick I get pissed off after a few days of that crap, and I
always end up pounding on the thing with my fist. It never fails, I
always bust them in half. They are made so cheaply now, that they are
garbage right out of the factory. When I got my first computer in the
80s, the keyboard outlasted the computer. These days they are meant to
last a year at most.

I gave up on cheap keyboards for that reason.

The only problem I have now with Logitechs and Microsoft keyboards
is that the letters wear off eventually. Microsoft tried to claim that
that wasnt covered by warranty and I was about to **** them over
legally but manage to get myself into a situation where that wasnt
practical when the warranty ran out. I checked with Logitech that
their warranty does cover that, and have had the letters wear off the
most used keys after years, just havent gotten around to exercising
the warranty on that yet. They've got very long warrantys, 5-7 years.

A few years ago I got so pissed at a keyboard I
took it outside and shot it full of holes with my rifle.
Then I poured gas on it and set it on fire. I took
pictures while I destroyed it. One of these days
I'm going to make a website with those pictures.

What do you do to the wife when she gets a bit uppity ?

 

[ajax2006]

I gave up on cheap keyboards for that reason.

The only problem I have now with Logitechs and Microsoft keyboards
is that the letters wear off eventually. Microsoft tried to claim that
that wasnt covered by warranty and I was about to **** them over
legally but manage to get myself into a situation where that wasnt
practical when the warranty ran out. I checked with Logitech that
their warranty does cover that, and have had the letters wear off the
most used keys after years, just havent gotten around to exercising
the warranty on that yet. They've got very long warrantys, 5-7 years.

I had one keyboard that the letters wore off in less than a week.
Almost all of them too. I do construction work and my hands are
rough. I literally have worn a hole in the spacebar on a few
keyboards that lasted long enough.

What do you do to the wife when she gets a bit uppity ?

The same thing..... Shoot her full of holes and set her on fire.
Works everytime !!!!!

 

[Rod Speed]

(e-mail address removed) wrote

I had one keyboard that the letters wore off in less than a week.
Almost all of them too.

I dont get anything like that result with the logitechs and microsofts,
although I have plenty who say that they dont get any loss of the
lettering with the logitechs and microsofts over the same time mine fade.

I do construction work and my hands are rough. I literally have worn
a hole in the spacebar on a few keyboards that lasted long enough.

I dont believe that rough fingertips can do that on a properly designed space bar.

The same thing..... Shoot her full of holes and set her on fire.
Works everytime !!!!!

One of them will bobbit you.