Reinstall Operating System to repair Keyboard Problem?

[Guest]

Dell Inspiron 8600, Windows XP Professional. ONE key ( h ) on the laptop
keyboard
is eratic. Most times the upper case h will not show up on the screen.
Before doing that it might show multiples like hhh. Sometimes I can hit the
upper case several times and do get the H <<<(like I just did).

I ran diagnostic tests for the keyboard and everything checked out OK. The
driver is OK also. Rebooting has not helped clean up the problem.

I have been told that the next step is to reinstall the operating system. Is
this the only way to correct the problem, now that the simple repairs did not
work?

Would appreciate others' thoughts on this? Thanks.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Dell Inspiron 8600, Windows XP Professional. ONE key ( h ) on
the laptop keyboard
is eratic. Most times the upper case h will not show up on the
screen. Before doing that it might show multiples like hhh.
Sometimes I can hit the upper case several times and do get the H
<<<(like I just did).

I ran diagnostic tests for the keyboard and everything checked out
OK. The driver is OK also. Rebooting has not helped clean up the
problem.

I have been told that the next step is to reinstall the operating
system. Is this the only way to correct the problem, now that the
simple repairs did not work?

Would appreciate others' thoughts on this? Thanks.

Wow.
I'd try an external USB keyboard first.

If that works - I'd either get the keyboard replaced under warranty (you got
complete care for 4 years, right?) or go ahead and pay to get it replaced.

 

[Bill James]

Turn off the laptop, disconnect any peripherals. With the cover open turn it over and shake the laptop gently to dislodge any crud. You might also examine that area of the keyboard under good light and you may see something blocking the key. Almost certainly reinstalling XP is going to do absolutely nothing for this problem.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Dell Inspiron 8600, Windows XP Professional. ONE key ( h ) on
the laptop keyboard
is eratic. Most times the upper case h will not show up on the
screen. Before doing that it might show multiples like hhh.
Sometimes I can hit the upper case several times and do get the H
<<<(like I just did).

I ran diagnostic tests for the keyboard and everything checked out
OK. The driver is OK also. Rebooting has not helped clean up the
problem.

I have been told that the next step is to reinstall the operating
system. Is this the only way to correct the problem, now that the
simple repairs did not work?

Would appreciate others' thoughts on this? Thanks.

Download/Create a free Live Linux CD and boot your laptop from that CD.
If you still have the keyboard problem, then you know for a fact that
Windows has absolutely nothing to do with it. Either way, removing the
CD and rebooting gives you your Windows system back untouched.

"Knoppix" (Free, Live Linux CD)
<http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html>

HTH,
John

 

[Guest]

Hello
Back Again! I thought laptop was working OK, but now on a month-long trip,
the H usually will not show up on the first try. So, I again tried all
suggestions except downloading teh Linuex OS to disc. THat did not work
because I could not download it. Always get te message tat the laptop could
not connect with server or FTP. Maybe tere is a firewall interfering, but I
ave not figured out ow to find it and disable te firewall.

I am going to Kinkos or Best Buy to see if I can do downloading and maybe
some of my work. I will avey. I fall asleep waing for te "

My four year complete warrenty runs out in Sep and so does tis expensive PC.
Any de'ds
s

 

[John Wunderlich]

My four year complete warrenty runs out in Sep and so does tis
expensive PC. Any de'ds
s

More than likely, it's a faulty keyboard. Put in a claim under your
warranty.

HTH,
John