ALT key "sticks" - sporadically

[javelin]

I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?

Thanks

J

 

[smlunatick]

I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?

Thanks

J

Hardware problem and not an XP issue. You need to get the keyboard
"cleaned" or "repaired," if you can not return the Dell.

 

[Panic]

Use the external keyboard.

 

[javelin]

Hardware problem and not an XP issue. You need to get the keyboard
"cleaned" or "repaired," if you can not return the Dell.

I've experimented some more, and have noticed that the mroe common
problem is that ALT+F4 doesn't work, but F4 works by itself as
expected, and ALT works by itself as well. Put them together and you
get nothing. Nada. Zip. It is not "sticking" anymore, as I described
originally. Of course, that can come back in 5 minutes.... Still think
it's strictly hardware?

 

[Plato]

I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the

Many people sell their used PCs due to problems like that which cant be
fixed.

 

[javelin]

Many people sell their used PCs due to problems like that which cant be
fixed.

--http://www.bootdisk.com/

I think there's more to it than that, because although the ALT+F4
never works, ALT works as expected, as does F$, each by themselves.
Further more, when the system sleeps, and you then "wake it up", the
F4 key by itself works as ALT+F4, closing any active window, and the
ALT key doesn't work at all. It's like it's stuck down. Goofy, huh?