Keyboard acting funny

[hnyuksel]

My dad's laptop with Windows XP home edition suddenly started to have
multiple keyboard issues. He thinks it happened shortly after some water
spilled on the laptop. Everything else is working normally, though.
Issues:
1- Backspace key: When we hit either the "Backspace" or the “Page up†key,
it does the same thing: Page up + Backspace (goes up one page, then deletes
one character on the left)
2- Letter "i": When we type "i" while writing, it behaves normally. When we
insert the cursor in the middle of a word to insert an "i", it inserts the
"i" at the end of the word, not where the cursor was. All other letters
behave normally.
3- When we hit the “Enter†key once, it does Enter + insert “,†(Starts new
paragraph and inserts a comma character.)
What can I do to fix this?

Thanks!

 

[Tom Willett]

It doesn't take much water to seriously damage a keyboard. This is a
physical hardware issue, not Windows XP.

If you can hook up an external keyboard, test it.

: My dad's laptop with Windows XP home edition suddenly started to have
: multiple keyboard issues. He thinks it happened shortly after some water
: spilled on the laptop. Everything else is working normally, though.
: Issues:
: 1- Backspace key: When we hit either the "Backspace" or the "Page up" key,
: it does the same thing: Page up + Backspace (goes up one page, then
deletes
: one character on the left)
: 2- Letter "i": When we type "i" while writing, it behaves normally. When
we
: insert the cursor in the middle of a word to insert an "i", it inserts the
: "i" at the end of the word, not where the cursor was. All other letters
: behave normally.
: 3- When we hit the "Enter" key once, it does Enter + insert "," (Starts
new
: paragraph and inserts a comma character.)
: What can I do to fix this?
:
: Thanks!
:

 

[bertieboy]

It doesn't take much water to seriously damage a keyboard. This is a
physical hardware issue, not Windows XP.

If you can hook up an external keyboard, test it.

Keyboards are dirt cheap now anyway. Just get a new one!

 

[Bob Lucas]

Keyboards are dirt cheap now anyway. Just get a new one!

If the integral keyboard has been damaged, then testing with an
external keyboard should confirm the nature of the problem. It
might also provide a temporary solution.

However, the OP is using a laptop - so an external keyboard would
detract from portability. Consequently, he should enquire
whether it would be cost-effective (or feasible) to replace the
original keyboard with an identical one from the same
manufacturer.

 

[Jose]

My dad's laptop with Windows XP home edition suddenly started to have
multiple keyboard issues. He thinks it happened shortly after some water
spilled on the laptop. Everything else is working normally, though.
Issues:
1- Backspace key: When we hit either the "Backspace" or the “Page up”key,
it does the same thing: Page up + Backspace (goes up one page, then deletes
one character on the left)
2- Letter "i": When we type "i" while writing, it behaves normally. When we
insert the cursor in the middle of a word to insert an "i", it inserts the
"i" at the end of the word, not where the cursor was. All other letters
behave normally.
3- When we hit the “Enter” key once, it does Enter + insert “,”  (Starts new
paragraph and inserts a comma character.)
What can I do to fix this?

Thanks!

If yours has some liquid spilled on it, it might never ever work
properly again. If it is just water, it might dry out some day.

Unless you want to see if it will fix itself, live with it, or use an
external keyboard - replace the laptop keyboard.

Laptop keyboards are easy to replace with simple tools (usually one
screwdriver). It could turn into a fun and educational family project.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Keyboards are dirt cheap now anyway. Just get a new one!

Although what you suggest would be a good thing to do with a desktop,
the problem here is with a *laptop*. A replacement keyboard for a
laptop is far from "dirt cheap."

 

[bertieboy]

Although what you suggest would be a good thing to do with a desktop,
the problem here is with a *laptop*. A replacement keyboard for a
laptop is far from "dirt cheap."

Yes, of course. I missed the fact that it was a laptop! My apologies,
pay more attention in future.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, of course. I missed the fact that it was a laptop! My apologies,
pay more attention in future.

Not a big problem. I thought you probably missed that, but just wanted
to clarify it.

 

[bertieboy]

Not a big problem. I thought you probably missed that, but just wanted
to clarify it.

Quite right.
Talking of keyboards, mine tends to have a mind of it's own these days,
it even _tells_ me what to type. ;(