keyboard issue

[lenny109]

Hi,
I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters each
time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key doesn't
work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the drive and
reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to defaults but
the keyboard is still exactly the same.

Any ideas what it might be?

Cheers
Lenny

 

[smlunatick]

On Feb 2, 86 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters each
> time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key doesn't
> work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the drive and
> reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to defaults but
> the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>
> Any ideas what it might be?
>
> Cheers
> Lenny

The description seems to indicate that the laptop might have a big
problem with the keyboard controller. If you can connect a USB
keyboard to it, try a USB keyboard.

 

[LVTravel]

"smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bf6a761b-14c1-49c8-81e0-fbc330c0cd6f@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> On Feb 2, 86 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
>> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
>> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
>> each
>> time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
>> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
>> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
>> doesn't
>> work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the drive
>> and
>> reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to defaults
>> but
>> the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>>
>> Any ideas what it might be?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Lenny
>
> The description seems to indicate that the laptop might have a big
> problem with the keyboard controller. If you can connect a USB
> keyboard to it, try a USB keyboard.

What happens when you go into safe mode and start using those keys at a
command prompt. Do the keys still act strange? Keyboard issues as
smlunatick says.

And if this suggestion fails it is definitely time to send it off for
repairs. If under warranty to Toshiba and if not under warranty then looks
like a trip to a laptop repair company but NOT a big box store. Get an
estimate as it may be more cost effective to replace rather than repair not
checking how old this laptop is.

 

[lenny109]

laptop is about 5 years old and the same problem occurs in safe mode


"LVTravel" <none@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:u9cZfMFpKHA.3776@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
>
> "smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bf6a761b-14c1-49c8-81e0-fbc330c0cd6f@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>> On Feb 2, 86 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
>>> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
>>> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
>>> each
>>> time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
>>> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
>>> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
>>> doesn't
>>> work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the drive
>>> and
>>> reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to defaults
>>> but
>>> the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>>>
>>> Any ideas what it might be?
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>> Lenny
>>
>> The description seems to indicate that the laptop might have a big
>> problem with the keyboard controller. If you can connect a USB
>> keyboard to it, try a USB keyboard.
>
> What happens when you go into safe mode and start using those keys at a
> command prompt. Do the keys still act strange? Keyboard issues as
> smlunatick says.
>
> And if this suggestion fails it is definitely time to send it off for
> repairs. If under warranty to Toshiba and if not under warranty then
> looks like a trip to a laptop repair company but NOT a big box store. Get
> an estimate as it may be more cost effective to replace rather than repair
> not checking how old this laptop is.
>
>
>

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> said this in news item
news:YaOdna_qXd1YEfXWnZ2dnUVZ7rKdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi,
> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
> each time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
> doesn't work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the
> drive and reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to
> defaults but the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>
> Any ideas what it might be?
>
> Cheers
> Lenny

Re-installing Windows is a little drastic. Much easier to download a Windows
7 Repair CD .iso file from
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/. Burn it to a
CD, then boot your machine with it and select Safe Mode Command Prompt,
Repair, Command Prompt. You can now test the keyboard independently of your
WinXP installation. Keep the CD - it is quite a powerful tool when repairing
a PC.

 

[LVTravel]

"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
news:r7mdnTlp3OGkP_XWnZ2dnUVZ8lWdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> laptop is about 5 years old and the same problem occurs in safe mode
>
>
> "LVTravel" <none@nothere.com> wrote in message
> news:u9cZfMFpKHA.3776@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>>
>> "smlunatick" <yveslec@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:bf6a761b-14c1-49c8-81e0-fbc330c0cd6f@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
>>> On Feb 2, 86 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
>>>> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
>>>> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
>>>> each
>>>> time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
>>>> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete
>>>> doesn't
>>>> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
>>>> doesn't
>>>> work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the drive
>>>> and
>>>> reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to defaults
>>>> but
>>>> the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas what it might be?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>> Lenny
>>>
>>> The description seems to indicate that the laptop might have a big
>>> problem with the keyboard controller. If you can connect a USB
>>> keyboard to it, try a USB keyboard.
>>
>> What happens when you go into safe mode and start using those keys at a
>> command prompt. Do the keys still act strange? Keyboard issues as
>> smlunatick says.
>>
>> And if this suggestion fails it is definitely time to send it off for
>> repairs. If under warranty to Toshiba and if not under warranty then
>> looks like a trip to a laptop repair company but NOT a big box store.
>> Get an estimate as it may be more cost effective to replace rather than
>> repair not checking how old this laptop is.
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Well, it would not be under warranty after that time. I would now recommend
downloading and creating the recovery disk that Pegasus shows or if you have
any other disk that can boot into a DOS environment (an old bootable floppy
disk or even a true XP install CD will do it) to test the keyboard. If it
still malfunctions in a DOS type environment it is then time to either bite
the bullet and have it repaired or the laptop replaced. It is sometimes
hard to get rid of old friends but sometimes it is necessary.

 

[Unknown]

Will that CD really work on an XP system?
"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:%23$0g9XFpKHA.3948@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
>
> "lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> said this in news item
> news:YaOdna_qXd1YEfXWnZ2dnUVZ7rKdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>> Hi,
>> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
>> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
>> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
>> each time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't
>> type anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete
>> doesn't work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock
>> key doesn't work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted
>> the drive and reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it
>> to defaults but the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>>
>> Any ideas what it might be?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Lenny
>
> Re-installing Windows is a little drastic. Much easier to download a
> Windows 7 Repair CD .iso file from
> http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/. Burn it to a
> CD, then boot your machine with it and select Safe Mode Command Prompt,
> Repair, Command Prompt. You can now test the keyboard independently of
> your WinXP installation. Keep the CD - it is quite a powerful tool when
> repairing a PC.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> said this in news item
news:#$MiysOpKHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Will that CD really work on an XP system?

It does not care what OS is installed but certain functions will not work on
WinXP (e.g. System Restore, Image Restore).

 

[lenny109]

I have a BartPE disk so I will give it a go this evening. Will post back
shortly. Thanks for advice.


"Pegasus [MVP]" <news@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6769D9DA-0F15-4328-88FC-ED1C0F4EEFC3@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Unknown" <unknown@unknown.kom> said this in news item
> news:#$MiysOpKHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Will that CD really work on an XP system?
>
> It does not care what OS is installed but certain functions will not work
> on WinXP (e.g. System Restore, Image Restore).

 

[lenny109]

It looks like it must be the keyboard controller. No difference in safe
mode, or using a bartpe startup disk but a usb keyboard works just fine. How
much does it cost to have something like this repaired or is it a
replacement MB needed in which case a new laptop is needed or just use the
usb keyboard of course.


"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
news:YaOdna_qXd1YEfXWnZ2dnUVZ7rKdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi,
> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
> each time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't type
> anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
> work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
> doesn't work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the
> drive and reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to
> defaults but the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>
> Any ideas what it might be?
>
> Cheers
> Lenny
>

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
news:bJqdneHancNxe_TWnZ2dnUVZ8lmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> It looks like it must be the keyboard controller. No difference in safe
> mode, or using a bartpe startup disk but a usb keyboard works just fine.
> How much does it cost to have something like this repaired or is it a
> replacement MB needed in which case a new laptop is needed or just use the
> usb keyboard of course.

The keyboard controller is often part of the keyboard assembly, not the
motherboard.

You may well be able to find a laptop service place that can replace the
keyboard and solve this problem, at reasonable cost. The manufacturer may
also be able to supply original parts.

HTH
-pk

>
>
> "lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
> news:YaOdna_qXd1YEfXWnZ2dnUVZ7rKdnZ2d@pipex.net...
>> Hi,
>> I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
>> suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
>> again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
>> each time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't
>> type anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete
>> doesn't work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock
>> key doesn't work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted
>> the drive and reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it
>> to defaults but the keyboard is still exactly the same.
>>
>> Any ideas what it might be?
>>
>> Cheers
>> Lenny
>>
>
>

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> said this in news item
news:Yo6dnSMfZ_AFSvTWnZ2dnUVZ8iWdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> I have a BartPE disk so I will give it a go this evening. Will post back
> shortly. Thanks for advice.

Great! It's what I would have used right from the start in order to
eliminate (or otherwise) Windows as a culprit.

 

[3c273]

Not sure which model number you have but here is a guide to removing the
keyboard. Looks like you'll need to be careful with the keyboard protector
strip and the clips.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2158645_remove-toshiba-equium-keyboard.html
Louis

"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
news:bJqdneHancNxe_TWnZ2dnUVZ8lmdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> It looks like it must be the keyboard controller. No difference in safe
> mode, or using a bartpe startup disk but a usb keyboard works just fine.
How
> much does it cost to have something like this repaired or is it a
> replacement MB needed in which case a new laptop is needed or just use the
> usb keyboard of course.
>
>
> "lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
> news:YaOdna_qXd1YEfXWnZ2dnUVZ7rKdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> > Hi,
> > I have a Toshiba Equium laptop with XP Home installed. The keyboard has
> > suddenly gone weird. When I press the Q key it types Qaz, if I press it
> > again it will be Aqz and then various other variations of those letters
> > each time. A also types different as does many other keys. Some don't
type
> > anything, the N seems to have turned into the insert key. Delete doesn't
> > work but backspace, R, T, U and others work fine. the caps lock key
> > doesn't work but V seems to turn caps on and off. I have reformatted the
> > drive and reinstalled XP. I have also gone into the Bios and reset it to
> > defaults but the keyboard is still exactly the same.
> >
> > Any ideas what it might be?
> >
> > Cheers
> > Lenny
> >
>
>