Did anyone ever get this resolved? I have a 17r4 (2017 model). The , f4, and delete keys don't work. I have plugged the batter, cycled it, tried reseating the KB ribbon, installed all drivers and bios updates but noting seems to fix this problem.
Exactly the same here: F4/ comma/ DELETE doesn't work (F1 as well) sometimes comes back didn't touch anything and no need harder keystroke. So I don't think it is a keyboard issue... (17 R4) Any solution please?
Unfortunately it looks like there's no way for anyone to "mark as solution" the solution I posted. Also doesn't look like my solution (that's in this thread) is showing up for new posters. So I'll repost and hope very much that this helps you.
I have an M17x R4 and was able to solve the issue but it involved
1) Shutting down
2) disconnecting power,
3) removing battery,
4) removing CMOS battery too, then
5) doing a power drain (hold down power for 30 seconds),
6) disconnect keyboard,
7) re-attach keyboard,
put everything back together.
If your laptop is still in support/warranty, I'd recommend letting Dell handle that for you. If not, if you're also not squeamish about taking apart a laptop, use the Dell Service Manual and/or online "total teardown" videos to carefully make note of how to do this. Be slow and meticulous because of little details--like how a half-dozen screws with the same label may actually be different sizes, so you need to be sure each screw goes back into its exact socket it came out of.
Hope this helps, but in the meantime the easiest workaround is just to use a USB keyboard. I did that for months before finally deciding to try and tackle the problem.
Oh, man! I'm really sorry to hear it. That was about as thorough as I could get with it, and to be honest after as much trouble as I went through I half expected it not to work.
I'm just sorry it's not working for you. I wish I had some other ideas. It'd be easy to write this off as 'the keyboards are taking a beating and these laptops weren't meant to last this long', except that it really does seem to be tied to a Windows update that borked my laptop keyboard and then refused to recognize the cheap USB keyboard I plugged in (it actually bricked the latter).
I hope you're able to get by with a USB keyboard plugged in. That worked for me when I was trying to fix this. At least the USB ports still work! Sheesh.
I'm having the same issue with my Alienware 17 R4 (i7-7700HQ / GTX 1070). The issue is the "n" and "-" keys. Sometimes the keys work, sometimes it's not. What I usually do is press the keys until it shows. It's getting annoying.
AlienUser89
1 Message
0
December 29th, 2019 14:00
Solved using this method https://www.reddit.com/r/Alienware/comments/8nksmw/alienware_15_r3_keyboard_issue_solved/?utm_source=amp&utm_medium=&utm_content=post_body
Jayleen6472
4 Posts
0
January 7th, 2020 12:00
I'm looking for a replacement keyboard for my AlienWare 15 r4 could you help?I've been looking everywhere
Proletariate
1 Message
0
January 24th, 2020 16:00
Did anyone ever get this resolved? I have a 17r4 (2017 model). The , f4, and delete keys don't work. I have plugged the batter, cycled it, tried reseating the KB ribbon, installed all drivers and bios updates but noting seems to fix this problem.
Seepheerd1
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
February 29th, 2020 03:00
Exactly the same here: F4/ comma/ DELETE doesn't work (F1 as well) sometimes comes back didn't touch anything and no need harder keystroke. So I don't think it is a keyboard issue...
(17 R4)
Any solution please?
MXOWinterMute
1 Rookie
•
67 Posts
1
February 29th, 2020 13:00
Unfortunately it looks like there's no way for anyone to "mark as solution" the solution I posted. Also doesn't look like my solution (that's in this thread) is showing up for new posters. So I'll repost and hope very much that this helps you.
I have an M17x R4 and was able to solve the issue but it involved
1) Shutting down
2) disconnecting power,
3) removing battery,
4) removing CMOS battery too, then
5) doing a power drain (hold down power for 30 seconds),
6) disconnect keyboard,
7) re-attach keyboard,
put everything back together.
If your laptop is still in support/warranty, I'd recommend letting Dell handle that for you. If not, if you're also not squeamish about taking apart a laptop, use the Dell Service Manual and/or online "total teardown" videos to carefully make note of how to do this. Be slow and meticulous because of little details--like how a half-dozen screws with the same label may actually be different sizes, so you need to be sure each screw goes back into its exact socket it came out of.
Hope this helps, but in the meantime the easiest workaround is just to use a USB keyboard. I did that for months before finally deciding to try and tackle the problem.
Seepheerd1
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
April 14th, 2020 10:00
Your solution is fine except one thing: doesn't work in my case
MXOWinterMute
1 Rookie
•
67 Posts
0
April 15th, 2020 07:00
Oh, man! I'm really sorry to hear it. That was about as thorough as I could get with it, and to be honest after as much trouble as I went through I half expected it not to work.
I'm just sorry it's not working for you. I wish I had some other ideas. It'd be easy to write this off as 'the keyboards are taking a beating and these laptops weren't meant to last this long', except that it really does seem to be tied to a Windows update that borked my laptop keyboard and then refused to recognize the cheap USB keyboard I plugged in (it actually bricked the latter).
I hope you're able to get by with a USB keyboard plugged in. That worked for me when I was trying to fix this. At least the USB ports still work! Sheesh.
Jayleen6472
4 Posts
0
August 17th, 2020 11:00
How do you do it
GetMorePC
1 Message
0
August 17th, 2020 11:00
What worked for me was
Fn + F6
Enables/Disables the Start Button.
Hope that helps!
A51-06
5 Practitioner
•
3.1K Posts
0
August 18th, 2020 00:00
Great that you found a solution @coppil .
psydox
12 Posts
1
December 22nd, 2020 04:00
I'm having the same issue with my Alienware 17 R4 (i7-7700HQ / GTX 1070). The issue is the "n" and "-" keys. Sometimes the keys work, sometimes it's not. What I usually do is press the keys until it shows. It's getting annoying.
SilentShot
1 Message
1
December 28th, 2020 14:00
this just started yesterday for me, my dash, n and TAB keys all stopped working
A51-06
5 Practitioner
•
3.1K Posts
0
December 28th, 2020 15:00
psydox
12 Posts
0
January 9th, 2021 11:00
@SilentShot - the exact same issue as my keyboard,
De6iruman
1 Message
0
March 10th, 2021 02:00
Hello
My keyboard does not work in the same way. Can you please help me check if my warranty has expired?
Thanks