Alienware M17x with keyboard problems

Question

Before I go on to explaining the situation here, let me first explain that I have done quite a bit of research and found that this is a universal problem with all of the Alienware M17x keyboards. Here is the problem: There are certain combinations of keys that do not work in conjunction with the spacebar and shift keys. For instance: In a video game I might press 'W' to go frowards and 'E' to strafe to the right. If I am holding these two keys down, the person will run forwards and to the right, but if I press the spacebar key to jump at the same time, nothing will happen. The person will not jump but will continue moving forwards and to the right (tested in 13 different games). in contrast, If I do the same thing, but with the 'Q' and 'W' keys with spacebar, THAT works just fine. The combination of keys I have found to not work are as follows: W,E,Space W,E,Shift S,D,Space S,D,Shift F,G,Space F,G,Shift, and a few more, but you get the point. My question: Is this a software/firmware based problem or is it a fault in the physical hardware? If it is software related is there a fix for it, or an update of some sort? Note that this is a gaming laptop, so this is kind of a HUGE fault for a $3,000 rig.

mpo · Accepted Answer

It is a limitation of the hardware. Google 'keyboard matrix' to find a program that will map how the keys are grouped on your laptop. Not many stand-alone keyboards map the keys independently (google 'n key rollover'), and even then the USB specification only allows up to 6 keys being registered at once.

I'm not aware of any laptop that allows n key rollover.

Rubedo1852 · Answer

Yep, I googled everything you said, and I understand now. It just kind of sucks that this keyboard does not have N-Key Rollover. This baby cost me $3000 and my fiancee's Macbook was only $2700 and her keyboard registers up to 5 simultanious keystrokes :(

d1dvog99 · Answer

I also just recieved my new laptops (same model) and I too have this problem. Is there a FIX?? My laptop was 3k as well and I need an external keyboard to game on a gaming laptop? Thats completely ridiculous.  If there isnt a fix can I get my money back from dell.  My old dell inspiron laptop did NOT have this issue and was only 700$.  Please advise if there is a fix or if i need to return this (not to be rude) but JUNK.  Thank you

Sean_Chip · Answer

I have the same issue with my laptop except the is issue is when I'm typing text in a body of an email (Like what I'm typing here for example) thet ext I'm jumping goes to a different area of what I'm typing which is REALLY annoying considering what I paid for this laptop. I too had to get an external keyboard which is ridiculous. IS THERE FIX FOR THIS???

BTW - it happened twice while I was typing this out! VERY frustrated!!!

Sean_Chip · Answer

Oh BTW - as you can see above, I purposely didn't fix the text I was typing so you can see where the text jumped in the post.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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