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May 3rd, 2011 22:00
e1405 Mysterious Keyboard Problem
Hello All,
Dell laptop gurus take note...
The only problem I'm having is upon pressing certain keys, characters other than those typed appear. Examples: (in Notepad) press 'Q' and you get 'TAB+Q', 'E' gets 'CTRL+F' search box, 'R' gets 'RT', etc. I replaced the keyboard - same result. This led me to believe the keyboard controller was no good. I then replaced the motherboard with a tested, working system pull. EXACT same result. The same mistypes still persist. A USB keyboard works just fine. All drivers are up to date, BIOS cleared and updated to A10, everything is properly seated and running cool.
Is it possibly a touchpad issue? I only ask this because the problem is input device related. Also, the touchpad is very nearly the only thing I haven't replaced. Any constructive advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
ejn63
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May 4th, 2011 08:00
Does the problem occur in safe mode (F8 before windows loads, to get in)?
nathan_1973
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May 4th, 2011 12:00
Thanks for the reply - it mistypes in safe mode as well. Also, I should mention that I ran the extended Dell diagnostics and all systems passed.
DELL-Royan S
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May 6th, 2011 10:00
HI Nathan_1973,
Welcome to the Community. You have almost rulled out all the hardware on your computer that could be causing this. I dont think its the Touchpad. I feel it could be your Operating system. I would suggest you back up your data and reinstall the Operating system.
Hope this helps.
Thank you
Royan
nathan_1973
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May 6th, 2011 12:00
Royan,
Thanks for the reply. I should've mentioned this initially - the problem was occurring with Vista Basic (shipped with the laptop) installed. The unit also had a bad HDD (80GB - shipped with laptop) at that time. I replaced the HDD with a new 250GB then installed Win 7 Ultimate. Ran all Windows updates and made certain that all drivers were up to date. Then I replaced the keyboard and lastly the motherboard. The exact same mistypes are occurring after all that has been done.
You stated that I have "almost" ruled out all the potential hardware problems. Is there ANYTHING hardware-wise that could be causing this? It's just a machine - components go bad and they can be replaced. I don't believe in an unrepairable laptop...
Many thanks in advance.
nathan_1973
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May 6th, 2011 13:00
One more thing. FWIW, I opened a DOS window and found the same problem with one difference. When 'Q' is pressed, instead of getting 'TAB+Q' (" Q"), I got 'AppDataQ'. The other characters mistyped in the same fashion as when in Notepad. I don't see how this could possibly be an OS issue.
DELL-Royan S
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May 6th, 2011 14:00
Hi Nathan,
If this is happening in DOS as well, then its not an issue with the OS. It could a stuck key on the keyboard, or the motherboard itself.
Thank you
Royan
nathan_1973
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May 6th, 2011 17:00
OK, maybe this will help put my problem in better perspective.
1. Laptop was running Vista and had a bad HDD and mistyping issue.
2. Replaced HDD and keyboard with brand new components.
3. Installed Windows 7, all windows updates and up to date drivers.
4. Mistype issue persists - replaced motherboard with fully functional, tested system pull.
5. Mistypes persist. Cleared BIOS and updated to A10.
6. Mistypes persist. Ran full Dell hardware diagnostics. All systems passed.
This is obviously a hardware problem - this has been clear from the start. I realize this is a situation where, were this unit under warranty, Dell would likely (after exhaustive deliberation) issue a replacement laptop. As a repair technician that's easy to do when you have a huge corporate entity with a massive inventory behind you. On the other hand, it isn't very practical in the real world. It's somewhat like replacing an otherwise good car because you can't get rid of a rattle under the dash. A practical person will remove the dash, locate the problem and fix it. This is what I have been and doing and will continue to do. Until either I fix it or I can't stand it anymore and toss it out the window. While driving. Fast.
I sincerely do appreciate the responses. That said, what I need is Tech Support - not Customer Support. Seeing how this is the "Dell Laptop General Hardware Forum" I had hoped to find that here. Someone from Dell, please speak the language laptop technicians speak, to me. There is no stuck key on the brand new keyboard and unless this is an extremely common issue, I find it difficult to believe that the tested, working replacement motherboard is going to have precisely the same issue.
Given the components which I have replaced, is there anything left to replace that could have any impact on the problem, as described? If so, what component(s). Is this a known issue? Is there a known solution?
Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?