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July 15th, 2017 12:00
Precision 3520 cannot recognize simultaneous keystrokes. Common problem?
I recently received a Precision 3520. About a quarter of the time, if I press a multi-key shortcut (e.g. Ctrl+Win+Left/Right to switch virtual desktops or Alt+Shift+',' in emacs) the computer drops one or both of the modifier keys and doesn't recognize the shortcut (e.g., in emacs, it will recognize just Alt+',' or even just ','). It happens when I press the control keys simultaneously but not if I press one then the other.
Can anyone else with a Precision 3520 tell me if this happens to them? I am going to return this unit but I am unsure if buying a different one will fix the problem.
Reading, e.g. this thread, (and also given some other smaller problems I have with the unit), I am wondering if the 3520 line is just poorly constructed, or if I got unlucky.
Thanks!
Jonathan
LSUFAN51
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July 18th, 2017 08:00
:emotion-2:
I'd suggest you update the System Setup(BIOS). Please click on link below to safety install latest BIOS version.
Update System Setup (BIOS) for a Dell Computer (Official ...
After installing BIOS, expand System Management and install Dell Command | Update. The Dell utility will update all drivers and firmware on the system.
How to use Dell Command | Update to update all drivers ...
goflowjon
8 Posts
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July 18th, 2017 13:00
Hi,
Thanks for the input!
I have updated to the latest BIOS and confirmed that it doesn't solve the problem.
goflowjon
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August 16th, 2017 18:00
As a followup, after not getting much feedback for my question, I sort of decided that the previous system was a fluke, so I returned it. I have now received a second unit and can confirm that the problem still exists. This is very frustrating and baffling. It seems to be a model-wide problem.
I give Dell credit for refunding my first system and hope they will do the same again with this second one.
jphughan
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August 16th, 2017 19:00
I have a Latitude 7480 and have a similar keyboard problem. I tend to press modifier keys sequentially out of habit anyway, so that's not an issue for me, but I've found that when I type one key, then another, then the first key again (e.g. "ana", "efe", "ini"), a fair percentage of the time the second press of that initial letter will not be registered. I never realized how often this pattern occurs in the English language until I got this system.... My only guess is that either the keyboard electronics aren't fast enough or the keys aren't traveling upward quickly enough. Granted, I type 140 WPM when I'm on my game, so I'm an edge case, but it's pretty frustrating. Sadly this is a work-issued machine, so there's not much I can do about it. :(
goflowjon
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August 16th, 2017 19:00
Yes! I've had the same issue with the repeated keys but it was hard to repeatably test. (I don't type 140 WPM, though). I was afraid I was kind of imagining it.