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70736
August 5th, 2009 20:00
Problems with "control lock" keyboard responding improperly.
I'm running on a Dell Studio 1535. Windows vista. I have had the (backlit) keyboard replaced 3 times so far and it's obviously not fixing my problem.
The symptoms I see are that the left control appears to be "sticking". It's not physically sticking, but any keys I type react as if the control key was pushed. I can do this until I push the left control key again. Full disclosure, I've remapped my caps-lock key to left-control also. I haven't reproduced this using just the left control key itself, but that's because my muscle memory uses the caps-lock-as-control all the time.
This is not an easy to reproduce symptom. I have to be typing fast and I can't reproduce it on a regular basis. But it is certainly disturbing when it does happen. This problem does not occur when I'm using an external keyboard. Never. I can reproduce this problem on my ubuntu partition. So I'm thinking physical hardware, but they've replaced my keyboard 3 times and coming again on Friday. Can these keyboard be so flimsy that I just break them in months?
I tried to do the built in diagnostic for the keyboard (but that failed and never ran)
I have turned off sticky keys.
I have updated my drivers to the latest version I can find on Dell's website. (7.2.101.104) .
I've updated the bios to A06.
I have changed the touchpad settings to maximum.
I'm still often stuck with opening files (ctrl-o), saving webpages (ctrl-s), .... you get the idea.
My warranty runs out pretty soon and I'm loathe to pay $169 to continue the poor service I've received on this problem. Does anyone have any great ideas for other things I can try? I'm kind of at wits end.
Thanks
Matt
flamingbear
8 Posts
0
August 5th, 2009 21:00
I can now also state that I can reproduce this problem when I have disabled the touch pad by using an external keyboard.
So unfortunately, I don't think that all of the suggestions about they touch pad are accurate.
flamingbear
8 Posts
0
August 6th, 2009 08:00
Of course I meant to say I can reproduce this by disabling the touchpad by using an external usb MOUSE.
Lookisvk
1 Message
0
December 27th, 2009 02:00
Hello i have taht same problem with keyboard at my 1535 notebook. My keyboard been 1 time changed my Dell and problem still solve.. but i find the way how to play games without Stucked buttons ... Just Push numLock and caps lock and the game is without button lags. when iam using external keybd. i dont need num lock . sry abotu my english . :emotion-2:
sfi1
1 Message
0
February 9th, 2010 21:00
Hi, I also have been have the same problem. I found that two things I do makes it happen more offten. One is resting my hand on the area below the left control key. The second is picking the laptop up by that same corner. That corner feels lose and flexes more than the other side. I beleave I am triggering the control key by putting presure on the base cover which jambs that key.
nealj
1 Message
0
May 8th, 2010 10:00
I've been having the EXACT same problem, and except for that CAPS LOCK / Ctrl key thing you've done all our settings and such are the same. I've found the only solution to have been turning off the touchpad altogether - which works wonderfully, except when I'm trying to use my laptop without an external USB mouse.
Does anyone know what could possibly cause an accidental brush on a minimally-sensitive touchpad to activate Ctrl Lock? It seems like an incredibly stupid "feature" - especially if it can't be turned off. Is there something in Control panel I can do to deactivate this setting while still using the touchpad? Am I completely nuts and the only other person experiencing this problem with my laptop? help!
gwenluthael
1 Message
0
June 14th, 2011 08:00
This is a dumb solution that worked for me, and I have no idea why. This happened on my supervisor's computer so I'm not sure what she might have done that turned it on, but to get it off again I simultaneously pressed the ctrl keys, then the shift keys, then the alt keys (as someone suggested that it was a problem with a "modifyer key lock"). The problem hasn't repeated itself since then. Some combination of those three keys seems to have done the trick . . .
flamingbear
8 Posts
1
June 14th, 2011 08:00
I suppose I should follow up. Dell sent a refurbished replacement computer and I've never had the problem since. It appears that it was something in the hardware of the computer, but not the keyboard they replaced 3 times. I've had no problems with the XPS-16 (except for the size of the computer).
Matt