Alt & ALT GR keys not working

Question

Hello everyone,

my alt key (only) had been randomly (on a minute timescale) working for about 2 months, for an unknown reason (no shock, spill, whatever shouldn't happen to a laptop - I care about my stuff).

Since nothing more happened today, this alt key completely stopped working, along with the alt gr key, which had not showed any weakness before.

Tried reinstalling windows drivers (dating from 2006, can't get anything better with the wizard), physically un-capping and "cleaning" the already pristine keys, updating the BIOS (yes ...), cleaning windows. Everything is fine with an external keyboard, as well as the on-screen keyboard (which I know use when I need the keys). CTRL-ALT-DELL doesn't work anymore. Nothing on the troubleshooting.

Looks like hardware failure but I find it very suspicious, for two separate keys, to stop working like that on a good and recent machine. I have not opened the frame yet, as I'm afraid to damage anything (including the smooth looks), I won't until I'm sure I have done everything possible on the software side.

XPS 7590 purchased mid-2019, running windows 10. The keyboard is reasonably used, sometimes on gaming (1 or 2 hours a week at most), but quiet usage the rest of the time. Months of powering-off when I'm deployed overseas.

I'm posting this as I don't find anything close to my problem here or elsewhere. Thank you for your time, wishing someone has any clue to how I would find the issue, or even solve it.

helch01 · Answer

same problem with my XPS17 since about September 2022 - alt-gr not working!

\, [, ],{, }, @ keys are heavily used in develpoment! Now I have to ctrl-alt + key every time.
Must be the keyboard driver, as the keys on built-in XPS-keyboard are working, but there is no help from Dell available (my experience).
I do love the kombi because of low power-consumption and BT, but the additional keystrokes prevent efficient and fluent working with the keyboard.

Mr_bythatmuch · Answer

I've had this happen to a few of our Dell Latitude 3420. Alt key stops working. Take the back off, upclip the KB ribbon. Stretch it out because when then install the keyboard the have to crease the ribbon. Re seat KB ribbon. Worked on a couple of machines for me.

(edited)

Kian.Gent · Answer

I have Latitude 3420 and the same issue. I can't fix it. I tried all methods.

Fuzzy2084 · Answer

I have this issue on my XPS 15 7590.

The ALT keys work perfectly in Windows (ie, ALT+F4 to shut down, and so on), but not when I am using an app - it's as though there is something intercepting the key press and making it not work).

I've removed or disabled all unnecessary programs and it's made no difference.

XPS

Alt & ALT GR keys not working

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