The left side of the keyboard on the laptop does not work. Reasons why half of the keyboard on a laptop does not work. Keyboard Repair Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. Software glitch
- 2. Virus infection
- 3. Burnt microcircuit or any other mechanical damage
- 4. Minor mechanical defects
- 5. Accumulated dust and dirt
- 6. What should I do if I spill water on the keyboard?
Our readers often ask us the question: the keyboard on the laptop does not work, what should I do? In this article we will answer this question in as much detail as possible, discussing all possible methods for solving the problem. Regardless of the age and manufacturer of your laptop, this article can help you!
First of all, you need to find out the reason why the keyboard on your laptop does not work. Depending on the reason, we suggest you familiarize yourself with in various ways fix this problem.
Software glitch
Often the keyboard on a laptop does not work for a reason software failure, which can be solved independently without the help of specialists or replacing the entire module. The first and easiest method to solve this problem is to restart your computer. In 60% of cases, a simple reboot solves the problem with a disabled keyboard module. In this situation, the culprit of the breakdown is a failure in Windows system, which is provoked by conflicts software.
If this method does not help and the keyboard on the laptop does not work correctly or does not work at all, restart the computer again. This time you are required to log in BIOS mode. If, immediately after starting the PC, pressing the Del, F10 or TAB keys (depending on the laptop manufacturer) you were able to enter the BIOS, then the problem is most likely not a mechanical failure.
If some buttons on your laptop keyboard do not work, but there were no previous factors (flooding with water, many years of use, falling, or other damage), perhaps your the problem is due to missing or corrupted drivers. You can download and update laptop keyboard drivers on the manufacturer's official website or using the CD included with each device.
Virus infection
A poorly functioning keyboard on a laptop can be the result of a PC being infected with various viruses. Some of them are aimed at causing minor harm and discomfort, others can pose a serious threat, including reading any information entered by the user or completely destroying the keyboard.
In order to get rid of viruses that have caused your keyboard to stop working, we recommend installing or purchasing a licensed antivirus and running a scan of the entire system. Today the most popular antiviruses are:
- 360 I-Security;
- Avira;
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus;
- Comodo;
In addition, a user whose laptop keyboard has stopped working due to viruses can use online versions antiviruses or compact programs like antimalware.
Burnt chip or any other mechanical damage
If you don’t know what to do and how to restore a keyboard that does not respond to presses and is not activated by the methods described above, pay attention to this point. If the keyboard cannot be repaired by software, it is most likely damaged mechanically.
Often, after mechanical damage, half of the keyboard or even all the keys do not work, which can only mean one thing: a burned-out microcircuit or a broken module. At the first suspicion of a chip failure, we recommend paying attention to the touchpad, function keys and all ports located around the perimeter of the laptop. If all these elements do not work correctly, it means that this problem cannot be solved programmatically.
In this case, there may be several solutions to the problem:
- If there is a warranty and there is no direct mechanical impact on your part, the manufacturer is obliged to replace or repair the burnt keyboard chip.
- If some buttons on your laptop keyboard do not work after spilled water, shock or overheating of the device, you will be denied warranty service. In this case, you will have to look for a service where specialists will solve the problem for a fee.
- If you have parsing skills computer equipment, you can try to repair the circuit yourself or replace it with a circuit from a donor device, which can be searched on local websites and trading platforms.
Minor mechanical defects
Another reason why the buttons on a laptop do not work is minor mechanical damage that is episodic in nature. In other words, during operation you could simply damage one or more buttons, which, after mechanical impact on them, may sag or stop contacting the pad inside the device, which transmits signals about completed presses directly to the system.
The breakdown of one or more buttons is not terrible and will cost the owner of a desktop PC or laptop relatively little. You can contact the manufacturer directly, or try to find individual buttons on the Internet for your model and replace them, or take your gadget to a service center. The last option is the most acceptable, because for a small fee you will deprive yourself of the chance of accidental damage to other buttons or any other elements of the computer.
Accumulated dust and dirt
If you do not devote enough time to regularly cleaning your laptop from accumulated dust and dirt, the keys may lose their travel and “stick,” creating discomfort or even losing their function.
There are two ways to clean the keyboard, depending on the model and your skills:
- Carefully prying up each key, clean the area under it using important sticks or any other suitable devices.
- Disassemble the laptop completely, getting to the keyboard module and completely cleaning it with a rag or cotton wool pre-moistened with alcohol.
What should I do if I spilled water on my keyboard?
Many users, having accidentally spilled water on their computer, do not know what to do next and lose precious minutes. In most cases, the keyboard of a flooded device can be saved if you take the right steps in a matter of minutes.
So, if you accidentally spilled liquid on your device, do not waste time and follow the instructions:
- First of all, the laptop must be disconnected from the power supply and the battery removed, which will eliminate the possibility of a short circuit. If you do not have time to do this in time, not only the keyboard, but also the entire equipment may suffer.
- After you have turned off the computer, turn off all peripherals you are using.
- Take a dry cloth or towel, quickly wipe the surface of the keyboard and turn the laptop over to prevent water from getting deep into the case.
- Use any heater, electric hair dryer or any other heat source to evaporate any remaining water. If you have a sufficient level of skill, disassemble the laptop and wipe all keyboard tracks, as well as cables and nearby parts.
Important: Do not turn on the device under any circumstances for 1-3 days! Your laptop may start, but at the most unexpected moment, in addition to the keyboard, any other important part may burn out, forcing you to fork out for much more expensive repairs.
Treat your laptop with love and attention, and its keyboard will serve you for many years without any unexpected breakdowns or defects! Be careful with drinks near your gadget, clean it regularly, avoid overheating and short circuits, and your keyboard is guaranteed to retain its full functionality!
Don't panic if the keyboard on your laptop doesn't work. What to do in such a case? In many situations, getting rid of this problem can be quite simple. In this case, the brand of the device used does not matter. The reason that caused this breakdown can be completely different: the most basic or quite serious.
Reason 1: the microcircuit burned out
The main reason, which is difficult to foresee in advance, is when the microcircuit burns out. First of all, you should check the touchpad, as well as the ports that are located around the perimeter of the device. In this case, it is important to pay special attention to the USB and RJ-45 connector (for the cable). When they are not working, you will need to contact a service center. If the warranty period has not yet expired, you must request a replacement. Get rid of similar problem Only a person who has relevant experience in this field can.If the ports are in working condition, we can hope for a positive outcome. The most common cause may also be the cable that connects the motherboard to the keyboard. In such a situation, in order to open access to the socket, it will be necessary to disassemble the laptop. The keyboard is secured using latches, which should be slightly pryed using a plastic card, and then the required module should be removed.
Appearance:
In disassembled position:
- connector for connection;
- train
Reason 2: inattention
This item will be useful for owners of a separate digital block.His appearance:
When there are numbers on the keyboard inoperative, the reason is user inattention of this device. Some of them, due to their carelessness, often press the Num Lock button, which ensures the operation of this block - turns it on and off.
When numbers do not appear on the screen, but the cursor simply moves, you should press this key again. In this case, the indicator should light up, which confirms the working status of the function. It should be taken into account that in certain laptop models, for this purpose, a combination of keys is provided, such as: Fn + Num Lock.
Reason 3: viruses and driver failure
When the breakdown is not related to the hardware, then you should look for it in program area. Some viruses act in such a way that they can “destroy” the keyboard driver. To check whether this assumption is correct, you should scan your system for the possibility of spyware. After the reboot process, you need to put the drivers in place. In many situations, these actions bring positive results.What to do when the driver does not want to install or return to working condition? Sometimes it is not possible to remove it in the usual way. In order to get the result, you can try to turn on the keyboard on the device using safe mode.
For these purposes, it is necessary to reboot by periodically pressing F8. With its help you can call up the selection menu additional ways downloads. In it you need to select the usual “ safe mode" When the OS starts, you should follow the steps described below.
You need to try to remove the problematic utility or click on “Roll Back”. Last action can bring results in a situation where a driver update was previously made, which affected the performance of this device. After this, the previously valid software version must be restored.
Steps to remove:
Open “My Computer” and then click on “Properties”.
We go to the “Dispatcher” and select a special section with a keyboard.
It looks like this in the screenshot:
Right-click on the keyboard and open the “properties” item.
If the driver update is incorrect, click on “Roll Back”. In a situation where the system does not see the keyboard, click on “Delete”. For the latter option, you must have the original drivers on hand, which are provided by the manufacturer itself of this equipment.
Reason 4: features of some models + prevention
When releasing devices, some manufacturers try to ensure the ideal quality of their work. As a result, when the battery charge is low, certain parts, including the keyboard, may stop working. To restore its full functionality, you need to connect the laptop to the network.Users who prefer to eat while working should be sure to clean the keyboard from crumbs. To do this, you can use a can with compressed air inside. Thanks to the high pressure, small particles of food that get into the cracks and grooves will be quickly removed. It should be remembered that under no circumstances should you use a damp cloth or screwdriver to get rid of them.
In order to get rid of the problem with a non-working keyboard, you need to carefully read the instructions described above. Initially, you can try to find a way out as a result of checking software system for the presence of viruses, etc. Quite often, spyware is hidden behind system files and disrupts the full operation of the device.
In addition, a combination of keys such as Fn + NumLock, which brings the number pad into operation, can also help. Installation can also be considered as a cause of failure. additional drivers, taken from unknown sources. You should also be careful when installing software utilities such as MKey, which provide button reassignment. In some situations, the system may perceive them as a threat and exit the working state.
In any case, if these problems arise, you should not despair and immediately buy new laptop. If necessary, you can find a way out of this situation by connecting a stationary keyboard via the USB connector.
Basically, the keyboard on a laptop stops working due to problems with the driver or due to a broken connection to the motherboard.
If some keys do not work, it is usually due to accumulated dust or foreign objects that prevent the contacts from closing when they are pressed. In this case, you need to clean the contacts after removing the non-functional keys.
Anyone can experience problems with the built-in keyboard on a laptop. It may not work completely or only partially respond when you press some keys.
First you need to determine the nature of the problem - is it a hardware error related to the physical connection, or a software problem (incompatible driver, incorrect configuration devices).
If the fault occurs at the hardware level, the keyboard will not respond to any of the keys at all.
If the problem is software related, the device will be partially responsive when you press some buttons such as Fn (Function).
The top row contains function keys (F1 – F12). They have an icon indicating what they do when you press the Fn key. For example, on my laptop the Fn + F5 combination is responsible for enabling/disabling touchpad. Try all combinations and other keys Caps Lock, Num Lock and others. If any of the keys work, this means the problem arose at the software level.
Now let's move on to the troubleshooting steps. First, remember if you installed any program or drivers before the keyboard stopped working? For example, graphics tablet, Synaptics driver, or may have made changes to the input device settings. If yes, revert changes, delete recently installed programs and see if that solves the problem. If after this it was possible to eliminate it, then the changes made led to the keyboard stopping working.
Problems may also occur after installing updates in Windows 10.
To troubleshoot problems, connect external keyboard and a mouse to a laptop with via USB cable to follow the solutions below.
First try rebooting your laptop.
- Turn off your laptop completely. If you are unable to shut down, press the Power button for a few seconds to force shutdown.
- After turning off, remove the battery and wait 2-3 minutes.
- Reconnect the battery, plug in the power cord, and turn on the laptop.
Reinstalling the driver
If the solution to turn off/on the laptop does not work, try installing the default drivers. These drivers, stored in the BIOS, are initialized when the computer does not find correct drivers for your device. This method will help determine whether the problem is in the drivers or the hardware.
Configuring Keyboard Options
Ease of use settings are available in almost all Windows versions. But sometimes they do not work properly and cause problems when using the laptop keyboard. Try disabling these options and check if the problem is resolved.
IN search bar Windows 10, type “make things easier.” From the search results, select "Ease of Access Center."
Go to the "Make your keyboard easier to use" tab.
Uncheck the following fields:
- Enable keyboard pointer control;
- Enable Sticky Keys;
- Enable voiceover of switches;
- Enable input filtering.
Now restart your laptop and check if the keyboard works.
Hardware problems
If a hardware problem occurs, the keyboard may need to be replaced. But first, try to clean it, since dust particles and foreign objects may prevent the button contacts from closing.
To clean them, turn your laptop upside down and shake it well. You can blow off the dust with compressed air using a vacuum cleaner.
Remove the keyboard from the laptop and check the tightness of the connecting cable to the connector.
Let's look at popular problems and ways to solve them.
The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to a software failure:
Due to the installation of a program, the keyboard may not work. To solve the problem, do the following:
1. Restart your computer, during reboot click Del and go to BIOS.
2. If the keyboard does not work in the BIOS, then the problem with it is on physical level- you need to disassemble the laptop and clean the keys. If all buttons work normally in the BIOS, go to step 3.
The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to oxidation of the cable wires.
1. Disassemble the laptop case and get to the cable (many laptop manufacturers on their official websites post a step-by-step manual for disassembling their laptop models, sometimes this is a matter of 3 minutes even for a beginner!)
2. Pull the cable out of the connector and carefully inspect for damage, oxidation, or short circuit. E
If everything looks normal, wipe the cable with a cotton swab and alcohol or a regular eraser. Put it back in its place.
3. Wait for the alcohol to dry, then reassemble the laptop and turn it on.
4. Test the keyboard.
The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to liquid.
1. If you spill liquid on your laptop, turn it off immediately, turn it over and try to remove the battery as soon as possible and shake out all the water from the buttons.
2. If possible, disassemble the case and dry everything thoroughly with a hairdryer (cold air) or by placing the laptop in a dry, warm place.
3. Don't rush to assemble your laptop - it may not work. Normal drying time can be up to one week. Be patient.
The keyboard on your laptop may not work due to physical damage.
1. If one or more buttons on the laptop do not work, this may be the result of physical damage to the keyboard.
2. The entire keyboard needs to be completely replaced. If you can change everything yourself, do it; if you can’t, take the laptop to a service center.
Dirt and dust are the main reasons why the keyboard does not work.
1. Disassemble the laptop, remove the keyboard.
2. Use a cotton swab with alcohol or an eraser to thoroughly clean problem areas and blockages.
3. Give the laptop a little time to dry, then reassemble it and try to start it.
The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to the motherboard
Problem with motherboard laptop can lead to the fact that the keyboard, USB ports, Wi-Fi and many other devices will not work normally.
The keyboard is the main tool when working on a computer, without which work is almost impossible. Of course, you can enter information using a mouse and on-screen keyboard, but this method is inconvenient and will not work properly.
In this article we will tell you what to do if the keyboard on your computer does not work and consider everything possible reasons this malfunction.
The keyboard is a fairly simple device and usually works flawlessly. However, there are times when the keyboard indicator lights up, but nothing is printed.
Why the keyboard doesn't work: reasons
There are two types of reasons why a computer keyboard may not work:
- Mechanical (cable break, moisture ingress, excessive contamination of the keyboard, violation of the integrity of the connection ports, and so on).
- Software (software failures, incorrect settings BIOS, incorrect keyboard drivers, etc.).
Let's look at all the main reasons why the keyboard does not work and troubleshooting methods.
Problem with the cable or keyboard port
The first step is to assess the physical condition of the keyboard.
Look at the indication of the Caps Lock and Num Lock buttons. Most likely, if they work, then physically everything should be fine with the keyboard.
Visually inspect the keyboard cable. It may be pinched or cut. For example, many pet owners have pets that chew cables.
Also, visually check the keyboard connection port to see if there are any breaks or bends in it. There are two types of keyboard connection ports - USB and PS/2.
It often happens that when people try to connect to a computer in a PS/2 port, they break off the tip of the wire and the keyboard does not connect.
If externally the cable USB keyboards s and the connection port look good, then try plugging the keyboard into another port Computer USB. The port on the computer itself may be damaged. If the keyboard works in another port on the computer, then you have a problem with USB port. Usually there are several of them on the computer and you can simply leave the keyboard connected to the port that works.
In the case of a keyboard with a PS/2 port, you should check the functionality of the keyboard connection port on another computer, since there is only one such port on the motherboard. To test the functionality of your computer's PS/2 port, you will have to find another such keyboard.
Spilled liquid and dirt on the keyboard
A flooded keyboard is a headache for all IT specialists and a goldmine for everyone service centers for laptop repair. Very often, when working on a computer, people pour tea, coffee, beer and other liquids onto the keyboard. As a result, the keyboard may fail.
As a rule, it is easy to determine visually and by smell that liquid has been spilled on the keyboard. Carefully inspect the keyboard. Remove a couple of keys. If you see that there are traces of spilled liquid or food on the keyboard or under the keys, then you have two options. Either buy a new keyboard, or meticulously disassemble the flooded keyboard, clean it, dry it and put it back together. With a high degree of probability, the keyboard will work.
Previously, we have already talked in detail about what is at home.
Checking USB settings in BIOS
In the event of a power failure, the computer may change BIOS settings, which contains an item about enabling and disabling support for USB keyboards on your computer.
Additionally, in this way you can check the serviceability of the keyboard in principle, since it may not work in Windows, but work in the BIOS. In this case, the failure is caused by software or drivers.
To enter the BIOS and check the settings, do the following:
- Turn on your computer.
- Press the DEL button on your keyboard until the BIOS settings window appears.
- In the BIOS settings, find the USB Keyboard Support or Legacy USB menu.
- Make sure the setting is in the Enable state. If it says Disable, then switch to Enable.
You can also set the remaining BIOS settings related to USB to Enable. You may get ports on the front panel of your computer that stopped working in the past.
Software or driver failure
Keyboards with older PS/2 connectors are more susceptible to software glitches. However, there are still quite a lot of such keyboards in use, although manufacturers have almost stopped producing them.
To resolve the problem of your keyboard not working due to software, you need to turn on your computer and log into your desktop. Since the keyboard has stopped working and does not print, but account a password may be set, you will need to use on-screen keyboard and type the password with the mouse.
Now that you are on the desktop of your computer, you need to get to Device Manager.
In Windows 8 and Windows 10, to do this, click right click mouse on button Start and select device Manager.
In Windows 7, left-click on the button Start. Next, right-click on the word Computer and select Computer management — device Manager.
Device Manager displays information about all devices on your computer. Expand the Keyboards branch. If there is an orange question mark next to your keyboard, the device is not installed correctly on the system.
Right click on your keyboard and select Delete.
The computer will rescan all devices and install the keyboard correctly.
Factory defect or keyboard has reached the end of its service life
Any technology tends to break down and fail. If the keyboard was purchased relatively recently, then you may have encountered a manufacturing defect. In this case, you can contact the keyboard manufacturer's support service and expect a replacement device.
The fact is that many manufacturers value their reputation and, without entering into long debates with the buyer, immediately send a brand new keyboard by mail.
If you have had the keyboard for more than a year, then most likely it has failed due to service life and you should buy a new one.