Keyboard playing up?
When I first figured out they didn't work, I had to press really hard for them to work, and they did, and now they aren't working at all. Help!
Answers:
keybord not found, press any key to continue
Up until your last paragraph I would have said it sounds like settings rather than hardware, but if it did work for a while by pressing on extra hard it does sound like the membrane has been damaged, so the keys are no longer making a contact.
Try detaching it then reconnecting to see if it makes any difference. Also try giving it a good clean, making sure you turn it upside down just in case something is under the keys blocking them in some way.
Otherwise its new keyboard time.
Typically it would take a remarkable amount of pushing too hard on a keyboard to cause the keys to wear down to the level you're describing in only 2 years. That sounds more like physical shock damage to me. Do you recall ever dropping anything on the keyboard?
As for solutions, you have a few options.
1) You could go to your local CompUSA, Stables, Best Buy, etc. and buy a $5.00 to $10.00 external USB keyboard and just plug it into your laptop and use that instead.
2) You could contact Dell or a reseller and order a replacement laptop keyboard. They usually run between $20 and $35. Just make sure you specify which model of Dell you have.
Replacing a laptop keyboard isn't too difficult on most Dells, and most replacement keyboards will come with instructions, though if you're under warranty, you may want to have the specialist take care of it for you, so you don't void the rest of your coverage plan.
If you're feeling brave, or you're no longer covered, then there are some good walk-throughs for opening up your Dell laptop here:
http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_del...
I hope that helps,
GL
Unfortunately, Dell laptop keyboards do this. My ex was a laptop tech for Dell (maybe he still is, dunno, I don't speak to him anymore, hence he's an ex!) and had to replace my keyboard for me after about the same amount of time you've had yours. With my first keyboard m, n, j, h, u, y, 7, and 6 weren't working properly, and now on my second keyboard I'm having issues with the entire right hand side of the keyboard... some days are better than others!
I'd love to tell you how to fix this, but I have no idea other than replacing it... I clearly need a new one myself, which is how I found your question. I hope you have more luck with yours than I am having with mine!
Perchance did you spill any liquid on the keyboard because that would caused the keys to type incorrectly. I have got a Dell Inspiron 8600 and I spilled water on the keyboard and when I went to typed some words out...it did this -=+@><,.. I wondered what the heck was going on. I took it to a engineer and he said that I needed a new keyboard. Underneath there is a metal unit similar to a hard disk and if any liquid gets spilled on it...it gets jumbled up it causes the the keys to type incorrectly. If you're carrying your laptop on a rainy day...put it inside a plastic bag.
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