Laptop keyboard unusable

joaocandre · 2017-12-25 23:50:02

Last week my laptop's keyboard became unusable. Only a handful of keys output the correct character, most of them I get either a combination of jibberish or nothing at all. Could it be software-related (how to I debug it?) or is it damaged (strange it would get damaged to this extent overnight)?????

Trilby · 2017-12-26 00:07:44

joaocandre wrote:

Could it be software-related (how to I debug it?)

Did you update during the time that it changed from working to not? If so, what was updated? Have you tried it in both X and in a tty? How about in a bootloader prompt? How about another OS and/or live system?

jasonwryan · 2017-12-26 00:23:38

In addition to Trilby's questions, post details of your locale.

Moving to NC...

seth · 2017-12-26 10:10:40

And whether this happens on the linux console, x11, wayland or everywhere.
And what "jibberish" actually is.
And whether this happens everywhere or just in certain processes (shells, toolkits, ...)

joaocandre · 2017-12-26 18:03:25

@Trilby Not sure, can't remember, but maybe. It happens in X and in tty and while in the bootloader. By "jibberish" I mean when pressing "F" getting "^[[P4f^[[" and similar. Some keys do not generate output/seem dead, a few work well, but mainly it's like that. Strangely pressing "C" prompts a printscreen. I haven't tested on wayland.

seth · 2017-12-26 18:18:16

In the bootloader?
Try the behavior on some live system - this sounds like a HW issue...

joaocandre · 2017-12-27 19:02:43

It also happens in the BIOS. I'm going to try a live Arch USB, but as I feared the keyboard is propably damaged.

progandy · 2017-12-27 19:32:13

Did you ever spill something on your keyboard? The corrosion may have slowly eaten away at the board until it suddenly gave up.

Trilby · 2017-12-27 19:49:26

If it's a problem in BIOS trying a live USB isn't relevant. It's a hardware problem.

joaocandre · 2017-12-28 23:24:40

@progandy I regularly clean the keyboard (the whole laptop really) with 75% ethanol on a piece of cotton. May have been that.

ewaller · 2017-12-29 04:28:00

joaocandre wrote:

@progandy I regularly clean the keyboard (the whole laptop really) with 75% ethanol on a piece of cotton. May have been that.

Ethanol? What a waste!

Note that the other 25% is still water; that is a fair amount of water. If it is really was denatured methanol or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), you also have the oily denaturing agent which will leave a residue.

If you are cleaning electronics with alcohols, I strongly suggest anhydrous isopropanol (99.9% isopropyl alcohol); but keep it off of plastic cases and plexiglass windows. Edit: And your hands.

Last edited by ewaller (2017-12-29 04:33:06)

Arch Linux

#1 2017-12-25 23:50:02

Laptop keyboard unusable

#2 2017-12-26 00:07:44

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#3 2017-12-26 00:23:38

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#4 2017-12-26 10:10:40

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#5 2017-12-26 18:03:25

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#6 2017-12-26 18:18:16

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#7 2017-12-27 19:02:43

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#8 2017-12-27 19:32:13

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#9 2017-12-27 19:49:26

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#10 2017-12-28 23:24:40

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

#11 2017-12-29 04:28:00

Re: Laptop keyboard unusable

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