Challenging mystery software glitch affecting keyboard

My sony vaio laptop model VPCEB11FX has a strange keyboard issue. My 1,3,5,7,9, backspace, letter 'p', and left shift keys do not work.

1. Nothing was spilled on the keyboard.
2. I tried replacing the physical keyboard - still had the same issues.
3. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the keyboard in device manager - also did not work.
4. I read somewhere there might be a conflict with windows 7 and keyboard after entering sleep mode, but not sure about that.
5. KEY: Entire keyboard mysteriously started working again fine for about 2 days, but then started with the same problem again.
6. I do get some runtime error occassionally, but don't think that's related.
7. Does not seem related to any virus or malware as computer 'seems' clean. Computer runs fine other than this.

Would love some help as this is very aggravating and i have to use the virtual onscreen keyboard which is a major headache.

 

Are they both USB devices? Plugged into seperate USB slots or into a hub so they are sharing the same slot?

This may sound crazy, but since on some systems the mouse and keyboard share the same bus, try a new or different mouse. Alternately, use the existing mouse on a different system to see if the problem pops up there. I've seen this fix similar keyboard problems in the past...

 

Ummm, errrr, it's a laptop cipher. The OP didn't say it was an external KB.

 

This is a sony laptop computer, so it doesn't use a mouse, it has the trackpad. I'm only 'somewhat' computer literate, so not sure if what you are saying helps with an 'internal' pointing device. Thoughts?

 

Duh, got focused on that and missed it. Sorry...

 

Mysterious software glitch affecting Specific Laptop Keys

Anyone have any suggestions on fixing this issue? This is really irritating and no one seems able to figure it out.

Thanks!

 

Have you tried plugging in a USB keyboard yet? Not really a fix for your problem, just a work around for the time being.

 

Yes, since it is in the software, switching to a USB keyboard didn't really help - still had the same issues. I also replaced the laptop keyboard and still had the problem. As I mentioned, it 'magically' fixed itself for 2 days and all keys worked, then it went back to the same issue with the exact same keys not working. No one seems to know how to fix this....:confused

 

Very mysterious - not something I have ever seen before...

If that happened to me, I would download some keyboard test tool; to see if Windows actually receives the keystrokes. Possibly http://www.passmark.com/products/keytest.htm (30 days free trial).

 

When you replaced the keyboard did you notice any damage to the little connector where the flat ribbon cable is attached? I am beginning to suspect a hardware fault with your motherboard here.

 

No, I didn't notice any, but to be honest, wasn't really looking closely - but the ribbon went in and out cleanly, so there was a problem with installation. I'm going to try the keyboard software test that another member recommended and see if that tells me anything. Strange how it came back working for a couple days and then went bad again...

 

Thanks for the suggestion, didn't even know this software existed. I'll give it a try and see what it 'tells' me about the keys...not sure what else it analyzes. Hopefully it will point me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

Hello jetjockchicago,

And good afternoon! This is Amanda Maffei here with the SonySupport team. I'm very sorry to hear the problems that you have been going through with your notebook. Have you contacted Technical Support? If not I would recommend doing so by calling: Priority Service: 239-768-7669 Toll Free Service: 1-888-476-6972 Hours:

■English: 24 hours x 7 days a week
■Español: 8:00am-1:00am ET x 7 days a week

Just let them know what the issue is, and I'm sure they would be more than happy to help get this resolved for you. Thanks! =)

-Amanda Maffei

Sony Support USA

 

yes i indeed have this exact same problem with my keyboard for the last 2.5 years. on two different occasions, the keyboard did indeed start working for two days each time. the last time was two days ago. i called the sony number. they said that its not a problem on their part but an isolated incident with my keyboard. since computer is 4 years old, a keyboard replacement is in order which would cost $200. i wonder if code is programmed into these laptops that cause them to be repaired or replaced on purpose.

here is what is displayed when i press the p letter: (*&%###############
now the left shift key: (*&%################
now the backspace button: (*&%###############
now number 1: (*&%################
number 3: (*&%###############
and so on. good to see im not going crazy as the only person with this problem although still sad that there is no solution for either of us. my model is a sony vaio vgn-cs110e

 

Laptops run hot, so much crammed into so little space. Many people set them on a flat surface that tends to block airflow to the fan. Heat causes hardware failure. 4 years is considered by many enterprise IT organizations to be one year past a computer's expected life. Then there are drivers that may need updating.

There may be other reasons for the symptoms you're seeing, but a conspiracy by OEMs to schedule hardware failure to insure a revenue stream seems, ahem, unlikely...

 

Me too, I have exact the same problem on a Sony VAIO VPCEA4S1E laptop since a couple of days.

I have installed the tool ShowOff to display every keystroke.
(See http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/index.html#ShowOff)

Pressing the following keys results in some different (series of)keystrokes:

1 -> F1 1 F1
3 -> F3 3 F3
5 -> F5 5 F5
7 -> F7 7 F7
8 -> F8 8 F8
9 -> F10 9 F10
p -> F12 p F12
F1 -> F1 1 F1
F3 -> F3 3 F3
F5 -> F5 5 F5
F7 -> F7 7 F7
F8 -> F8 8 F8
F10 -> F10 9 F10
F12 -> F12 p F12

I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the keyboard in device manager.
I tried booting in safe mode.
I reinstalled SONY drivers.
I did a system restore before the day that this problem came up.
Nothing solves my problem.

Virtual onscreen keyboard is working fine.

Hoes anybody any further suggestions? Thanks!

 

Hi il_belgium,

Good afternoon!

For help I would recommend either trying www.esupport.sony.com or contacting: 239-768-7669 (best option) Toll Free Service: 1-888-476-6972 Hours:

■English: 24 hours x 7 days a week
■Español: 8:00am-1:00am ET x 7 days a week

Please contact Sony at your earliest convenience,

Thank you!

Pat Kennedy
Sony Suppport USA

 

I am sorry to butt in here, but it would be far more helpful to the world in general if Sony would have a real tech person visit these forums and actually try to work through the problem, rather than some PR person telling us to call Sony, especially since one poster already told us that Sony's support didn't seem able to resolve it.

I have have never owned a Sony, but I personally will never call the Dell support team because this forum is just so much more helpful.

For the record, I have a Dell with a similar problem. While it appears they're all working this morning, several keys fail sometimes (space and s I know for sure), but they always work in Word.

 

I think it was very decent of a Sony rep to stop by and provide tech support contact details. Asking Sony to monitor this forum for the occasional Sony specific problem is a bit much, they have their own forum and phone support. Who knows what legal implications or support obligations they may face by offering support here, I know I don't.

Thank you Sony!

 

My problem has been solved by Sony Technical Support. They have replaced my keyboard.