Laptop problem

I have a Dell latitude laptop running XP pro, that has an intermittent problem. When it is turned on, either from off, hibernate, standby or whatever, it asks for Ctl-Alt-Del. Then you get a login name and password screen. The problem is, sometimes it just won't accept the Ctl-Alt-Del. It won't budge for 1/2 an hour, then it will. The next time the lid is shut,(it's a field computer - lots of lid closed and move a mile then open again) it takes 1/2 an hour, X# of reboots etc, to get it to accept the Ctl-Alt-Del again.

Our IT people had it for a week, and couldn't reproduce the problem. They refuse to take out the security feature and just let it boot, even though the damn thing never goes anywhere near a network, and contains no sensitive data.

They are getting me a new IBM thinkpad in case it happens again. Go figure.

I'm just curious in case anyone else has had this problem. It most definitely is not the keyboard. (they checked).

 

That is strange. I assume it still does it? Most likely suspect in my mind is still a faulty keyboard. Your IT department couldn't reproduce the error, so having them say the keyboard is fine doesn't mean anything (to me). Not sure about your keyboard layout, but have you tried using different <Ctrl>, <Del>, or <Alt> keys? Can you reproduce the error with an external keyboard? On most modern laptops keyboards are field-replaceable, so it might just be a loose connection somewhere.

 

The keyboard has two ctl, two alt and one del key. All permutations were tried.

Yes, it's still doing it. My colleagues are in the field this week and they phoned in to complain (hence the new one on the way)

The IT types said the keyboard was ok, so I assumed they had some other way of testing it.

Never tried it with an external keyboard. I will when it gets back in.

Thanks dc