HELP! N610c-dead <Shift>,<Ctrl>,&<Alt>

The <Shift>, <Alt> and <Ctrl> keys fail to function on my N610c laptop
computer. Caps lock gives me capital letters, but I can't get
characters above the number keys. An external keyboard plugged into the
back of the computer works fine. I have tried :

- Uninstalling keyboard from device manager then re-booting and letting
it be recognized and reinstalled
- Removed computer battery for few minutes then powering up and rebooting
- Checking/unchecking every combination I could try in the accessibility
controls with respect to sticky and function keys

None of the above changes the situation. Did I accidentally put it into
a mode I can't get it out of?

I would appreciate any assistance!

/Carl S
Dallas TX

Sounds like the keypad... not knowing the actual machine this could
either be a circuit board with switches, a circuit board with carbon
impregnated contacts or a plastic membrane with silvered contacts in
form of a matrix arranged that when pressed together form a
circuit..... or it could be the connector ribbon to the main board
itself.

The clue is that 'some' of the key's appear to be working....
"could be wrong though but feel pretty sure I'm on the right
track", another clue could be had by the external keyboard
working.

It could be that you applied some kind of keyboard lock as you
mentioned, could you not try a restore with the keyboard that
works..?

Davy

Davy - Makes sense...thanks. I'm willing to remove the keyboard, clean
it, check connections, etc. but wanted to save that for last. Since the
3 keys involved are coincidentally the same ones involved with the
sticky command, I'm wondering if it's a setting that I've changed. I
would imagine a dirty keyboard or cable connector to be more random.
Problem with trying a restore with the working keyboard is that I don't
know what setting to restore! I've already tried all possible
combinations of checking/unchecking those accessibility settings.
Thanks, and I'll keep trying things.

/Carl

Davy wrote:
> Sounds like the keypad... not knowing the actual machine this could
> either be a circuit board with switches, a circuit board with carbon
> impregnated contacts or a plastic membrane with silvered contacts in
> form of a matrix arranged that when pressed together form a
> circuit..... or it could be the connector ribbon to the main board
> itself.
>
> The clue is that 'some' of the key's appear to be working....
> "could be wrong though but feel pretty sure I'm on the right
> track", another clue could be had by the external keyboard
> working.
>
> It could be that you applied some kind of keyboard lock as you
> mentioned, could you not try a restore with the keyboard that
> works..?
>
> Davy
>

Carl S wrote:

>
> The <Shift>, <Alt> and <Ctrl> keys fail to function on my N610c laptop
> computer. Caps lock gives me capital letters, but I can't get
> characters above the number keys. An external keyboard plugged into the
> back of the computer works fine. I have tried :
>
> - Uninstalling keyboard from device manager then re-booting and letting
> it be recognized and reinstalled
> - Removed computer battery for few minutes then powering up and rebooting
> - Checking/unchecking every combination I could try in the accessibility
> controls with respect to sticky and function keys
>
> None of the above changes the situation. Did I accidentally put it into
> a mode I can't get it out of?
>
> I would appreciate any assistance!
>
> /Carl S
> Dallas TX


Thanks to all who replied. As much as I was unwilling to consider it,
the problem turned out to be my keyboard afterall...intermittent
connection, dirt, or sumthun'

Although I was hesitant to undertake the task of removing the keyboard,
it was pretty simple, except for figuring out how to remove the clips
which held cables in place, so I left 'em alone. Blew out the keys from
underneath with compressed air, put it back together, and all keys work
as they should.

Again, many thanks!

/Carl S