topic Re: Help!!! in Community Chat

Help!!!

Pqfan — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:30:06 GMT

Some lette_s on my laptop don't wo_k

Can I buy a plug in keyboa_d will that wo_k.

Can't say much without this lette_

Nobody is available in elect_onics.

I need help now!

Re: Help!!!

Mj12 — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:35:23 GMT

Hi @Pqfan : )

I think it should work, if you plug in a new keyboard. So frustrating for you.

ETA - for what it's worth, I Googled and yes - you can plug an external keyboard into a laptop.

Re: Help!!!

shell garden — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:34:24 GMT

@Pqfan...sorry that has happened to you. Do you have a best buy store near you that you can just call them and ask? They would know based on what type of computer you have. Good luck.

Re: Help!!!

momtochloe — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:40:15 GMT

@Pqfan I am using an external keyboard with my laptop right now (plug in but have also used wireless). You should have no problem.

Re: Help!!!

kitty60 — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:40:55 GMT

I have added a keyboard to my laptop with no problem. Just check to see it is compatable with your computer.

Re: Help!!!

Nightowlz — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:41:50 GMT

If you are handy with the laptop or know someone that is check out the videos on Youtube. You may just find the right fix. Just search laptop keys not working.

Re: Help!!!

nunya — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:43:53 GMT

I googled:

no idea if it works or the results

Shut down the laptop, removed battery and cable for a moment, press and hold the start button for 60 seconds... and replace the battery.. start the lap top..

Re: Help!!!

LTT1 — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:44:19 GMT

@Pqfan

Is the key loose? Just a thought.

Re: Help!!!

Bri36 — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:45:00 GMT

Are there crumbs stuck underneath the keys?

Not that I would know or anything - LOL

Re: Help!!!

shell garden — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:56:55 GMT

I bet you give "spell check" a workout. Just a little computer humor here, lol.

Re: Help!!!

2blonde — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 17:59:21 GMT

@Bri36 wrote:
Are there crumbs stuck underneath the keys?

Not that I would know or anything - LOL

@Bri36 That made me laugh. If this were true confessions.......well I think there would be lots of crumbs, maybe even some coffee.

Re: Help!!!

mistriTsquirrel — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 18:00:25 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
If you are handy with the laptop or know someone that is check out the videos on Youtube. You may just find the right fix. Just search laptop keys not working.

@Nightowlz But...she doesn't have an "r."

Re: Help!!!

Pqfan — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:05:59 GMT

Hi. Thanks so much everyone for your replies.

It started working again out of the blue but I know it will probably stop again.

Other keys in that area above like the 4 and 5 are messing up too.

I was trying so hard to keep calm considering all of the other major things happening in the world to people but I was losing my patience fast!

I look like a bad Wheel of Fortune contestant lol!

Re: Help!!!

MickD — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:14:20 GMT

@Pqfan I literally spit out cubes when I saw your first post.......OMG...sorry for your keyboard, but it is so funny!

Re: Help!!!

Carmie — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:17:52 GMT

When that happens to my laptop keys, I take a flat butter knife and pop off the keyboard key caps. They come right off. Then I align them and put them back on,

The keys are a cap on top of a stem, sometimes they get wonky.

Re: Help!!!

SilleeMee — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:18:50 GMT

Can you use Cortana to do a youtube search?

Re: Help!!!

Krimpette — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 19:37:07 GMT

I have a MacBook Pro and I have a problem intermittently with the letter "l". When it happens, I have a little stiff bristle brush that I run around the key to try and dislodge any dust. I then take my can of compressed air and spray the key and the surrounding keys. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I reboot. I've decided it's now become a quirk with my older MacBook Pro. I've done some Google searches and it seems to be a problem endemic to this age of MacBook Pros. Several potential "solutions".

Re: Help!!!

dooBdoo — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 22:32:42 GMT

Pqfan wrote:
Hi. Thanks so much everyone for your replies.
It started working again out of the blue but I know it will probably stop again.

Other keys in that area above like the 4 and 5 are messing up too.
I was trying so hard to keep calm considering all of the other major things happening in the world to people but I was losing my patience fast!

I look like a bad Wheel of Fortune contestant lol!

Hi, @Pqfan! I understand the frustration, and these days even though we can usually temporarily use features like Siri, Cortana, etc., we've come to rely on our electronic devices as an important part of daily living. Great responses from our wonderful posters! In troubleshooting keyboard snafus, the first thing we usually do is swap it out with another. The idea is to try and pinpoint the source of the problem -- is it actually the keyboard itself or perhaps sketchy settings, software, drivers, etc., on the computer. So, if there's some way for you to borrow another one just to check, give that a try. I've learned what seems to be the cause of malfunctioning keys isn't always the real cause. In the meantime, you're seeing plenty of good ideas here and you also can read online for more tips and and solutions for your specific device. I'm glad it's working right now, and hope it continues to do so. After years of dealing with this problem in medical centers... oh, the stories I could tell about the causes of keyboards acting up and what we found lurking inside those keyboards... some of which would probably be censored by the moderators... 😜

Thanks for your fabulous, sparkling sense of humor... you always light up the community with your wit and good nature, and I appreciate you.❤️

Re: Help!!!

Cakers3 — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 20:56:39 GMT

@Bri36 wrote:
Are there crumbs stuck underneath the keys?

Not that I would know or anything - LOL

@Pqfan This is a good suggestion. I've had this problem with a key at one time.

I also do not know anything but it did work for me.

Re: Help!!!

cbrite — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 21:44:25 GMT

YAY...you got it back!! ....... I do the tip it over and tap the back, pop off the key tops and clean them off...use a tooth brush, vaccumme out, get the hair dryer and blow all the stuff out... we women are creative....