more 'puter probs

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

My prob is that 50% of the time the keys don't work. It's like having a dud typewriter - I have to hit the letters twice. This goes on for a while, then the screen goes dead and there's nothing I can do. WOTS WRONG WAHAHAHAHAAA

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

you're not using a wireless keyboard are you? (if so change battery)

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 21 February 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

Are you on a laptop? If so, for the short term, plug in a spare keyboard. For the long term, take it apart and check the connections.

(I thought "laptop" because of the keyboard and the screen both going together. If you're not on a laptop, check all the connections at the back of the box.)

― caitlin (caitlin), Monday, 21 February 2005 12:14 (twenty years ago)

If you're on a regular keyboard, have you spilled liquid inside it?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 21 February 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

What are you implying, Markelby?

Sometimes the keyboard's fine! Sometims not. Look thr we go, it' doing it now.

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

What Ken asked...is it wireless?

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

No it isn't. As the problem comes and goes I really wonder if the keyboard is the problem, or do I have some kind of virus.

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

THE PHONE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE KEYBOARD!!

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Could be a virus/spyware. You might want to try an anti-spyware program to see if it clears up the problem. The new Microsoft version is good:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Also Lavasoft's Ad-Aware is cool:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:28 (twenty years ago)

My keyboard did this. I permanently borrowed another one from work. And like magic, I can type again! Sometimes it's a simple answer; keyboards break.

― Rebekkah (burntbrat), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Huh? Ya wot? Please explai, curious george.

Sean thanks!

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

Also the most simple response: Make sure the keyboard is plugged in securely!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

It's a lappy.

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

Nothing to explain, just actin' a foo'.

― Curious George Rides a Republican (Rock Hardy), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

Ahaha, there's a distinct possibility then that there's a problem with the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard to the rest of your laptop. You can generally lift the keyboard up to see the ribbon cable, and you can make sure if it's plugged in securely. (Check the user manual for your notebook to see how it's done; sometimes there's a small plastic panel above the keyboard that you remove, and then use a jeweller's screwdriver to remove tiny screws holding it in place. In other cases, as with the Apple notebooks, there are tabs and larger releases you can release using a larger flat-headed screw driver.)

If you're noticing that it's doing the weirdness when you've been using the keyboard for extended periods, perhaps it's a question of the heat from the laptop causing a trace to break inside the ribbon cable...you may need to have the keyboard replaced.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 21 February 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)

Thanks Sean.

Thanks also Rebekkah! I hope it doesn't come to that, but...

It seems the problem has gone away now, and I'm hoping it's cuz of the spyware programs Sean recommended I download.

― thee music mole, Monday, 21 February 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

there's a chance that if it's been interfering with keystrokes then it's also been logging said keystrokes and passing them on to nefarious third party. i'd be careful if you've typed anything important recently (like credit card numbers).

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.