7 Key gone rogue - Page 2

03-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Please update after replacing your keyboard!!
I'm having the same problem with Presario 2104US laptop.

Removed keyboard and touchpad and plugged in a USB mouse and keyboard.

Tried a clean install of XP after running Killdisk. But as soon as it is time to type a name or anything in starts the 7777777777.

I can hold down a differant key, for example, z and I get 7z7z7z7z7z.

So with no keyboard just mouse and I click the cursor in a box and away go the 777777.

Please let me know if a new keyboard helps. Or if others may have ideas please post.

Thanks,
Butch

ZenGum · 03-19-2011, 01:55 AM

Thanks Pete, I went for the Kingston, being a little dearer but with a good warranty.
Replacing the keyboard was a tad tricky, getting the ribbon connector in properly, but I practised with the old one first and it worked first time.

Then to add 2 X 1 GB ram chips. Interestingly one web site said "The first socket may not be user accessible. Please consult your system manual...".
Hmmm.
Well I youtubed for videos of people changing RAM, there are plenty out there, one chap was specialising in Dells, and he mentioned that sometimes socket one is under the keyboard. Which I had just replaced.

Well, I went through the bottom to get at the first chip, and lo and behold, there is the second chip positioned just beneath it. Click, pull, click, pull ... push, click, push, click ... done.

The first time I fired it up the desktop Icons were strobing, but that went away when I restarted, so, all is well.

And maaaaan it makes a difference. The machine used to jam and freeze and have confuptions whenever I asked it to do more than one thing at a time. I guess half a gig of RAM just don't cut it nowadays.

Thank you all.

/thread.

ZenGum · 03-20-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butchb

Please update after replacing your keyboard!!
I'm having the same problem with Presario 2104US laptop.

Removed keyboard and touchpad and plugged in a USB mouse and keyboard.

Tried a clean install of XP after running Killdisk. But as soon as it is time to type a name or anything in starts the 7777777777.

I can hold down a differant key, for example, z and I get 7z7z7z7z7z.

So with no keyboard just mouse and I click the cursor in a box and away go the 777777.

Please let me know if a new keyboard helps. Or if others may have ideas please post.

Thanks,
Butch

Hi Butch, didn't see your post for some reason.

It is weird that you are having trouble with the 7 key specifically.
I'm pretty certain that mine was caused by a hardware issue in the keyboard, because it stopped when I disconnected the laptop keyboard by unplugging the ribbon cable from the rest of the machine. When you say you 'removed the keyboard' does this mean physically unplugged? I tried uninstalling the keyboard driver but it always seemed to automatically reinstall upon restart. Which did you mean?

Replacing the keyboard was reasonably easy.

Good luck with it.

mbpark · 03-20-2011, 06:43 PM

If you're having issues like that with a keyboard on a laptop, do two things:

1. Take $10 and go to your local Wal-Mart and get a USB keyboard.
2. Take said USB keyboard, go to eBay, type in your computer name and keyboard, and buy one. It'll be much cheaper than anywhere else. If you need a small screwdriver set, buy one there too. Spend the $5, since Radio Shack charges $15 for the same thing.

I've had very good luck with finding keyboard for obscure Dell and IBM models there. Takes about 5 minutes to get everything you need.

If you want to buy RAM, go for Kingston. I use their server RAM in a 2-server DB cluster that is the base for three very busy hospital emergency departments. No failures yet, and we really stress those servers. I also use their RAM in our Laboratory Information System (Meditech), which is one of the most cantankerous and hardware-stressing environments you can find. Again, no failures.

HungLikeJesus · 03-20-2011, 06:44 PM

The problems with the rogue 7 key are directly traceable to top management.

Spexxvet · 03-23-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

The problems with the rogue 7 key are directly traceable to top management.

All of top management or only 85% of top management mission accomplished?

03-19-2011, 01:55 AM	#17
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Thanks Pete, I went for the Kingston, being a little dearer but with a good warranty. Replacing the keyboard was a tad tricky, getting the ribbon connector in properly, but I practised with the old one first and it worked first time. Then to add 2 X 1 GB ram chips. Interestingly one web site said "The first socket may not be user accessible. Please consult your system manual...". Hmmm. Well I youtubed for videos of people changing RAM, there are plenty out there, one chap was specialising in Dells, and he mentioned that sometimes socket one is under the keyboard. Which I had just replaced. Well, I went through the bottom to get at the first chip, and lo and behold, there is the second chip positioned just beneath it. Click, pull, click, pull ... push, click, push, click ... done. The first time I fired it up the desktop Icons were strobing, but that went away when I restarted, so, all is well. And maaaaan it makes a difference. The machine used to jam and freeze and have confuptions whenever I asked it to do more than one thing at a time. I guess half a gig of RAM just don't cut it nowadays. Thank you all. /thread. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

03-20-2011, 06:43 PM	#19
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	Keyboard If you're having issues like that with a keyboard on a laptop, do two things: 1. Take $10 and go to your local Wal-Mart and get a USB keyboard. 2. Take said USB keyboard, go to eBay, type in your computer name and keyboard, and buy one. It'll be much cheaper than anywhere else. If you need a small screwdriver set, buy one there too. Spend the $5, since Radio Shack charges $15 for the same thing. I've had very good luck with finding keyboard for obscure Dell and IBM models there. Takes about 5 minutes to get everything you need. If you want to buy RAM, go for Kingston. I use their server RAM in a 2-server DB cluster that is the base for three very busy hospital emergency departments. No failures yet, and we really stress those servers. I also use their RAM in our Laboratory Information System (Meditech), which is one of the most cantankerous and hardware-stressing environments you can find. Again, no failures.

03-20-2011, 06:44 PM	#20
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	The problems with the rogue 7 key are directly traceable to top management. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

03-16-2011, 10:45 AM	#16
Butchb Guest Posts: n/a	Please update after replacing your keyboard!! I'm having the same problem with Presario 2104US laptop. Removed keyboard and touchpad and plugged in a USB mouse and keyboard. Tried a clean install of XP after running Killdisk. But as soon as it is time to type a name or anything in starts the 7777777777. I can hold down a differant key, for example, z and I get 7z7z7z7z7z. So with no keyboard just mouse and I click the cursor in a box and away go the 777777. Please let me know if a new keyboard helps. Or if others may have ideas please post. Thanks, Butch

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