[SOLVED] Left Bracket "(" No Longer Available via LEFT Shift Key

netfoot · 03-13-2019, 06:35 PM

My laptop has just stopped accepting Left-Shift-9 to produce a left bracket "(".

The "9" key works fine, but if I want a "(" I have to use the RIGHT-Shift key to get it.

The LEFT-Shift key works just fine with every OTHER key on the keyboard, but not the 9/( key.

ALSO, periodically, the keyboard will start generating/auto-repeating a never-ending series of tilde "~" keystrokes. When this happens, it seems I can touch any key and it stops.

This behaviour occurs in the console as well as KDE Konsole and other programs.

I have looked carefully and no keys appear to be stuck down.

If it was a hardware problem with the LEFT-Shift key, why does it work fine with every other key but the 9/( key? If the problem was with the 9/( key, why does it work just fine with the RIGHT-Shift key?

I don't want it to be a hardware problem anyhow, because I LIKE this laptop and can't really afford to replace it now anyway. SO, any ideas, suggestions, things to check/try would be appreciated.

Machine runs Slackware v1.14 (kernel 4.4.14).

RandomTroll · 03-14-2019, 12:11 AM

It sounds like a hardware problem to me. I've replaced the keyboard on my laptop twice cheaply (it's 10 years old). Identical replacements are cheap on eBay; instructions are on YouTube. You can also try very careful cleaning. Remove the keyboard, hold it upside down over a vacuum cleaner (may rip key caps off!). Spray 91% isopropanol on it when it's upside down, leave in a hot well-ventilated place. I use the cab of my pickup in the summer: it'll reach 60C !

fatmac · 03-14-2019, 07:29 AM

To check that it's a faulty laptop keyboard, just plug in a USB keyboard for confirmation.

netfoot · 03-14-2019, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatmac

To check that it's a faulty laptop keyboard, just plug in a USB keyboard for confirmation.

Brilliant. USB keyboard works fine, so...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomTroll

I've replaced the keyboard on my laptop twice cheaply (it's 10 years old). Identical replacements are cheap on eBay; instructions are on YouTube.

Unfortunately, the laptop is an Alpha Litebook. I don't know how easy it will be to find a replacement keyboard.

BW-userx · 03-14-2019, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netfoot

Brilliant. USB keyboard works fine, so...

Unfortunately, the laptop is an Alpha Litebook. I don't know how easy it will be to find a replacement keyboard.

get its make and model number and search eBay for keyboard spare parts.

RandomTroll · 03-14-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netfoot

Unfortunately, the laptop is an Alpha Litebook.

DEC made a laptop?

netfoot · 03-16-2019, 07:18 AM

Ok, when I get a chance to take the machine apart, I will get the make/model of the keyboard and try to find a replacement.

In the mean time I have implemented a (probably temporary) fix. I gave the keyboard a very hard slap. It's worked perfectly ever since.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomTroll

DEC made a laptop?

No, as far as I know, DEC never made a laptop. But Alpha Universal, LLC did...

RandomTroll · 03-16-2019, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netfoot

In the mean time I have implemented a (probably temporary) fix. I gave the keyboard a very hard slap. It's worked perfectly ever since.

You may have dislodged some bit of stuff. Try spraying air under the keycaps. I bought a bottle I can pump to 90 psi with a bike pump, use that. Others buy cans with propellants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by netfoot

No, as far as I know, DEC never made a laptop. But Alpha Universal, LLC did...

DEC went out of business first. I made a little joke. I suspect Alpha Universal put its name on a laptop, as opposed to building one.

https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxhardwa...universal_llc/

BW-userx · 03-16-2019, 03:28 PM

make and model should be on the bottom of it.

netfoot · 03-16-2019, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomTroll

I made a little joke.

Sorry -- It's the meds!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW-userx

make and model should be on the bottom of it.

On the bottom of the laptop? On the bottom, there is a little, smudged sticker with some info, including a serial number. Not at all legible.

If I could figure out how, I'd change the subject line to add "SOLVED: PERCUSSION METHOD"

BW-userx · 03-16-2019, 06:25 PM

try this if it says command not found then install it. and try again.

Code:

 sudo dmidecode | grep -A6 '^System Information'

gives system info

Code:

 $ sudo dmidecode | grep -A6 '^System Information'
System Information
        Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
        Product Name: HP EliteBook 8460p
        Version: A0001D02
        Serial Number: CNU2241JCG
        UUID: c207889b-7069-11e3-9067-

netfoot · 03-16-2019, 06:58 PM

[QUOTE=BW-userx;5974548]try this if it says command not found then install it. and try again.

Code:

 sudo dmidecode | grep -A6 '^System Information'

Useful!

Code:

System Information
        Manufacturer: Insyde
        Product Name: Braswell
        Version: Type1 - TBD by OEM
        Serial Number: Type1 - 123456789
        UUID: 12345678-1234-5678-90ab-cddeefaabbcc
        Wake-up Type: Power Switch
        SKU Number: Type1 - SKU0
        Family: Type1 - Family

Uh-oh...

RandomTroll · 03-16-2019, 11:57 PM

I suspect you have a kludge special: a slumgullion of random parts thrown together to make a cheap computer, and can't count on all the parts to be the same from one to another. The keyboard may have an identifying sticker on its bottom. The parts are probably standard. If a whack can fix it, it probably needs only cleaning.