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    Dell 1420 Keyboard Problem

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Xkaliber, Sep 5, 2009.

  1. Xkaliber

    Xkaliber Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi all,

    I have a Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop that has been giving me problems lately. About three weeks ago, the middle row of keys on my keyboard suddenly stopped working. I figured that the keyboard must have gone bad so I ordered another one off ebay and recently installed it. To my disappointment, the new keyboard had the same problem as the old one. Obviously, this means the keyboard is not the problem so it must be something else.

    Does anyone have any other troubleshooting ideas?
     
    Xkaliber, Sep 5, 2009
    #1
  2. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Download and burn an Ubuntu LiveCD or something similar (or if you really want to be cool, DSL - Damn Small Linux). Boot from the LiveCD and try to use the keyboard within Linux. If it works, then you've narrowed it down to a Windows issue. If it fails there as well, then you have something deeper.
     
    Mastershroom, Sep 5, 2009
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  3. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    Or boot into the BIOS and I believe there is a part in there where you can assign a system tag (not your service tag, but another part). See if you can type in there using the middle row of keys. This would also elimiate the windows drivers.
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 5, 2009
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  4. Xkaliber

    Xkaliber Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the tips. I went into the bios and the keyboard was still having problems there so it must be a hardware issue of some sort. I looked at the laptop and it appears the keyboard plugs into a connector that is part of the palm rest. The palm rest then plugs into a connector on the actual motherboard.

    Right now, I think my best be would be to try and replace the palm rest and see if that fixes the problem. They go for about $20 on eBay so its not a big waste if it turns out the palm rest is not the problem. Does this seem to be the best course of action at the moment?
     
    Xkaliber, Sep 7, 2009
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  5. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    I would say that for $20 it's not a bad idea - is the machine out of warranty?
     
    Fragilexx, Sep 7, 2009
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