Left ctrl key stopped working until I bought a new laptop...

[JimAK]

Left ctrl key stopped working on Sunday (20-06-21) evening. The laptop was bought in Nov 2017, so is 3 years and 7 months old - just seven months outside of its 3-yr care pack.

Over the course of Monday, I deployed every possible solution I could find, some of which are listed below, but not all:

• Windows troubleshooter could find no issue
• On-screen keyboard (OSK) couldn't see the key
• Uninstalled the HID devices and allowed them to reinstall with no joy
• Did all the most recent Windows updates - nothing. Installed the latest HotKey services - no change
• Updated the BIOS - key still not working

Started ordering a new laptop (HP ProBook x360 435 G7) from HP on the Monday and completed and paid for on Tuesday (22-06-21, 12:30).

Immediately after the payment transaction was completed the left ctrl key suddenly started working again. No, really the minute after the transaction, the left ctrl key miraculously returned.

I've logged a case with HP support, but in the meantime has anyone experienced the same and does anyone know what Windows or HP logs I can analyse to discover what has happened here as I have just made a large purchase that I might not have had to do so soon.

Thank you

James.

[iomare]

Hi James.

It must be a coincidence. I am not a great believer in coincidences, but it must be the case here. There will be no detailed tracking of your notebook, there is no way that a specific key would be turned off by "HP" or another company. 

You could see in update history if there were any updates during the exact time. Or Windows Event viewer to see if there are any events at the time. There will be no HP log for such things.

In my opinion, it would be a hardware issue. Keyboards can fail after 3 years, or drives, batteries...

I would say a "stuck" key that somehow came unstuck.

Hope it helps,

David