Certain keys on laptop keyboard stopped working

[adkuevia]

Hello. Certain keys on my HP Laptop's keyboard have suddenly stopped working, I've marked them in the image below.

Blue marks for keys that don't work.

I've restarted my pc multiple times, uninstalled and reinstalled the keyboard drivers, checked those drivers for updates (where none were listed), but still nothing changed. Is there another method I should use? I should also mention that this laptop is around 4 years old, if that's important to note.

[erico]

I suggest invoking the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI  utilty.

Power on and immediately tap the F2 key.  Choose Component tests and then keyboard test. Run the test.

Another thing that you can do is  connect an external USB keyboard to your laptop to see if all of the key are working on it.

Don't forget to post the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI  utilty keyboard test result, including the alphanumeric error code, if there is one.

[adkuevia]

I went through that process and it resulted in a failed test. The failure ID was: GQEKTA-9SFC5N-MFGKHF-G56X03 with a product ID of: 7QK06UA#ABA. I don't currently have access to any kind of external keyboard, so unfortunately I'm unable to see if the issue is specifically related to the keyboard itself instead of the hardware.

[erico]

Was there by chance a liquid of any type inadvertently spilled on the keyboard? 

I will find out what the  the diagnostic error code means and get back to you.

Failure details - Keyboard Test:

Failure ID:GQEKTA-9SFC5N-MFGKHF-G56X03

Test date:2024-06-30

Component tested:Keyboard Test

IMPORTANT:The test found a problem with the keyboard. The keyboard may need to be replaced.

[adkuevia]

There wasn't anything spilled onto the keyboard, it just suddenly stopped working for seemingly no reason. I ended up getting an external keyboard and it works fine, so it seems like the issue is with the keyboard itself. It appears like the only option to directly fix it is to find a way to repair it. But for now, I'll be sticking with an external keyboard for the time being. I appreciate the help, though, thank you.

[sreigle]

After trying many different suggestions I finally found one that worked for me. Here is what I did:

(mine is Windows 11 with English (United States) as the default language)
1. Settings/Time and Language/Language & Regions

2. Scroll to Preferred Languages and select Add a language

3. Choose a language and wait until it has finished downloading and installing. Mine never said it finished, the progress bars just stopped at the halfway point.

4. Move the new language above your default language. Can't remember if I selected to move the default down or the new language to move up. Whichever is available.

5. Now reverse that, moving the default language back to the top.

6. Delete the new language.

Moving the language to the top resets the keyboard to the new language. Then moving your preferred language back to the top reloads it.

I do not recall whether I rebooted or just went on with life but the problem was gone and all six of the problem keys have worked perfectly ever since. I did this process on 7/13/24 and have had no more problem with the keys.

[erico]

That is pretty strange.

I can't say I ever heard of doing that resulting in the resolution of a problem.

Would you mind running the keyboard test again?

[sreigle]

What keyboard test are your referring to? I can type every key and it works fine. I applied the above last Saturday, 7/13. Today is Thursday, 7/18 and I have had no problems at all with the keyboard since the 13th. I am retired so am on this laptop most of the day. I'm also retired IT, application development, but am not sure what the "fix" did other than it must have first loaded the 2nd language driver when I made it primary, then reloaded my current language driver when I moved it back to primary. Previously, I tried

- clearing power by unplugging the power from the laptop and all accessories (after shutting down), then holding the power key for 30 seconds. Then plugging everything in and starting the system. No joy.

- In Device Manager, searched for an updated driver. Told me I am on the current driver. Then had it search my system. Same thing.

- In Device Manager, uninstalled the keyboard and rebooted. No change.

- After much more searching I found this "keyboard reset" method that involves switching to a new language for the keyboard, then switching back. I then rebooted. I don't know if the reboot was necessary but that is what I did. Keyboard fixed and has worked without problem ever since.

The problem keys were - DEL, Home, End, Left Arrow, Right Arrow. I use all of those quite a bit. I often watch ball games or videos and use the arrow keys to back up or skip forward. The others are used as a matter of course during the day.

I posted thinking maybe someone else with a similar problem that nothing seems to solve might be able to fix the problem the same way I did.

By the way, I did not "invent" this method. I found it during my numerous googling for solutions.

This laptop is a 3-yr old HP Pavilion 15 EG2073CL running windows 11 (up to date).

[sreigle]

Above I said I rebooted after the language switches but I can't remember for sure if I did reboot but am relatively sure I did. 

[erico]

I am referring to the keyboard test in the HP PC Diagnostics UEFI utility.

It was installed at the factory and you should be able to invoke it if you immediately tap the F2 key after pressing the power button.

Click on Component tests and then Keyboard.