HP Pavilion x360 Keyboard Disabled Sensor Problem

[Bianka90]

Product: Pavilion x360 14-dh1330ng

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit), Fedora Gnome Classic

Likely problem: Tablet mode sensors

Hi! I have a question about how the system detects whether I'm in tablet or notebook mode. This is important for me to narrow down the faulty hardware.

In summary:

My device is now 4 years old, but still in like new condition, except for the small thing that the keyboard and touchpad have been deactivated by the system for a long time and I can only make entries via the touch display.

Detailed:
I have 2 devices, one older than 4 years, one less than 3 years. With my 4-year-old model, the problem has been that the keyboard and touchpad no longer work as soon as any operating system is loaded. I've tried several operating systems, currently I'm on Linux (Fedora Workstation). What amazes me is that the younger device has been showing the same symptoms for about a month, that it can't get out of tablet mode without closing and opening it again. Unfortunately, this does not help with the older device.

I did a lot of research and found that the gyro sensor in the display could be faulty. The problem is that even though I removed the sensor, the system didn't change anything. Sometimes the keyboard works again randomly after a reboot. However, since the keyboard can only be recognized again after a restart, I cannot carry out an in situ search for the cause of the error, since my changes to the hardware are only applied after each restart. It all feels very random, which is why I'm stuck trying to figure out what's really going on.

However, there is a very high probability that I can rule out a driver or software problem, so please don't come and tell me to install drivers from HP or anything, I've already got it all behind me. The keyboard and touchpad work fine in the bios. I don't have a keyboard lock button. However, I've observed that when the keyboard doesn't work, the screen rotation doesn't work either. When I'm actually in tablet mode (screen flipped), the rotation pretty much always worked. However, it creeps up on me that the problem could be related to another sensor, since removing the gyro sensor was not enough to permanently disable or enable the keyboard.

Maybe that could also have something to do with it: Sometimes the system doesn't react when I've closed it... That indicates a faulty magnetic sensor?

So now the question:

Does anyone know the hardware, how the HP PC recognizes whether it is now in the folded state? You would need at least 2 sensors for that, right?

Thank you for your answers!

-Bianka

[Bianka90]

In fact, I've read a lot of threads that say it must be an OS problem. However, while the keyboard was not working, I had tried Ubuntu and Fedora as the Live USB system. Lo and behold, same problem.

!!! I may have found an inelegant solution !!!

When booting, fold the screen completely (tablet mode) and fold it back into notebook mode as soon as the operating system is loaded.
That helped once, I'll see if it always solves it.

All the best

-Bianka

[Bianka90]

In the last few days the problem has increased more and more. I had to use the method mentioned above after every boot. Maybe 7 times this tactic worked. Now, for whatever reason, it is NOT working. I'm really out of patience and frustrated. I've never experienced anything like that and I'd probably rather avoid HP, because I've never had such errors with other notebook-tablet devices.

The only thing that helps sometimes is to disassemble the screen, unplug the G-sensor and restart a few times without the sensor. Then plug the sensor back in and restart. Then it works, but I have to take my PC apart for half an hour. 

[Bianka90]

What shoud that? You just changed half my thread. Are we in a dictatorship here that I am not allowed to express my free opinion @Ric_ob !?
Incomprehensible. Rather than curtailing information and free speech, it would help me at least get some suggestion.

[Nirvana_95]

Hi @Bianka90

Welcome to the HP Support Community. I'd like to help!  

This situation will need some additional support from our internal teams in HP. For that to happen, we will give you additional instructions/information via Private Message.

Please look for a private message from me requesting additional information. Keep in mind not to publicly post personal information (serial numbers and case details). 

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