How to fix some keys switching between working and not working after old soda spill

[Sim875]

A few months ago I had accidentally spilled some soda on a few of my keys, mainly my spacebar, M key, comma key, period key and right alt key. At the time I had wiped it down and it had gone back to working properly, but day before yesterday all of those keys suddenly completely stopped working. I was freaking out and removed all those keys, cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and put them back and thankfully they started working again.

Since yesterday, though, they keep switching between working and not working. Sometimes it's taking several harsh clicks, sometimes it's taking long-presses, and sometimes they're simply not working and going back to working randomly.  And all of the faulty ones stop and start working all at the same time (It isn't a software issue, since I tried plugging in a sibling's keyboard and all keys working just fine).

I can't afford to replace my keyboard. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Is it possible for the problem to get worse? I can live with super annoying faulty keys but I really can't have them completely stop working on me.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Sim875,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your laptop!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Try these steps:

1. Further Cleaning:

• Power Off and Unplug: Ensure the laptop is powered off and unplugged from any power source.
• Remove the Battery (if possible): For safety, also remove the battery if you can do so easily.
• Deeper Cleaning: If you feel comfortable, carefully remove the affected keys again and clean beneath them. Ensure to clean the contacts on the keyboard and the underside of the keys properly.

2. Drying Time:

• After cleaning, allow the keys and the keyboard some drying time. Ensure everything is completely dry before reassembling and powering on the laptop.

3. Check Internal Keyboard Connection:

• Open the Laptop Case: If you’re comfortable, you can open the laptop's bottom cover to check if the keyboard connector to the motherboard is secure.
• Re-seat the Connector: Sometimes the connectors can become loose, especially after liquid exposure. Carefully re-seat the connector to ensure it is secure.

4. Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers:

• Device Manager: Go to Device Manager (Right-click on Start Menu > Device Manager).
• Keyboard Section: Expand the Keyboards section, right-click on your keyboard device, and select "Update driver."
• Reinstall Driver: Alternatively, you can uninstall the keyboard driver and restart your laptop. Windows should automatically reinstall the correct driver upon reboot.

5. External Keyboard Test:

• Connect an External Keyboard: Plug in an external USB keyboard to test if the issue is purely with the built-in keyboard. If the external keyboard works perfectly, the issue is likely hardware-related with the built-in keyboard.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,