Keyboard issue: Ctrl or “.” key auto-pressing continuously on HP 15s laptop

[Gautham10]

My HP 15s laptop is randomly registering key presses without me touching the keyboard. The Ctrl key, the “.” key, or the Windows key activates by itself at unpredictable intervals. This happens even when I connect and use an external USB keyboard, so the issue does not seem limited to the built-in keyboard.

I have already tried the following steps:
• Uninstalled and reinstalled the keyboard driver
• Updated the BIOS to the latest version
• Checked for Windows updates
• Restarted and performed a full shutdown

Despite these steps, the problem continues.

I need a solution or guidance on what might be causing this—whether it is a hardware fault (keyboard, internal connector, motherboard), a driver issue, or something else—and how I can permanently fix it.

[Garp_senchau]

@Gautham10, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating issue where the laptop's keyboard (or potentially other components) is registering random key presses, even when you're not touching it. Since you've already tried some common troubleshooting steps (reinstalling drivers, updating BIOS, etc.), it might be helpful to consider the following few steps:

Run HP Diagnostics

Check if there’s a hardware issue:

Turn off the laptop.

Press Esc repeatedly when turning it on to open the Startup Menu.

Press F2 to run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.

Test the keyboard under Component Test.

Check Sticky/Filter Keys

Turn off accessibility features that might cause key presses:

Go to Control Panel > Ease of Access > Set up Filter Keys.

Ensure Filter Keys and Sticky Keys are both off.

Reset BIOS to Default

Reset BIOS settings to default to rule out configuration issues:

Turn off the laptop.

Press F10 when turning it on to open BIOS.

Select Restore Defaults and save changes.

Try System Restore

Go back to a previous point when the issue didn’t happen:

Type "System Restore" in the search bar.

Choose a restore point before the issue started.

Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

Update or reinstall the keyboard drivers:

Go to HP Support and download the latest keyboard and touchpad drivers.

Restart the laptop after installing.

Boot in Safe Mode

Boot your laptop into Safe Mode to check if third-party software is causing the issue:

Hold Shift and click Restart from the Start menu.

Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Press F4 for Safe Mode.

Perform a Hardware Reset

Reset the hardware to clear any electrical issues:

Turn off the laptop.

Remove the power cable and battery (if possible).

Hold the power button for 15–20 seconds.

Reconnect everything and turn it on.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,