Some specific keys stop working, can temporarily fix sometimes but they stop again

[SteveThat1Guy]

Five keys stopped working randomly: Caps Lock, Tab, Tilde, Escape, and the #2 key.

I uninstalled the laptop keyboard via device manager, restarted, tried hard rebooting, tried rebooting in safe mode, ran the Windows Troubleshooting and HP 'diagnostics', using the Microsoft Media Creation tool to do a reinstall/refresh, etc. Nothing worked.

I had given up and plugged in an external keyboard, then went to uninstall the laptop keyboard again via device manager. After uninstalling again (which would be probably the 3rd time at this point), all 5 keys started working again for a few hours.
Twice out of maybe a dozen attempts, immediately after uninstalling (but not yet rebooting), all 5 mentioned keys started working again. They continued working after a restart, but only for a little while before eventually having the same issue again (again, all 5 of the same mentioned keys only).

Because I have sometimes gotten all 5 keys to work after uninstalling the keyboard driver, this leads me to believe there is some sort of software issue, but I can't find a consistent solution.

The laptop isn't even 3 years old yet.

[Raj_05]

Hi @SteveThat1Guy,

Welcome to HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It seems like you've already taken several troubleshooting steps, but the issue persists. Given that the problem occurs intermittently and that uninstalling the keyboard driver temporarily resolves it, it does point to a potential software issue. Here are a few additional steps you can try to further diagnose and fix the problem.

Update Keyboard Drivers: Ensure that you have the latest keyboard drivers installed. Visit the official HP support website for your laptop model and download the latest drivers for the keyboard. Sometimes, Windows updates or conflicts can cause driver issues.

Check for Windows Updates: Make sure your operating system is up to date. Install any pending Windows updates, as they may include fixes for hardware-related issues.

BIOS/UEFI Update: Check if there are any BIOS/UEFI updates available for your laptop on the HP support website. Updating the BIOS can sometimes resolve hardware-related problems.

Run System File Checker (SFC): Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and run the System File Checker to scan and repair corrupted system files. Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

Check for Malware: Run a full system scan with your antivirus software to ensure that malware or other malicious software is not causing the issue.

Create a New User Account: Create a new user account on your laptop and check if the issue persists there. If the problem is resolved in the new account, it could be related to user-specific settings.

Perform a System Restore: If the issue started recently, consider performing a System Restore to revert your system to a previous state when the keyboard was working correctly.

Hardware Check: If all else fails, it's worth considering that there might be a hardware issue. 

Remember to back up your important data before performing any major system changes or updates.

I hope this helps. 
 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4
HP Support 

[SteveThat1Guy]

Unfortunately, I have tried all of those steps (even creating a new user profile, which doesn't seem related here but I tried it anyways).

At random, sometimes after a reboot, the keys will start working again. But they haven't started working again for a few days now. I initially believed it to be a software issue since they worked once every now and then after uninstalling the keyboard drivers, but I think this was just a fluke.

I am now thinking it more likely that there is just a hardware defect on the HP Omen line since there have been multiple users complaining about the same. There is likely something that can just go bad or get disconnected or shorted somehow with the keys themselves.

[Raj_05]

Hi @SteveThat1Guy,

Thank you for your response,

Due to limited support, I would request you contact our HP Support and our Support Engineers should be able to sort this out. HP Support can be reached by clicking on the following link.

https://www.hp.com/contacthp/

Please feel free to contact us here anytime you need any further assistance.

Have a great day!

Alden4
HP Support