keyboard stops working and mouse is in 'area selection mode'

[u19809]

about once every two days, while doing normal editing work all of a sudden my keyboard no longers works and my mouse seems to be in selection mode.  I.e. when I click it selects an area in my document.

Also my browser links appear in another window seeming to indicate that some kind of control is active.

I also noticed that my caps lock led is on and cannot be turned off.  I started on screen keyboard which showed indeed ctrl and capslock on but turning them off in the on screen keyboard does nothing.

I tried to put my PC to sleep (hoping that warm restart resets) but to no avail.  

The only solutoin I have found is a complete reboot but that requires a full restart of everything 😞

I did a bios upgrade as suggested by the HP diagnostics tool 

Help !

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @u19809 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I'm sorry to hear about the recurring issues with your HP Spectre x360 16-inch laptop. It sounds like a frustrating experience, especially when it disrupts your workflow. 

Based on your description, the problem seems to involve stuck modifier keys (Ctrl and Caps Lock) and possibly a software or hardware conflict. 

Here are some detailed troubleshooting steps that might help:

1. Check for Stuck Keys or Hardware Issues

• Inspect your physical keyboard for any stuck keys, especially Ctrl and Caps Lock. Gently clean around the keys using compressed air or a soft brush.
• If the issue persists, try connecting an external keyboard to see if the problem replicates. This can help determine if the issue is hardware-related.

2. Disable Sticky Keys and Accessibility Features

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and ensure that Sticky Keys and other accessibility features are turned off.
• If Sticky Keys are enabled, they might be causing the modifier keys to remain active.

3. Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

• Open Device Manager and locate Keyboards.
• Right-click on your keyboard driver and select Update Driver.
• If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, try uninstalling the driver and restarting your laptop. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

4. Check for Software Conflicts

• Open Task Manager and look for any applications or processes that might be interfering with keyboard or mouse functionality.
• Disable unnecessary startup programs via Task Manager > Startup.

5. Test in Safe Mode

• Restart your laptop in Safe Mode to check if the issue persists. If it doesn’t, the problem might be caused by third-party software or drivers.
• To enter Safe Mode, go to Settings > Recovery > Advanced Startup Options and select Restart Now. Then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart and select Safe Mode.

6. Reset Keyboard Settings

• Open Control Panel > Region and Language > Keyboards and Languages and ensure the correct keyboard layout is selected.
• If you’re using custom keyboard shortcuts or macros, reset them to default settings.

7. Disable Intel Integrated Sensor Solution

• Some users have reported that disabling the Intel Integrated Sensor Solution in Device Manager > System Devices resolves similar issues. Right-click on it and select Disable, then restart your laptop.

8. Perform a Clean Boot

• Perform a clean boot to rule out conflicts caused by third-party software:
  • Open System Configuration (type msconfig in the Start menu).
  • Under the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services and disable all remaining services.
  • Restart your laptop and test the keyboard and mouse functionality.

9. Run Hardware Diagnostics

• Use HP’s built-in diagnostic tools to check for hardware issues:
  • Restart your laptop and press Esc repeatedly to access the Startup Menu.
  • Select F2 (System Diagnostics) and run tests for the keyboard and touchpad.

10. Consider a Factory Reset

• If all else fails, you might consider performing a factory reset to rule out software conflicts. Ensure you back up your data before proceeding.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye