left bracket and W keys prevent P key being input

[bracketWProblem]

When holding down the left bracket key and the W key on my keyboard and than attempting to press the P key the P key is unable to input, if I press any key other than the W key along with the bracket key the P key inputs, if I press any key other than the P key after the w and bracket the key inputs, for example if I hold down the bracket and then w fallowed by the p key it looks like this [[[[[[[[[[[[[wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww at the end I pressed the p key but it just kept typing w, if i instead press the o key at the end it looks like this, [[[[[[[[[[[[[[wwwwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooo

and if instead of w I press the s key it looks like this [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[sssssssssssssssssssppppppppppp the same issue actually happens with a few other keys like if I say press the e key instead of w well holding down the brackets I again can not press the p key, however for my work it is necessary I be able to press the [ w and p keys at the same time which is why I am focusing on that. I am wondering if this has something to do with the keys being in the same row since e also doesn't work but other keys like t work in the same row so I'm not sure. I have also tried using an external keyboard which allowed me to press the [ w and than p key and register all inputs, although an external keyboard will not work for what I am trying to do for unrelated reasons, so I don't think it is something to do with a setting, however if it is that would be great, I would love for this to have an easy fix, please help, I know this seems like a very niche issue which is part of the problem as I have not been able to find any information regarding anything similar, I'm not even sure where I would start looking, hence why I have come here in all desperation, preying for assistance as getting this to work would help me greatly. 

[Raj_05]

Hi @bracketWProblem,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're experiencing a keyboard issue related to "key rollover" or a conflict where multiple keys being pressed at once are not being registered correctly, particularly for keys on the same row. This can sometimes happen due to limitations in the keyboard's hardware or software, or it could be a configuration issue.
 

Here’s what we can try to troubleshoot.

Check for Keyboard Software Issues:

• Keyboard Drivers and Software: Ensure your keyboard drivers are up-to-date. Sometimes, keyboard issues arise due to outdated or corrupted drivers.
  • Open Device Manager > Keyboards > Right-click your keyboard > Update Driver.
• You could also try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver to see if that resolves the issue.
• Keyboard Settings: If you are using any third-party keyboard customization software (like HP's Hotkey software or any other utility), try resetting it or disabling it to see if it resolves the problem.

Key Rollover Limitation:

• Most keyboards support a certain number of keys being pressed simultaneously (key rollover). If your keyboard is not registering the [ and W keys simultaneously with the P key, it could be due to the keyboard's hardware limitation on how many keys it can process at once.
• Try an alternate key configuration: You mentioned the issue doesn't happen with an external keyboard, but if you're forced to use the built-in keyboard, you could try using key remapping software like SharpKeys or AutoHotkey to remap the keys or create a custom keypress combination.

Test in BIOS/UEFI:

• Reboot the laptop and enter BIOS/UEFI settings to check if the problem persists outside the operating system. This can help determine whether it’s a hardware issue or a software problem.
  • If the issue occurs in BIOS, it's likely hardware-related, which would require a keyboard replacement.
  • If the issue doesn’t happen in BIOS, it is likely a software or driver issue in the operating system.

Hardware Troubleshooting:

• Clean the Keyboard: If some of the keys are physically sticking or malfunctioning, a thorough cleaning might help.
• Test Another User Profile: Sometimes, user profile issues can affect how inputs are recognized. Create a new user profile and test the keyboard there.

[Raj_05]

Consider External Factors:

• Ensure no background applications are interfering with keyboard input. Sometimes, running complex applications or having many background processes can impact input behavior.

If none of these suggestions work and you're certain the problem is with the built-in keyboard, it may be a more complex hardware issue with the keyboard matrix.

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