ctrl key not working, HP Spectre

[maria1024]

I'm having an issue with the Ctrl key on my Spectre 360 laptop — it’s not working. I’ve already tried vacuuming the keys (the laptop is only a year old), ran keyboard diagnostics (F2), which showed no problems, and connected an external keyboard, where the Ctrl key works fine. Someone on this forum suggested disabling the Intel Integrated Sensor Solution,  I tried that as well, and it didn't help.

Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to fix this?

[Nal_NR · Accepted solution]

Hi @maria1024,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be happy to help you! 

I understand that you are having issues with the Ctrl key.

It sounds like you've already tried several effective troubleshooting steps for the non-functional Ctrl key on your HP Spectre x360 13.5 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC. Since the issue persists, here are a few more steps you can try:

1. Check for Keyboard Driver Updates

• Update Keyboard Drivers:
  • Open Device Manager.
  • Expand the Keyboards section.
  • Right-click on the keyboard driver and select Update driver.
  • Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

2. Check for BIOS/UEFI Updates

• Ensure that your laptop's BIOS is up-to-date, as updates can sometimes fix hardware-related issues.
• You can check for updates via the HP Support Assistant or download the latest BIOS version from the HP Support website.

3. Test in Safe Mode

• Boot your laptop into Safe Mode to see if the Ctrl key functions there. This can help determine if a third-party software or driver is interfering with the keyboard.
  • To boot into Safe Mode:
    1. Press Shift while clicking Restart.
    2. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
    3. After the restart, select Safe Mode with Networking.

4. Perform a Clean Boot

• A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts by starting Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.
  • Open System Configuration (type msconfig in the Start menu).
  • Under the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable all.
  • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  • Disable all startup items.
  • Restart your computer and test the Ctrl key.

5. Reset Keyboard Settings

• Resetting your keyboard settings to default might resolve the issue.
  • Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language.
  • Select your language, then click Options.
  • Remove and re-add the keyboard.

6. Consider a System Restore

• If the Ctrl key recently stopped working, you can try restoring your system to a previous state where it was functioning correctly.
  • Search for Create a restore point in the Start menu.
  • Select System Restore and choose a restore point from before the issue began.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it could be a hardware problem specific to the internal keyboard. In that case, you may need to contact HP support for further diagnostics or repair.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[maria1024]

Thank you for the suggestions. After a failed system restore, my ctrl key is back... 

[Nal_NR]

Hi @maria1024,

Fantastic 🙂 I truly appreciate your time and patience in getting this issue resolved.  

If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us. 

[maria1024]

After one single day, the problem reappeared: the ctrl key does not work. 😞