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dv5040us strange keyboard problem

post #1 of 28
3/26/06 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
I have a new (1 week old) dv5040us with a strange keyboard problem.

Every once in a while, the keyboard "reverses" itself. For example, with the caps lock on, it will type small letters and vice-versa. Also, the click feature won't work right; either it won't select an item or it will select all the items in a list.

I tried reinstalling the drivers. There are no updates. Oddly enough, under keyboard hardware it lists the keyboard as "quick launch buttons" and type "keyboard".

The only thing I've changed on here is the bios...updated it according to hp.

Anyone else had this problem? Is this a hardware problem, driver problem, or some weird xp shortcut that I'm turning on and not realizing?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 28
3/27/06 at 1:41am
hello i have the same model you are using. i have not run into that problem. under the device manager mine also lists the keyboard as quick launch buttons. i have just updated to the latest bios today so if i run into those problems i will let you know. otherwise feel free to ask me any questions you have as i will try to help any way that i can being we have the same model.
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post #3 of 28
3/27/06 at 1:45am
Thread Starter 
I tried rolling back the driver, but the problem still occurs.

It's either:

an obscure XP keyboard change that I'm accidently triggering....

or

it's that old HP bugaboo: crappy keyboards.

I had an HP model years ago; the keyboard gave out after about 2 years; certain keys stopped functioning. It was a very common complaint about HP at the time.

Lets keep in touch about this 5040 owners!
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post #4 of 28
3/31/06 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesteel310
I tried rolling back the driver, but the problem still occurs.

It's either:

an obscure XP keyboard change that I'm accidently triggering....

or

it's that old HP bugaboo: crappy keyboards.

I had an HP model years ago; the keyboard gave out after about 2 years; certain keys stopped functioning. It was a very common complaint about HP at the time.

Lets keep in touch about this 5040 owners!
Try making sure you're not unintentionally enabling "sticky keys" or any of that other XP accessability crap. If you hold down the shift key longer than 5 seconds, or press it 5 times in rapid succession, all sorts of weirdness happens. If you can, press it 5x, get into the configuration screen for keyboard accessability, and disable all the keyboard shortcuts for sticky keys and all the other stuff in there.
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post #5 of 28
3/31/06 at 7:29pm
Thread Starter 
It seems to be a stuck shift key...it happens rather randomly. I have a feeling that the keyboard is bottom of the barrel...and will go defective...typical HP problem unfortunately.
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post #6 of 28
4/1/06 at 12:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanInDeerfield
Try making sure you're not unintentionally enabling "sticky keys" or any of that other XP accessability crap. If you hold down the shift key longer than 5 seconds, or press it 5 times in rapid succession, all sorts of weirdness happens. If you can, press it 5x, get into the configuration screen for keyboard accessability, and disable all the keyboard shortcuts for sticky keys and all the other stuff in there.

That's what I was thinking also. Another place to check is in control panel under TweekUI...

Another thought.... it may be one of the "little" programs the mfg installs...

Could also be some kind of interference from a cell/2.4 /5.8phone or something like that... Could be the next door neighbor has a 100,00 watt transmitting station next door. (Don't laugh, stuff like that happens.... all these consumer grade items are not shielded to Mil spec.)

(Note to self.. Don't place notebook in Microwave to "dry-out" if it gets "wet", not good... Lots of sparks, smoke and fire in some cases:-)

Of course it could be defective keyboard, or one that has crap-ola in it.
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post #7 of 28
4/1/06 at 12:32am
Thread Starter 
It's not a defective keyboard...it's just the typical HP keyboard. I was hoping for a software issue, not mechanical. HP just does not make good keyboards...it's always been a problem. Whenever it happens, I just press the left shift key a few times and it's ok.

Shoddy, shoddy, shoddy
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post #8 of 28
4/1/06 at 1:42am
Thread Starter 
The problem is the left shift key will sometimes stick...the computer is precisely two weeks old. When it sticks, the keyboard goes into the shift mode. Depressing it a few times "unsticks" it.

Keyboard problems are an old, sad story with HP. The computer are actually fairly durable, except for the keyboard. I had an HP years ago; the keyboard reached the point where certain keys would not work (g, h, r, t). These forums were filled with other owners who had the same problem..the keyboard became unseated.

Frankly, they've had years to fix this problem and it's still here. I like HP, but enough is enough.
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post #9 of 28
4/12/06 at 12:31pm

The keyboard saga, part deux

Here's a wild one...

Right after I enabled passwords for startup and for the HDD, my keyboard went ape...

Every letter i pressed for some reason made 2 letters in the password field.

Hitting enter didn't work, nor did escape

I couldn't get into my computer!

I hit the quickplay buttons to see what would happen...

Suddenly I was able to enter my password again with no problems.
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post #10 of 28
4/17/06 at 2:55pm
I would say this is a BIOS or utility software issue. HP needs to come out with better one that would solve these type of problem.
My wife's laptop (sig) has the same problem. It would go into "Caps Lock" by itself while she's typing.
The calculator button above the number pad does NOT function half the time. Other then that, it's a great laptop.
It's not just isolated to just one type/model.
All BIOS and drivers are up to date from HP website.
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post #11 of 28
4/30/06 at 10:09pm
I just bought a dv800t and I've had a similar issue with the keyboard. I'll be in the middle of working in sketch up or acad and the keyboard does the wierdness. I've only ever had it clear it self up once. I happened to notice it seems to do it when checking the wireless status.

I wish someone had a answer to this as I get fed up with having to restart everytime to sort it out
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post #12 of 28
5/1/06 at 1:40pm

same problem

I have this same problem with my dv8000. I would have to say it is just a Shift key getting stuck because it does not behave like when you have the caps lock on (hit numbers and you get the shift functions, unlike caps). It is a really annoying feature, I am going on vaccation soon and think I may send this laptop back to get a new keyboard (got the ext warrenty).

I also have this strange blue screen when using my Verizon wireless card with it.

I am not a fan of this dv8000 so far.

bl
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post #13 of 28
5/1/06 at 2:18pm
I've plugged in a usb keyboad and I havent had any probs so far. This is a big annoyance and HP should really address the issue.

This notebook is perfect apart from this problem
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post #14 of 28
5/1/06 at 2:32pm

hp support

so i just went to hp support for this, they think it is a hardware issue and are sending me a box to send the laptop back

i am not going to send it back for a few more weeks, then i am on vaccation so i wont be needing it anyway

ill keep you all updated though, till then, dont touch the shift key

bl
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post #15 of 28
5/1/06 at 2:44pm
Hmmm. I might do they same but I wonder how long the replacement will take ? I can't afford to be without one for a week and I've just loaded all my soft up.

Did you call HP support or email them ?
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post #16 of 28
5/1/06 at 2:51pm
I did the chat with an online Support rep, it actually went well, they wanted to send a box as soon as they found out in device manager the keyboard does not show up. They said 5-7 business days, but I bought the 3 day turn around already so it should be shorter, but I dont care cuz Ill be on a beach in Mexico.
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post #17 of 28
5/1/06 at 2:57pm
Think I'll be calling them up in a bit. Under device manager all I get is the quick launch thing.....what an arse
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post #18 of 28
5/5/06 at 12:39pm

It sounds like an HP problem. Here's why...

I have a dv8000cto (customize to order, or something like that). There is a forum dealing with the keyboard problems of the dv8000 seriese laptops. In addition to sticky shift keys, we have random, but very frequent, dropped letters and to a certain extent, repeated letters. Sending the laptop back has not been effective for anyone yet. It just disappears for weeks and returns in the same or worse condition. Most of us are using the Turion processor, so that may be part of the problem. The absence of people using the Intel version (zd8000, I think) makes me wonder.

Anyway, the URL to that forum is http://www.talkshack.com/showthread.php?threadid=518. I want to get more people active in contacting HP. Our problem is ridiculous, especially for those of us trying to create software with them. Remarkably, I got through this post with no dropped letters. Normally, I would have had 10 - 15 in a message this size.
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post #19 of 28
5/6/06 at 4:57am
I'll see what I can dig up on the matter. If you do send it in, refer to this http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=50324 thread. I'm going to copy paste it in a new thread in these forums.
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post #20 of 28
5/8/06 at 1:53am
HAHAHA...DUDE I have had this problem before...It has nothing to do with HP or anything else, it is some weird ass hardware feature of the company that makes the keyboards for many computer companies.

I forget completely what to do but I know you have to click ONE of the following: fn, ctrl, shift, alt, windows key, or caps lock, a few (around 5) TIMES and it will go back to normal.

I was really starting to get pissed off when my sager 3790 did this. Try that and it'll fix it.
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