Aspire 5 A517-51 keyboard not working. Only the power button is working

FlipFluitketel

Hi,

I've got 2 Acer Aspire 5 A517-51-laptops of which the keyboard is not working. The only key that is working on both of the laptops is the power-button.

I've already tried resetting the battery, disconnected the keyboard-cable but the keyboard won't work. It has nothing to do with drivers in Windows because the keyboard isn't working in the bios (or a knoppix-boot-disc) either.

Any ideas to try?

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

JackE

Most likely hardware. My best guess is the KB cable wedge assembly. Maybe warped? The white push wedgies on the sides often break off or otherwise don't apply enough pressure to make good contact with the ends of the ribbon. I've had to tape the cable end or use a mylar film spacer inside the connector on some boards to make good contact. The white line on the ribbon must be parallel to and just kissing the edge of the connector

JackE

Do they both still have the original factory installed BIOS version number?

FlipFluitketel

When the problem started I think they had the factory installed bios but I updated both laptops to the latest bios-version available when the problem occurred.

JackE

> >When the problem started I think they had the factory installed bios > > I updated both laptops to the latest bios-version available when the problem occurred.> >

Both keyboards failing basic i/o initialization is most likely due to the BIOS update. Unlike device driver updates, BIOS updates are risky, often irreversible and thus should only be applied to try to fix issues described by the update. What issue were you trying to fix that the factory BIOS was causing?

andresmit

ORIGINAL

Aspire 5 A517-51 toetsenbord werkt niet. Alleen de aan/uit-knop werkt. ik heb hetzelfde probleem, gewoon spontaan gekomen

TRANSLATED

Aspire 5 A517-51 keyboard not working. Only the power button works. I have the same problem, it just happened spontaneously

[Translated using google translator]

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1257842#Comment_1257842

The keyboard wasn't working before the bios-update. I was hoping the bios-update would fix the issue but apparently it didn't.

JackE

So both keyboards failed at exactly the same time for no apparent reason?

JackE

Dus toetsenborden faalden op precies hetzelfde moment zonder duidelijke reden?

So keyboards failed at exactly the same time for no apparent reason?

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1257872#Comment_1257872

No, not at the same time. One laptop had the problem in november but I thought it was just defective and last saturday I received a second one with the same problem. (I have a small business in computer/notebook-repair.)

With the second one my customer was working with it, put it in standby and when he returned an hour later the keyboard wasn't working anymore. With the first one I don't know when it stopped working because that customer also often uses an external keyboard.

JackE

> >disconnected the keyboard-cable but the keyboard won't work> >

Cable connector contacts should be gently wiped with a soft cloth or cotton swab tip moistened with rubbing alcohol. Then re-seated a half-dozen or so times to help clean the contacts on both the cable and mainboard connectors.

De contacten van de kabelconnectoren moeten voorzichtig worden afgeveegd met een zachte doek of een wattenstaafje bevochtigd met ontsmettingsalcohol. Vervolgens een half dozijn keer opnieuw geplaatst om de contacten op zowel de kabel- als de moederbordconnectoren schoon te maken.

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1257915#Comment_1257915

Cleaned the connectors (yes, 2 because the cable of the keyboard is connected with the thing in the picture), still nothing.

It's just weird that the only key on the keyboard that is working is the power-button and all other keys are dead.

JackE

There've been a few reports of errant WinUpdates messing with firmware. Try removing battery pack and unplug CMOS coin cell from its mainboard pins. Short the pins for about 10 seconds. CMOS coin cell must be ≥3.1vdc.

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258027#Comment_1258027

Tried it, still not working.

JackE

> > because the keyboard isn't working in the bios > >

Are you accessing the BIOS menu with a USB keyboard's F2 key? Or is the laptop's own F2 key working?

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258076#Comment_1258076

With a usb-keyboard because the laptop's keyboard isn't working anywhere.

JackE

What is the Insyde BIOS version number?

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258154#Comment_1258154

V2.03 5/22/2019

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258183#Comment_1258183

Buy the Aspire A515-51 keyboards separately on eBay, they are pretty cheap and like USD $18.50, as you need to replace both your laptops keyboards so that they will work. Acer only sells the top cover combined with the keyboard for the A515-51 laptop. Connecting an external keyboard to the laptops USB port, does not mean anything and/or that your internal keyboard will work, as an external keyboard is connected with a USB while the internal keyboard is connected with its flat ribbon cable to the mainboard. Good luck.

If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258190#Comment_1258190

I'm not going to do that. It's a nightmare getting the keyboard separated from the topcover. And still it's not sure it will solve the problem, if the keyboard is the problem why is the powerbutton working? Why did it work without problems and suddenly each key stopped working (except the powerbutton)?

JackE

Was CMOS cell voltage ≥3.1?

FlipFluitketel

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1258227#Comment_1258227

It's 3,2V.