AN515-54 keyboard issue

rishabh2011
rishabh2011 Member Posts: 8

Tinkerer
edited November 2023 in 2020 Archives
My keyboard has suddenly started registering multiple characters on certain keys. For example : k-4, 4-k, Space-Alt, J-MediaPause, I-MediaPause, M-MediaPause, Alt-,. I don't know if this is a hardware issue but it does seem like one as external keyboards are working fine. Has anybody else had this issue? How to Fix?

Answers

  • ragsak28
    ragsak28 Ally Posts: 677
    Hi @rishabh2011

    You can try to check whether your keyboard language setting is in English US under the keyboard settings option.

    Or

    You can try this troubleshooting step: Completely disconnect you laptop from the charger, turn off the computer. At the back side or at the sides of your computer you will be able to find a small tiny pin hole where only a safety pin can get into it. You just have to get a safety pin and just press into it a little bit firmly and hold it down for about 30 to 40 secs. Then try to boot the computer back and check for mis typings from the keyboard as you said.

    Hope it will help you in some way. 
  • rishabh2011
    rishabh2011 Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer
    @ragsak28 Thanks for your reply. I had already checked the keyboard language settings. No issues there. My laptop model doesn't come with a battery reset hole so I had to do a software reset. Unfortunately it did not fix my issue.
  • rishabh2011
    rishabh2011 Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer
    edited October 2020
    Update: After testing for a while I've found the the issue disappears after a while of not using the keyboard or after gaming for a while. The keyboard then works fine for a short while before the issue props up again. Could it still be a hardware issue?
  • rishabh2011
    rishabh2011 Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer
    Update 2: The keyboard issue seems to have been solved somehow. I was just messing around with potential fixes from the internet including changing language and region settings, updating keyboard driver (I was already on the latest driver), blowing in the affected keys etc. and as sudden as the issue had propped up it went away. I have no idea what caused the issue and what solved it. I'm glad it was not a hardware issue though. But I am still curious as to what could have caused the issue. The last thing I remember doing was pressing fn + capslock. Maybe that fixed it somehow?
  • PRogers
    PRogers Member Posts: 1 New User
    Mine is doing the same thing and I have done everything I can to fix it, with the exception of installing a new keyboard.

    I took the computer apart, manually disconnected the battery from the board and let it sit, came back later and turned it back on, and it worked for a couple of minutes and started again.

    I have uninstalled the keyboard driver, restarted, and reinstalled and it didn't affect anything.

    I disconnected the power cord, turned off the computer, held down the power button for 12 seconds then let the computer sit for 15 minutes, and that did nothing.

    A few times I have been able to get it working correctly, but have found that as soon as I push the Function key, the keyboard instantly starts typing multiple characters again on a single button push. 

    The fact I can get it corrected but then lose it again when pushing the Function key makes me think there is some kinda hardware defect in the keyboard or something in the associated software. When I use a USB keyboard, it doesn't have the error. Thank God I had a USB keyboard sitting around, otherwise, this computer would be unusable.

    This did not gradually come on. It happened all of a sudden and is intermittent, but more constant than not.

    My gut is telling me it has something to do with a recent Windows update, but I have no way to prove that.

    Does ACER have any suggestions other than what I have already tried? I do not live in the US or around any BEST BUY (where I bought it), so sending it in for service is out of the question.
  • rishabh2011
    rishabh2011 Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer
    edited November 2020
    Dunno wtf the problem is. I took apart each and every key cap and cleaned the keys underneath with Isopropyl alcohol. I put the keycaps back in only to realise that a couple of the keycaps had broken and would not re-attach. Unfortunately I still had the issue. So I used my usb keyboard for a few days (around 4-5 days). 

    After that somehow my keyboard problem went away. I recommend not using your keyboard for a few days and then see if it resolves the issue. If not, it was probably the keyboard cleaning which fixed it somehow. 

    I tried everything including the things you mentioned as well as reinstalling an old copy of windows. Didn't work. Acer support is pretty useless as they always ask you to contact local service center. Local service center guy comes in and tells me, since a couple of the keycaps have broken off it doesn't come under warranty so cannot be replaced. The guy did tell me before that I need not go to the service center. That they will come to my house and get it replaced. Atleast that's how it is right now in India. So wait a few days, see if your keyboard works. If not, see if you can get the local service center guy to come in and get it replaced i.e. if your laptop is still in warranty. I do not recommend the keyboard cleaning route unless you are super careful with the keycaps, as they are super fragile and the plastic clips underneath can break easily. Hope this helps.

Categories