Built-in keyboard in laptop randomly stops working / no response

Ok, so recently I found my Toshiba Satellite laptop keyboard sometimes stops working. Nothing at all. The number lock light stays on if it is on but no response from any of the keys....This happens sometimes at boot but sometimes it happens randomly after a successful boot. It can work for any amount of time and then stop working. On average though it usually happens within two hours though but can go all day before it happens again

I decided to take the nuclear option and reformat because I thought it was a virus.

So, after a reformat everything was good and then it started happening again. I haven't installed any software since reinstallation of windows.

I have another USB wireless keyboard and when to use that it works properly but the built-in one still doesn't work until I do a reboot and sometimes even after a reboot it doesn't work.


So what could this be:

1. My computer is 5 years old. Could it be that a dying CMOS battery could affect the keyboard and make it randomly stop working?

2. I also surmised that maybe there was a windows update that affected the keyboard but I haven't seen anything that relates to keyboard or other motherboard drivers being installed.

3. Or could it be the keyboard hardware itself, is it failing somehow? But why would it work properly sometimes after a reboot?

4. Or something else? that's why I came here to ask for suggestions or direct solutions



I appreciate any guidance on helping to solve this frustrating issue

PS:

I tried to use Event Viewer to see if there is an entry that would show if Windows has reported/noticed the keyboard malfunctioning but I don't know where to look in Event Viewer, it's above my technical ability to know exactly where to look. I have tried but I don't see anything obvious.



System Information:

System Model Satellite S50D-A

Keyboard Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\i8042prt.sys (10.0.15063.0, 112.50 KB (115,200 bytes), 2017-03-18 5:56 PM)

Caledon Ken said:

Hi mwake

1) I do not think so, besides you are not be forced into setup to reset date and time. Usually sign of dying battery.

2) Could be, you said you reloaded and it worked and then started acting up.

3) I think you could be looking at a hardware issue. The keyboard is not very thick, a connection that breaks and touches. Is it heat expanding a broken filament, you said it happens within two hours.

I would try to recreate with another OS. If you create Kyhi's recovery disk and boot from it you you can play around and see if you can recreate problem. If problem follows then I would say you are looking more to hardware issue.

Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk

Your device has a couple of videos on disassembly. Taking a device apart is not for everyone. Only try understanding pitfalls.

You can see the keyboard in this one. You could even check connectors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujJ2J4Jsog

The video is offered for viewing, I've never ordered parts from these folks so not a parts recommendation.

Lets see what other members think as well.


Ken

Thankyou for the taking the time to reply Ken. I'm glad you highlighted the heat which made me remember that I replaced the keyboard last summer with a compatible that I found being sold on eBay. I wonder if the keyboard is not high quality enough and has degraded and become faulty as it has been a really hot summer and my laptop does get pretty hot admittedly in my non air conditioned attic appartment. I could look to seeing if the keyboard cable has moved around in the connecting socket due to the heat. But as you said it's more likely a hardware fault due to the heat. Actually I came back after 3 days from leaving my laptop on in a hot attic appartment. It was on sleep mode and when I tried to reactivate it my computer refused to start for about 30 minutes. I thought it was completely broken actually, windows 10 battery icon showed a "x" on it for about an hour even when it was fully charged...it even crashed two or three times...then after about an hour it stabilised and was ok but THAT was when the keyboard started acting up! So thank-you the excess heat suggestion. I will try to reseat the keyboard connector and maybe think about getting another keyboard if it carries on after that.

Thanks again for the suggestion ken that really probably is the answer to this all!

I am using a very similar Toshiba Laptop with the same type of Keyboard.
No surprise, I have similar symptoms and gone through what you have done.
It is heat damage to the keyboard. On mine rather obvious as the area affected is the warmest part of the keyboard.

I contacted Toshiba with the exact part number required and they gave me two 'Official' Toshiba parts suppliers.
Got mine from an 'official' UK Toshiba parts supplier as they suggested. The exact correct part, hopefully it will give some years of use, I don't know yet...

Looked at SleazeBay for compatible keyboards, however rather hard to find the exact replacement one and they were a similar price, so I decided against buying one of those.
Your post does seem to confirm the dubious quality of 'compatible' keyboards.

You may also have a keyboard connector problem, you got to be careful with those.

CMOS battery - after 5 years and higher temperatures this may require replacement. Some Toshiba Laptops have less common batteries, or awkward locations. Don't think you have that problem yet.

Main Laptop battery would also be coming up for replacement as well.

Hi Ken

Well, I left my laptop on overnight and came upstairs and I had the same struggles to get it to boot. I got the white ring light around the power button and that's it and black screen. I held down the power button to force shutdown and pressed it again and I got the same thing. Black Screen and white ring light around the power button is all. After repeating that process about 5-10 times eventually, the Toshiba logo popped on and it booted. However, it booted up and no KB working AND the is a "cross" symbol overlayed on the battery icon. So I rebooted again twice and eventually now it is working as advertised.

I know you have mentioned that it is possible MB but could it be the battery is affecting the boot. I know my battery is more or less kaput and can only hold a charge in normal usage for about 30-40 minutes. But I usually have the laptop connected via AC so I don't know why the battery would affect it all of a sudden now...I can't really experiment by taking out the battery as I have a built-in one. I could if I was feeling brave enough take out the built-in battery but I'm not sure if this Laptop is programmed to have a battery in place regardless of whether it is good or bad.

If it is a MB issue then I would rather get a new laptop. I am going to have a look now and try to reseat the KB and report back I just thought I would let you know about the episode I had this morning with the booting.

Many Thanks again!

Helmut said:

I am using a very similar Toshiba Laptop with the same type of Keyboard.
No surprise, I have similar symptoms and gone through what you have done.
It is heat damage to the keyboard. On mine rather obvious as the area affected is the warmest part of the keyboard.

I contacted Toshiba with the exact part number required and they gave me two 'Official' Toshiba parts suppliers.
Got mine from an 'official' UK Toshiba parts supplier as they suggested. The exact correct part, hopefully it will give some years of use, I don't know yet...

Looked at SleazeBay for compatible keyboards, however rather hard to find the exact replacement one and they were a similar price, so I decided against buying one of those.
Your post does seem to confirm the dubious quality of 'compatible' keyboards.

You may also have a keyboard connector problem, you got to be careful with those.

CMOS battery - after 5 years and higher temperatures this may require replacement. Some Toshiba Laptops have less common batteries, or awkward locations. Don't think you have that problem yet.

Main Laptop battery would also be coming up for replacement as well.

Ah, Thankyou Helmut for reply,

Well, I did the best homework that I could do because I was concerned about price (living in Canada) and the cheapest ones I could find was the eBay ones from Asia. I took a picture of the part number written on the keyboard and thoroughly did my research and found one that was compatible. Everything was good for a year now, no problems, and felt as good as the original.

ButI'mm soo glad you have replied with you experince and knowledge of a common issue with toshiba KBs

I think I did try official channels here in North America but I think I either came to a dead end or the price was prohibitive compared to the eBay choices...however will try again to see if things have changed.

Also, thank you for reiterating about the heat...The heat is soo bad on my laptop that the chassis cracked where the exhaust fans are situated, that's how hot my laptop sometimes gets. I have opened it up many times to clean and the fans and other areas but this laptop I think isn't designed that well for heat issues.

Many thanks

Caledon Ken said:

Agree if MB time to replace.

I would ensure you have data backed up. Improve airflow for device by raising it.

I too am unsure of removing battery in built in.

You do want to go in Advance Power Options and look up the heading Battery. There are items like what to do if there is a critical battery event. Likely now it says shutdown. Since you are on AC set to do nothing. Check all the sub headings under battery. I think the other one is what to do on low battery which is also likely set to shutdown. These will inhibit your ability to start.

I have an old clunker I use on Insider. I discovered these battery settings when it started acting up a long time ago. Mine was old school, battery was removable.

Thanks, I have just implemented those changes. To be honest, I am on AC 100% all the time. My battery never has the chance to go to even 99% let alone to critically low levels. But I do know that there is a battery health check that Toshiba bios and Windows software perform behind the scenes, maybe this is affecting the bootup as they detect a failing/bad battery?

I'm not even sure I would think it worth it to replace the battery, they are even more expensive than the KBs... I use my Microsoft Word a lot but now Microsoft word comes with autosave feature as default so I could just set it to save every minute and then rip out the battery and see if the laptop works, that way if I get a power cut I won't have lost much work.