HP Pavilion 15-e066si Notebook some keys stopped working

[MagicDude4Eva]

I hope someone has some idea, as a Google search has produced nothing and phoning HP support goes as far as "Have you tried to switch it on and off again?"

Here are the symptoms:
- The laptop has a full sized keyboard - i.e. QWERTY and then a separate number keypad.
- When booting into BIOS, I can only use the left cursor key to move left (and the "up" key to move up - neither the "down"- or "right"-key work) - this is on the small cluster of cursor keys and not the keypad
- On the keypad, I can use the "6" key to move right and I can use "8" to go up and "2" to go down. The "4" however does not work (if the keyboard was in "cursor mode" I would expect that 4/6 and 8/2 would work)
- When booting into HP diagnostic and running the keyboard test:
-- When pressing number keys 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 (above the QWERTY section) only 5 and 6 show up
-- All other keys function (i.e. QWERTY, function keys etc).

I reflashed the BIOS, reset the BIOS to it's default settings. Tried Numlock and have pretty much run out of ideas. I initially thought it is a software problem but am starting to think this is a hardware issue. Laptop's warranty conveniently expired in October 2014 and I hope that someone has an idea before I send it in?

 

[ponder]

Sounds like hardware. You could try reseating the keyboard connector but I doubt it would help.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Sounds like hardware. You could try reseating the keyboard connector but I doubt it would help.

Yeah - think so too. Any idea what is the best way to get it repaired in Joburg/Fourways (was originally purchased at Incredible but obviously warranty is expired)?

 

[ponder]

www.spl.co.za
www.laptopaccessories.co.za

Changing a kb is usually a pretty easy job you can do yourself.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03939658.pdf
http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03597013.pdf

Does it work with a linux livecd (doubt it as it does not work in bios)?
Does it work with external usb keyboard?

 

[sajunky]

If you drive Wiliam Nicol close to Diepsloot, I can do quick check keyboard 4you, no cost. Do you remember spilling some juice or cofee on the keyboard?

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

www.spl.co.za
www.laptopaccessories.co.za

Changing a kb is usually a pretty easy job you can do yourself.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03939658.pdf
http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03597013.pdf

Does it work with a linux livecd (doubt it as it does not work in bios)?
Does it work with external usb keyboard?

Thanks for the links. I have not tried a LiveCD and don't have an USB keyboard lying around to test out. I think I will just open up the laptop and see if there is any issue with the keyboard cable.

If you drive Wiliam Nicol close to Diepsloot, I can do quick check keyboard 4you, no cost. Do you remember spilling some juice or cofee on the keyboard?

Not sure how I feel about a meetup in Diepsloot - hahaha. It's my sons laptop and he said that the laptop worked fine on Friday/Saturday and keys stopped working on Saturday morning. So he is frustrated as he is using the on-screen keyboard to type in numbers (his latest comment "I did not realise how often I use numbers"). Thanks for the offer - I did the most obvious trouble-shooting and it is probably a cable/keyboard issue. There is no visible sign of spillage (and my kid would have said so). Just very unusual as I would have expected that the whole keyboard would malfunction.

 

[sajunky]

Living on the farm, 2 km east of R511, offer still valid.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

So apparently the ZIF connector base "detached" from the motherboard and the only fix will be a replacement of the motherboard for a staggering R5300. Not going to repair.

Do you think that removing the ZIF cable altogether and then just attaching a regular USB keyboard will just work? (will have an unhappy kid, but hey, that's life, not going to fork out 5K for repairs or over 8K to replace with something equivalent).

 

[sajunky]

You don't have to remove old keyboard. Just attach a new one. It will work unless old keyboard has a 'sticky' key. Can you post photo of the connector?

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

You don't have to remove old keyboard. Just attach a new one. It will work unless old keyboard has a 'sticky' key. Can you post photo of the connector?

Awesome thanks. I don't have the laptop back, but the feedback I got is that the ZIF connector base is broken off. I can kick myself for not taking pictures when I opened up the laptop (I just checked for the keyboard cable perhaps being loose, but it wasn't and the ZIF connector was also fine). I am making assumptions here as I just handed the laptop in at an Incredible Connection and it was their staff relaying the information, but they said that the "keyboard connector can not be soldered back". It will be impossible to prove that it was damaged during repair (and checking their T&C's they idemnify anyway).

The connector looked similar to the one below, although I think that it might have had more connector pins into the board:



I will post a picture when I get it back. I think I will just take the "short-cut" and attach a USB keyboard as I somehow have the feeling that attempting to resoldering the connector might not actually fix it (perhaps then replace keyboard/keyboard cable and before I know it I have rebuild a whole laptop - lol).

 

[sajunky]

It seems it had been botchered. Your connector is different to the picture. This one is through-hole type, it wouldn't peel-off. Yours has probably rotating locking mechanism as well.
Soldering is difficult if not impossible. You are right saying that if keyboard is faulty, then soldering doesn't make sense, unless you have another keyboard of course. On the other side, maybe keyboard didn't work, as there were cold joints on the connector? Picture with put some clarity.