Is Your
Laptop Keyboard Typing the Wrong Keys?
If your laptop keyboard types the wrong keys, you might
be having a keyboard layout problem that's simple to fix, or a more serious
mechanical problem with your keyboard. Performing simple tests will help you
figure out why your laptop is responding as if you pressed a different key and
determine the best fix for your keyboard.
NUMBER
LOCK
Most
laptop keyboards -- unless you have a laptop with a very wide screen -- do not
have a separate number pad like desktop keyboards have. Instead, some of the
letter keys on the right site of the keyboard double as the number pad. When
you press the "Num Lock" key, usually located in the upper right part
of your laptop keyboard, the keys with small numbers written on them will type
numbers when you press them, rather than the letters they usually type. It's
easy to accidentally press "Num Lock" and not realize what's going
on. You can fix this by pressing "Num Lock" again. The "Num
Lock" light, located on your laptop above your keyboard, should turn off,
and the keys should type normally again.
KEYBOARD LAYOUT
Most
laptops in the U.S. have a standard QWERTY keyboard layout. However, there are
other ways to arrange the keys on a keyboard, including the Dvorak layout for faster
typing or layouts with special characters for different languages. If your
laptop keyboard isn't typing the right keys, you may have inadvertently changed
your keyboard layout so that your laptop's keyboard map doesn't match the
letters on your keys. To fix this problem, click the "Start" button,
type "intl.cpl" (without quotation marks) in the Search box and press
"Enter." Click "Change Keyboards" on the Keyboards and
Language tab. Select the right keyboard layout, then click "View
Layout" to make sure it matches your physical keyboard.
CLEANING
Dust,
dirt or liquid damage can make your keyboard respond incorrectly when you type.
To clean your keyboard of dust or dirt, spray between the keys with compressed
air or carefully hold the brush attachment of a vacuum several inches above the
keyboard. If sugary drinks or other sticky spills got under the keys, carefully
pry off the keys and clean under them with a moistened cotton ball. Laptop keys
can be tricky to snap back on, so consult your laptop's manual for help.
EXTERNAL KEYBOARD TESTS
If the
solutions don't work, you may be having an issue with the inner workings of
your laptop keyboard. You can test this by plugging an external USB keyboard
into your computer. Open a text editor, such as Notepad, and type on the
external keyboard to see if the keys type correctly. If they do, you may be
having a mechanical problem with your laptop keyboard. Use an external keyboard
for your typing until you can replace the keyboard on the laptop.
