Laptop Issues

Littlefinger

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Nov 2, 2009
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Before it dies completely on me and I become unable to communicate, I need help from those who know about computers.

My laptop keyboard is being dumb. Most of the time it is fine, like right now. Other times, it will suddenly start doubling letters like "aa" or "ss" or "dd" or "ll". OR as is happening more and more, when I try to press those keys(and sometimes fucking "f") I literally have to stab the key several times for it to finally respond, begrudgingly putting the letter down.

What is going on?

How do I fix it?

Is it time for a new laptop? Can I/should I just get a keyboard that can plug into a port on the laptop?

I am computer illiterate. I get the general gist of how this shit is normally supposed to work, so, if you could talk to me like I am a retarded infant, while explaining anything, that would be appreciated.

I don't play games, I don't download shit and I stream mostly everything. Most of the time I read or write on it and that's it. This is a Presario CQ-61 Model CQ61z-300 whatever the fuck that means, I can't read anything else on the bottom. It says "Compaq" on it. Please help.
 
the most common issue with laptop keyboards is that quite simply they get dirty. most office supply stores offer compressed air cans for de-dusting keyboards. you'll want one.

try the steps here.

also, do you have any pets or does anyone smoke in your home? those factors can also contribute to bad keyboard cleanliness, which would certainly explain the issue. for how long have you had the laptop, and did anyone else have it before you?

ed
 
Yes to a can of compressed air. Also, they definitely make full-size keyboards that either plug into your USB port or run tirelessly off of a USB wireless plug-in adapter.

Mine gives me trouble with the y and the x key for some reason. I find that if I gently, but firmly rotate pressure at different angles on those keys I can get them to work. Sometimes I hear a little pop, sometimes not. Same with my space bar.
 
Try the compressed air first. If that doesn't fix it a cheap way is to buy the external keyboard. You can pickup a very good keyboard for cheap at any Walmart.

Logitech K120's go for around $10-12 in store. You can find them cheaper online, but the you have to wait.

The other alternative is to have a new keyboard installed, should be cheaper than a new laptop (unless of course you want a new laptop).

Sometimes you can replace the keyboard yourself. I hear it's not all that complicated, but I have found laptops difficult to take a part.

If you go for the external keyboard, you might want to think about a mouse, if you don't use one already, instead of the touch pad on the laptop as now it will be a fair distance from you fingers.
 
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I've had to use a USB keyboard as a stop-gap measure for a couple of uncooperative laptops. It's a bit of a pain but it does work.
 
I've had to use a USB keyboard as a stop-gap measure for a couple of uncooperative laptops. It's a bit of a pain but it does work.

Actually, I have found them a better option than the original. Besides most laptops are really meant to be held in your lap, unless you want your thighs blistered. So you put it on a desk, thus making it a portable desktop computer.
 
Actually, I have found them a better option than the original. Besides most laptops are really meant to be held in your lap, unless you want your thighs blistered. So you put it on a desk, thus making it a portable desktop computer.

The only problem with that is: where do you put the auxiliary keyboard? If it's placed on TOP of the now-defunct keyboard, it's bulky and since some of the original laptop keys still work, there's always a chance of accidentally hitting the old keys when you're positioning the new keyboard. If it's placed in FRONT of the other keyboard, it seems like it's a long, long way away from the screen.

Next time this happens to me, and I know it will, I'm going to invest the money and get a flat one rather than the standard one I'm using now. That should help.

Piddly problems, I know, but those are usually the most annoying ones.
 
The only problem with that is: where do you put the auxiliary keyboard? If it's placed on TOP of the now-defunct keyboard, it's bulky and since some of the original laptop keys still work, there's always a chance of accidentally hitting the old keys when you're positioning the new keyboard. If it's placed in FRONT of the other keyboard, it seems like it's a long, long way away from the screen.

Next time this happens to me, and I know it will, I'm going to invest the money and get a flat one rather than the standard one I'm using now. That should help.

Piddly problems, I know, but those are usually the most annoying ones.

Well...you could always buy the 42" flatscreen monitor you always wanted, then the laptop is just that flat square thing that the keyboard, mouse and screen are hooked up too.

Or you buy a docking station and hook up two screens a mouse and a keyboard. That's the configuration I had a work.
 
The only problem with that is: where do you put the auxiliary keyboard? If it's placed on TOP of the now-defunct keyboard, it's bulky and since some of the original laptop keys still work, there's always a chance of accidentally hitting the old keys when you're positioning the new keyboard.
Depending on the machine and OS version, you should be able to disable the internal keyboard and enable an external one. My little Lenovo ThinkPad x201 laptop (it's 12.5-inch screen fits well on my lap) runs Win7. I can go through Control Panel to Device Manager to Keyboards - Properties for that. Not that I need to. Whew. Anyway, I dunno how Mac laptops handle that. Not my problem. Good luck!
 
Most laptops, whether you call them laptops or notebooks, run way to hot to be held in your lap without some protection. Yeah I know about the netbooks, but even they run hot.

If they didn't, why would there be so many accessories sold to put between your computer and your lap. Most laptops suck in cool air through the bottom, hence all those slots in the plastic and blow it out the side or back. Usually the only fan is for the CPU. There usually isn't one for the memory.

So, as it sits in your lap having it's cooling slots block by your clothes or skin, depending on your state of dress or undress, the components inside get hotter and hotter. Of course your CPU is usually the first to go, but there have been cases where the memory just burns up first. Then there are all those other chips sitting on the motherboard.

So, laptops have feet. The reason they have feet is not so they can lay on you lap. They have feet to keep the slots on the bottom free to suck in cool air while it sits on the desk or table top.

Having been the owner or user of over ten laptops over the year, I haven't attempted to use a laptop in my lap. After the first three burnt up, I only used them on a table or desk top.

Could the heat build up to burn up a keyboard? Yes. I had three keyboards go out on several Dell Laptops. Luckily, they were company laptops and the IT department had a supply of spares on hand to swap out. They knew the keyboards would crap out eventually.

My current laptop, gets so hot that I have had to buy a blower that sits under it to keep it cool. I also pull the cooling fan every six months or so to clean it and the cooling coil.

Since the advent of duo core processor, heat has been the plague of laptops. And a quad core laptop? Ouch.

Hell if is wasn't for my water cooler on my quad core desktop, it would overheat just on start up. (over clocking does that) Currently all my cores are running at 45 degrees C. And the machine is just idling. Only 2% processor usage. If I start gaming, then it shoots up to 75 degrees C and the fans on my cooler are running at 100%.

So laptops are a misnomer. Unless you want second degree burns on you legs, go ahead put in your lap.
 
Most laptops, whether you call them laptops or notebooks, run way to hot to be held in your lap without some protection. Yeah I know about the netbooks, but even they run hot.
Quite so. My little 12.5-inch ThinkPad sits in my lap... atop a thin 13x10.5-inch drawing board (16-inch diagonal), which previously served under a 10-inch Vaio and a 15-inch Compaq. If anyone cares, the drawing board is a Dietzgen 379B inherited from a geeky grandpa. If I'm off without the drawing board, I'll use a magazine.
 
Quite so. My little 12.5-inch ThinkPad sits in my lap... atop a thin 13x10.5-inch drawing board (16-inch diagonal), which previously served under a 10-inch Vaio and a 15-inch Compaq. If anyone cares, the drawing board is a Dietzgen 379B inherited from a geeky grandpa. If I'm off without the drawing board, I'll use a magazine.

I have one of these...Cooling Pad.

41Inf59MJVL.jpg


When using it in my lap, I turn off the fan. On the desktop I turn the fan on and it runs a whole lot cooler.

And no I did not pay that much shipping and handling charges. I actually picked it up at Walmart.
 
Might be a bit long in the tooth...I hear Compaq Presario and 5+ years ago is a lifetime for a laptop.

The air thing is a god idea. You might also want to run a bunch of anti-spyware/adware programs. I'm sure you have a geek friend to help.
 
Might be a bit long in the tooth...I hear Compaq Presario and 5+ years ago is a lifetime for a laptop.

The air thing is a god idea. You might also want to run a bunch of anti-spyware/adware programs. I'm sure you have a geek friend to help.

I do, yeah. Had this baby about 5-6 years, so, that could just be it too.

I grew irate the other night when "L" decided not to work anymore... so I tore that bitch off...including the little soft nobby button underneath. Got a different plugin keyboard for now.

What would you recommend I replace it with in the long run? Like I said, not a gamer, I don't download shit, mostly stream my movies and porn and write on Google Documents. So, I don't need a lot but I'd like something to last me and hold up for another 5 years. And yes, I'd prefer a laptop with actual keys. I like to sit on my couch and write and touch screen keys are going to make me have an aneurysm at some point, I can feel it. And that's just with the freaking phone; I doubt the keys being bigger would be better but I'm willing to be persuaded.
 
I do, yeah. Had this baby about 5-6 years, so, that could just be it too.

I grew irate the other night when "L" decided not to work anymore... so I tore that bitch off...including the little soft nobby button underneath. Got a different plugin keyboard for now.

What would you recommend I replace it with in the long run? Like I said, not a gamer, I don't download shit, mostly stream my movies and porn and write on Google Documents. So, I don't need a lot but I'd like something to last me and hold up for another 5 years. And yes, I'd prefer a laptop with actual keys. I like to sit on my couch and write and touch screen keys are going to make me have an aneurysm at some point, I can feel it. And that's just with the freaking phone; I doubt the keys being bigger would be better but I'm willing to be persuaded.

I have a Lenovo Carbon X1 and love it. It has Windows 8.1 touchscreen, 14 inch matte screen, solid state drive and other stuff. Great 14 inch screen and vey light. I'm locked into pc software for work, but also love my iPad air...so Apple may be an option.

There are lots of good ones out there and you can read comparison reviews, but don't get caught up in the speed things...105 vs 100 miles per hour. Thinkpads have the best keyboards bar none and all the reviews comment.

I'm loyal to the brand because I borrowed an old IBM thinkpad back when they were two inches thick...the thing was a beast that worked and worked and worked...its reliability won me over. When I had to return it I got T61 that lasted for way longer that it should...definately more than five years, though eventually it slowed way down and that was that, lot of memory demands on computers these days.
 
It's not all that hard to replace the KB. Look on eBay for a replacement and then look up any of hundreds of vids that will show how to replace it.
 
It's not all that hard to replace the KB. Look on eBay for a replacement and then look up any of hundreds of vids that will show how to replace it.

I agree. Youtube has tons of videos that show step by step directions on how to replace laptop keyboards, screens, etc
And eBay and other sources have cheap parts.
 
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