Why the keyboard does not work on the computer: possible causes and their elimination. Why the keyboard does not work on a laptop: the main reasons for what to do What to do if the keyboard turns off

The keyboard is one of the main tools for entering information on a computer. Without it, it is impossible to perform some operations in the OS and control the process in games. The breakdown of this device also deprives us of the ability to write messages in instant messengers and social networks and work in text editors. In this article, we will discuss the root causes and discuss solutions to this problem.

To begin with, let's figure out why "Klava" may refuse to work. There are several reasons for this. The connection ports, cables, electronic or mechanical stuffing of the device may be faulty. Control software such as drivers or BIOS can also be “bullied”. We will talk about these and other problems below.

Reason 1: Physical problems

The first thing to look at is whether the keyboard itself is working properly. There are two ways to check this. The first is to connect it to another PC. If everything is in order, then the problem should be looked for in your system. The second is to start the computer. When turned on, the working device should give a signal - blink the LEDs.

Another type of malfunction is the failure of the connection port, which are of two types - USB and PS / 2.

Ports

Ports can be mechanically damaged, or burned out due to short circuits or power surges. In the case of YUSB, you can try connecting the keyboard to another similar port. Please note that USB connectors can be grouped. If one of the ports is not functioning, then the entire group may be inoperative.

With PS / 2, things are a little more complicated, since there is only one such connector on the vast majority of motherboards. The only option in this situation is to find another "keyboard" with this connector and connect it to the port. If nothing has changed, then the socket is faulty. You can save the port only by contacting the service center.

Cables and plugs

It is quite easy to troubleshoot the cable and plug that connect the keyboard to the computer. It is enough with the PC turned on to move the wire at the entrance to the keyboard and near the connector on the motherboard. If the LEDs on the device briefly light up, then there is a failure of these elements. You can replace the cable either yourself, by soldering another, serviceable one, or simply refer the device to the master.

Electronic and mechanical filling

These malfunctions are indicated by the inoperability of several or all of the keys with the lights on and other signs of the device being detected by the system, which we will talk about later. Any keyboard has an electronic control module, which is quite rare, but still fails or does not work correctly.

Failure to press can also be caused by broken tracks or short circuits due to water ingress. In addition, one of the keys can get stuck, preventing the others from functioning properly. Let's take a closer look at these situations.

First you need to exclude sticking. You can check if this is the case using the onscreen keyboard. When you start this application, you will see that the pressed key is marked in white.

To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to replace the membrane, having previously disassembled the device. If the keyboard is mechanical, then a switch will have to be changed, which can be mounted either with soldering or without soldering. In any case, it will be quite problematic to do this on your own if you do not have the necessary equipment and consumables at hand in the form of solder, flux and, in fact, the switch itself. The way out is to contact a specialized workshop.

The easiest way is to press the problem key several times, perhaps everything will return to normal without repair.

If liquid gets on the "keyboard", it is likely that there is a short circuit in its electrical part. Disassembly and drying will be the solution to the problem. Please note that if the device is of a membrane type, then sweet tea, beer and other liquids other than pure water, even after drying, may remain between the layers of film with tracks. In this case, only washing the films under running water will save you. However, there is one caveat - the tracks can oxidize and lose conductivity.

In any case, even if it is possible to reanimate the device, then you should think about purchasing a new one, since its complete failure is not far off. Keyboard fluid is death.

If you did not spill water on the "keyboard" and the keys on it are not stuck, then the last thing that can happen is the breakdown of the electronic control module. For cheap devices, its repair or replacement is unprofitable, so you will have to buy a new "board". You can try to take the road to the service center.

Reason 2: BIOS

The keyboard can be disabled in the BIOS settings. This only applies to USB devices. At the same time, "Klava" cannot be used to select OS startup parameters and other operations performed without booting Windows. The name of the setting we need must contain the words "USB Keyboard" in different combinations. In most cases, you need to set the value "Enabled" for this parameter.

Have you ever had a situation when you, while working at a computer, suddenly noticed that the keyboard refuses to type? It doesn't matter if you are texting on social networks or typing the most important work in your life: your thesis, master's, or much more promising professorship. You are wondering why the keyboard on the computer does not work. You reboot the operating system in the hope that everything will fix itself, but no. The keyboard is still unresponsive. You start to panic. What to do? Calling a master or buying a new keyboard? And if it's a laptop? There is an exit!

To fix this unpleasant breakdown, you first need to figure out what type of keyboard you have connected.

Computer keyboard connection type

• USB keyboard. This type is most often found in our time. USB keyboards use plug-and-play technology, so the connection is the most common problem. As soon as the keyboard stops responding, the first step is to unplug it and plug it back into the USB port of your computer device. Perhaps the contacts just went away. This usually fixes the problem. But it also happens that the breakdown is not in the keyboard itself. If these actions did not lead to a positive result, it is likely that the port itself in the computer has broken. Try connecting your device to another device, or at least to a different USB port on your PC. By doing these steps, you can already discard some of the guesses about why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows XP, 7, Linux set up device connection settings in different ways. There is a chance that the problem is in the software or operating system settings.

• PS / 2 computer keyboard. This type of connection has been used for a long time and is considered the most reliable, because it does not require the installation of drivers. The keyboard connector has 6 pins for connection. It so happens that if the connector is incorrectly connected to the computer port, one of the contacts may bend. It needs to be aligned for the keyboard to work. If the keyboard stopped working while working on it with the PC turned on, be sure: the problem is in the operating system or software. Perhaps some process is slowing down her work. The main difference between a PS / 2 computer keyboard and USB is that if the device fails, you need to reboot the computer to make it work again. It's not plug-and-play technology.
• A wireless keyboard is a modern type of input device, but that doesn't mean it's flawless. It can also refuse to work like other types of devices. You may think for a long time why the wireless keyboard on the computer does not work, but the main breakdowns and problems occur most often in the case when something is blocking the USB receiver. In this case, you need to clear the computer desk of unnecessary things and see if it works now. Basically, the wireless keyboard is the same USB peripheral, with the only slight difference: there are no wires. In this regard, it is necessary first of all to check the blocking of the signal. If there are no changes, then you need to follow the steps described in the point USB computer keyboard.

Troubleshooting the problem via BIOS

1. You performed the steps to mechanically fix the problem, but, unfortunately, it did not help. Panic hits you. Why isn't the keyboard working on my computer? Windows 7 must first be restarted. The problem may resolve itself.
2. Try pressing the Esc button a few times to see if the autostart display menu appears. If there is no response from the program, it is necessary to replace the keyboard - the problem is not in the software.
3. If the autorun menu works, press the F10 key to bring up the BIOS menu. In the settings, you must set the default values, this is done by pressing the F5 key. Some devices may have different hotkeys.
4. After making changes to the BIOS, you must reboot the operating system.
5. If, after the steps taken, you still have not solved the problem and ask yourself why the keyboard on the computer does not work, then you need to reinstall the keyboard software in the device manager.

Reinstalling and configuring keyboard software

In the control panel of any operating system in the "Start" menu there is an item "Hardware and Sound", under which there is a view of devices and printers. It is this section that we need. Clicking in the window with the right mouse button, you must select "Device Manager". Do not forget that you must have administrator rights, otherwise you will not be able to change the settings of hidden devices. So, in the new open window we are looking for the required Keyboards item and are trying to solve the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 7, 8, XP differ slightly in their interface, so the path to the settings menu may differ slightly. Calling the object control panel, you must select the item to reinstall and update the hardware and driver configuration. After restarting the computer, the hardware should work correctly.

The problem of pressing multiple characters with one key on the keyboard

Sometimes, when typing from the keyboard, a situation arises when keys stick and print several characters at once. And the problem is not that you press the keys for too long. The whole point is in the keyboard response settings. To change these parameters, you must manually enter the word "keyboard" in the search bar in the start menu. A new window will appear in front of your eyes, when you open it, you should correctly adjust the delay rate of entering a repeated character. From now on, you will not worry about why the keyboard on the computer does not work correctly.

1 way to fix keyboard inoperability outside the operating system

There are often situations of keyboard failure due to incompatibility of drivers on the operating system. There are different versions of "Windows": 32 and 64 bit. How are they different and why do they need different drivers? The main difference is in the processing of different amounts of RAM. That is why it is necessary to install various types of drivers so that at the most inopportune moment you do not panic about why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8, 7, XP, Linux require different types of software to be installed. But to find out if this is the real cause of the problem, you need to restart your computer and see, by pressing the NumLock and CapsLock keyboard keys, check their operation using the lights up.

2 way to troubleshoot keyboard issues via CMOS

Another way to check if the keyboard is working outside the operating system is to go to CMOS settings and try the keyboard in safe mode. Sometimes the operating system crashes, safe mode will fix this breakdown. If the CapsLock and NumLock keys fail, go to the first method.

Computer device beeps when you type with the keyboard: solutions

Why doesn't the keyboard on my computer work correctly? There are situations when, when working with a set of symbolic characters, a computer device emits sound signals. In this case, you need to change the keyboard parameters. To go to the settings, you need to enter the word "Keyboard" in the search line.

In the appeared results of the control panel there is an item to change them. You need to follow this link, uncheck the Sticky Keys checkbox next to the "Simplify Typing" item and go to their settings. In the new window that opens, uncheck the box next to Sticky Keys when you press the Shift button five times. We save the results by clicking on the Ok button, after which the old keyboard settings window opens automatically. In it, uncheck the box next to the sound switch by pressing the Num Lock button for 5 seconds. After saving the settings, the computer device will no longer emit meticulous beeps.

The numeric keypad refuses to work

Some users, when buying a peripheral device, sometimes wonder why the numbers on the keyboard on the right do not work. On a computer, this situation happens quite often, especially on the Ubuntu operating system. What to do in this case? Try just pressing the two keys combination: Shift + Num Lock. Most often it helps. Chances are that the numeric keypad is configured for mouse control. To disable it on the Windows operating system, you must press the Alt + Shift + Num Lock key combination. There is another, more complex path to go to optical mouse settings. But why make life difficult for yourself when pressing a keyboard shortcut can solve the whole problem?

Why the keyboard on the computer does not work when turned on: solution

To solve this problem, you need to follow these steps:

1. Check the connection itself. It doesn't matter what type of keyboard: USB, wireless or PS / 2. If the problem is connection or loss of signal, the keyboard will not work.
2. If the connection is OK, you need to download a new version of the software that is compatible with your operating system and reinstall it for your keyboard.
3. When reinstalling the driver did not help, it means that you need to configure everything manually through the BIOS, CMOS or "Control Panel".
4. If it is possible to connect the keyboard to another computer device, check its functionality on it. In each operating system, program settings are found in different paths. It is necessary to know well the interface of the operating system in order to solve the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8.1 is perhaps the most complex system to configure software changes. But it doesn't take much knowledge to change keyboard settings. You must follow the instructions carefully, and then your peripheral device will work again as quickly as before.

Possible reasons for the inoperability of some keys on the keyboard

There are times when, due to carelessness or carelessness, the user of a computer device spills water, tea or other drinks on the keyboard. And it's good if the owner of the computer did it himself, because he knows where the problems with the peripheral device come from. But when someone else did it and did not admit it, the owner will scratch his head for a long time why the USB keyboard on the computer does not work. But most often it happens that certain buttons stop working. Then it is necessary to disassemble and manually clean the keyboard, and if it has already oxidized, then completely change it. After all, there is little chance that it will now work as before.

Note to users

Now you know the possible causes of a broken computer keyboard. Some users will be new to know that an on-screen keyboard is automatically installed on any operating system. In the event of a peripheral device failure, it will definitely help you.

The keyboard is the main tool for entering information, without which it is impossible to work on a computer. Most often, for this device to work flawlessly, it is enough to simply connect it to the computer, and it will install all the necessary drivers automatically. This is the case in most cases, but not always. There are situations when, when the keyboard is connected to the USB or PS / 2 connector, it is not detected on the computer and does not show any signs of operation - the indicators are off, and the buttons do not work. As part of this article, we offer instructions on what to do if the keyboard on your computer does not work.

Connecting a keyboard to a computer is as simple as possible - just insert its wire into the corresponding connector on the motherboard, and after that the device will start working. There are wireless keyboards, the radio receiver from which is inserted into the USB connector, after which the device works if the distance between the transmitter and the device is observed.

Due to the simplicity of the process of connecting a computer, we can conclude that there are only 2 reasons why the keyboard does not work on a computer:

• Mechanical. Problems may arise directly with the keyboard or the wire with which it connects to the motherboard. A broken connector on the motherboard may also be the cause of the malfunction.
• Software. The keyboard drivers are installed automatically, but during the installation of any software failures may occur, and this situation is no exception. In addition, problems may not be observed at the operating system level, but in the BIOS, where the corresponding settings for the keyboard are disabled.

Depending on which connector the keyboard is connected to the computer, we offer different solutions to the problems that arise.

What to do if the keyboard does not work on the computer via the USB protocol

The most common interface for connecting a keyboard to a computer is USB. The speed of information transfer from a peripheral device to the computer is sufficient, both through the USB 2.0 protocol and through USB 3.0, so there is no difference in which connector to connect the keyboard.

If the USB keyboard does not work when you turn on the computer, do the following:

It is worth noting that users whose keyboard is connected to the motherboard via USB may have problems navigating to BIOS on the computer's boot screen if they are using an older version of the basic software. In this case, you need to find a keyboard with a PS / 2 connector or use the appropriate adapter.

What to do if the keyboard does not work on the computer via PS / 2 protocol

Keyboard makers are moving away from the PS / 2 connector in favor of USB. It is very difficult to find a keyboard with a PS / 2 connector on sale, but if you come across such peripherals, and it does not work when Windows boots, most likely the problem is related to the drivers. To make the keyboard work, you need to do the following:

It is worth noting that a similar problem with keyboards connected via PS / 2 protocol most often occurs due to an error during the installation of the i8042prt.sys or kbdclass.sys driver.

The keyboard is the main tool when working on a computer, without which work is almost impossible. Of course, you can enter information using the mouse and on-screen keyboard, but this method is inconvenient and full-fledged work will not work.

In this article, we will tell you what to do if the keyboard on your computer does not work and consider all the possible causes of this malfunction.

The keyboard is a fairly simple device and usually works flawlessly. However, there are times when the keyboard indication is on but nothing is being printed.

Why the keyboard doesn't work: reasons

There are two types of reasons why a computer keyboard may not work:

1. Mechanical (broken cable, moisture ingress, excessive contamination of the keyboard, violation of the integrity of the ports for connection, and so on).
2. Software (crashes in software, incorrect BIOS settings, incorrect keyboard drivers, etc.).

Let's take a look at all the main causes of the keyboard not working and troubleshooting methods.

Bad cable or keyboard port

The first step is to assess the physical condition of the keyboard.

Look at the indication of the Caps Lock and Num Lock buttons. Most likely, if they work, then physically everything should be fine with the keyboard.

Inspect the keyboard cable with your eyes. It may be pinched or cut. For example, many pet owners have their pets gnawing at their cables.

Also, visually check the keyboard connection port for fractures or bends. There are two types of keyboard ports - USB and PS / 2.

It often happens that in the PS / 2 port, when trying to connect to a computer, people break off the tip of the core and the keyboard is not connected.

If the external keyboard USB cable and connection port look good, try plugging the keyboard into a different USB port on your computer. Perhaps the port on the computer itself is damaged. If the keyboard works in another port on the computer, then you have a problem with the USB port. Usually there are several of them on the computer and you can simply leave the keyboard connected to the port that is working.

In the case of a keyboard with a PS / 2 port, you should check the functionality of the keyboard connection port on another computer, since there is only one such port on the motherboard. To test the PS / 2 port on your computer, you will need to find another such keyboard.

Liquid spilled on the keyboard and dirt

A flooded keyboard is a headache for all IT pros and a goldmine for all laptop repair service centers. Very often, when working on a computer, people pour tea, coffee, beer and other liquids onto the keyboard. As a result, the keyboard can be damaged.

Typically, it is easy to tell by sight and smell that liquid has been spilled onto the keyboard. Examine the keyboard carefully. Remove a couple of keys. If you see that there are traces of spilled liquid or food on the keyboard or under the keys, then you have two options. Either buy a new keyboard, or meticulously disassemble the flooded keyboard, clean, dry and put it back together. Most likely the keyboard will work.

Earlier, we have already talked in detail about what is at home.

Checking USB settings in BIOS

In the event of a power failure in the computer, the BIOS settings may change, in which there is an item on enabling or disabling support for USB keyboards in the computer.

Additionally, in this way you can check the keyboard is working properly, in principle, since it may not work in Windows, but in the BIOS it may work. In this case, the failure is caused by software or drivers.

To enter BIOS and check the settings, do the following:

1. Turn on your computer.
2. Press the DEL button on your keyboard until the BIOS settings window appears.
3. Find the USB Keyboard Support or Legacy USB menu in the BIOS settings.
4. Make sure the setting is in the Enable state. If it says Disable, then switch to Enable.

You can also put the rest of the BIOS settings associated with USB in the Enable state. You may have ports on the front panel of the computer case, which once stopped working.

Failure of software or drivers

Keyboards with older PS / 2 connectors are more prone to software glitches. However, there are still a lot of such keyboards in use, although manufacturers have almost stopped producing them.

To fix the problem with the keyboard not working due to the software, you need to turn on the computer and enter the desktop. Since the keyboard has stopped working and does not print, and a password can be set on the account, you will need to use the on-screen keyboard and type the password with the mouse.

Now that you are on the desktop of your computer, you need to get into the Device Manager.

In Windows 8 and Windows 10, right-click on the button Start and select device Manager.

In Windows 7, left-click on the button Start... Next, right-click on the word Computer and select Computer management — device Manager.

The device manager displays information about all devices on the computer. Expand the Keyboards branch. If an orange question mark next to your keyboard is lit, then the device is not correctly installed on the system.

Right click on the keyboard and select Delete.

The computer will re-scan all devices and install the keyboard correctly.

Factory defect or keyboard has reached the end of its life

Any technique tends to break down and fail. If the keyboard was purchased relatively recently, then you may have encountered a factory defect. In this case, you can contact the keyboard manufacturer's support and expect to have a replacement device.

The fact is that many manufacturers value their reputation and, without entering into long debates with the buyer, immediately send a brand new keyboard by mail.

If you have had the keyboard for more than a year, then most likely it is out of order in terms of service life and you should buy a new one.

Basically, the keyboard on a laptop stops working due to driver problems or due to a broken connection to the motherboard.

If some keys do not work, then usually through accumulated dust or the ingress of third-party objects that prevent the contacts from closing when they are pressed. In this case, you need to clean the contacts after removing the non-working keys.

Anyone can run into problems with the built-in keyboard on a laptop. It may not work completely or only partially respond when you press some keys.

First, you need to determine the nature of the problem - whether it is a hardware error related to the physical connection, or a software problem (incompatible driver, incorrect device configuration).

If a problem occurs at the hardware level, the keyboard will not respond to any of the keys at all.

If the problem is with the software, the device will partially respond when you press certain buttons, such as Fn (Function).

The top row contains the function keys (F1 - F12). They have an icon to indicate their action when you press the Fn key. For example, on my laptop, the Fn + F5 combination is responsible for enabling / disabling the touchpad. Try all combinations and other keys for Caps Lock, Num Lock and others. If any of the keys work, it means that the problem has arisen at the software level.

Now let's move on to the troubleshooting steps. First, remember if you installed any program or drivers before the keyboard stopped working? For example, a graphics tablet, a Synaptics driver, or may have made changes to the input device settings. If so, undo the changes, uninstall recently installed programs, and see if that solves the problem. If after that it was possible to fix it, then the changes made led to the termination of the keyboard.

Problems can also arise after installing updates on Windows 10.

To troubleshoot problems, connect an external keyboard and mouse to your laptop using a USB cable to follow the solutions below.

Try restarting your laptop first.

1. Turn off your laptop completely. If you cannot shutdown, press the power button for a few seconds to force shutdown.
2. After turning off, remove the battery and wait 2-3 minutes.
3. Reconnect the battery, reconnect the power cord, and turn on the laptop.

Reinstalling the driver

If the solution with turning off / on the laptop does not work, try installing the default drivers. These drivers, stored in the BIOS, are initialized when the computer does not find the correct drivers for your device. This method will help determine if the failure is in the drivers or in the hardware.

Configuring Keyboard Settings

Ease of use settings are available in almost all versions of Windows. But sometimes it doesn't work as expected and cause problems when using the laptop keyboard. Try disabling these options and check if the issue is resolved.

In the search box in Windows 10, type "make things easier." Select Ease of Access Center from your search.

Click the Make Keyboard Easier tab.

Uncheck the boxes:

• Enable pointer control from the keyboard;
• Turn on Sticky Keys;
• Enable scoring of switches;
• Enable input filtering.

Now restart your laptop, check if the keyboard works.

Hardware problems

If a hardware problem occurs, the keyboard may need to be replaced. But first, try cleaning it, as dust particles and foreign objects can prevent the button contacts from closing.

To clean them, turn the unfolded laptop upside down and shake well. The dust can be blown out with compressed air using a vacuum cleaner.

Remove the keyboard from the laptop and check the tightness of the connecting cable to the connector.