Computer Issues.

So, unfortunately my malfunctioning laptop keyboard has suddenly started acting up a lot more than before, to the point where it's now difficult for me to
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use my computer.

Even more unfortunately, this laptop seems to have been designed to prevent me from doing anything about it.

Since I'm using a secondary USB keyboard anyway, I go to the Device Manager to try to disable the internal one. There is no option to disable it, so I uninstall it instead. The keyboard is still working after being uninstalled. It is a zombie keyboard.

Windows tells me I should restart the computer to finalize the uninstallation. I do so. Turns out restarting causes Windows to reinstall the keyboard.

Google tells me I should open up the Group Policy Editor and change the settings. I attempt to do this. My computer insists there is no such program, and is very confused by the command prompts that are supposed to run it. Absolutely no attempt to locate this editor is successful.

I keep Googling, but all sites I find just tell me to do the stuff I have already tried.

The last resort seems to be to physically pull the keyboard connection out of the motherboard, but I really don't want to do that because disassembling this kind of laptop is complicated and I'm worried I won't be able to put it back together again.

This is all very frustrating.

Comments

[RedMage0661]

You won't have access to the Group Policy Editor unless you are running a Professional version of Windows, in which case you would press Win + R to open the Run window and type gpedit.msc to open it up. You can apply any group policy manually by editing the right registry keys but that's a great deal more complicated and I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't comfortable doing that sort of thing. Also you may be able to disable your laptop keyboard by going into the BIOS.

If your keyboard is acting up when you aren't interacting with it (actually touching the keys), then I would assume you've been infected with some sort of malware. The simplest way to test this would be to boot with another operating system like WinPE or Linux (using a live CD or USB). If the keyboard is still acting up on a completely different operating system, it's obviously a hardware issue. At that point I would have no qualms about pulling the keyboard plug from the motherboard if your laptop is no longer under warranty.

Laptop keyboard can usually be accessed and removed without disassembling the whole laptop. Depending on the make and model, your keyboard might be attached by only a few screws on the bottom of the case or clips on the perimeter of the keyboard. It's usually the easiest part to replace on a laptop.

[ersmiller]

The Policy Editors are only available in professional editions of windows, home versions do not have it.

Instead of restarting after uninstalling something, just log out and back in. The thing will be uninstalled and not re-installed until you reboot fully.

To keep your computer from automatically re-installing things you disable after a reboot try this (mind you I'm on Win10 and, while this is also available in Vista and Win7/8, the names of some steps have changed):

Right-click on "This PC"/"My Computer" and click Properties.
On the left sidebar of the System dialog box select Advanced System Settings.
Navigate to the Hardware tab and click "Device Installation Settings".
A box will appear with 2 options. Select No.

Just make sure not to remove something unless you really know you don't need it as nothing will re-enable until you go back and choose the yes option.

If disabling/uninstalling continues to not work, you can try installing an incorrect driver:

Open Device Manager
Right-click the keyboard and select "Update Driver"
The next few steps differ depending on which version of windows you have but you are looking to choose a driver from a list and make sure you uncheck the "Show compatible hardware" box.
Choose something that clearly won't operate your keyboard.
Restart

Keyboard is now function-less
To restore the keyboard, go back to the correct driver and restart

Or, you can try hiding the driver itself (this one is a little more extreme).

Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers and look for sys files that start with kb (for keyboard).
Check the descriptions of those files and look for one that's a filter of sorts. You can get their descriptions by right-clicking and going to the "details" tab, or by just placing your mouse over the file.
Once you find a kb filter file, DO NOT DELETE IT, just rename it by adding a new extension.
For instance if the file is names "kbfiltr.sys" rename it to "kbfiltr.sys.disable"

This will make windows ignore it and still allow you to rename it back using just the mouse if all your keyboards stop working after the change,
Another possibility is to do the above to the "i8042prt.sys" file as that handles the old "PS/2" keyboard and mouse ports. If your external keyboard is USB then that won't be affected.

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A word of warning: I've not tried most of these myself.

Good luck.

[Fervidor]

4484906

Instead of restarting after uninstalling something, just log out and back in. The thing will be uninstalled and not re-installed until you reboot fully.

Hey, that seems to have worked. Cool, thanks for the tip.

I may try the other stuff, but this appears to be a temporary fix, and that's my favorite kind.

4484878

If your keyboard is acting up when you aren't interacting with it (actually touching the keys), then I would assume you've been infected with some sort of malware.

Nah, it's been infected with delicious rosé wine. The same brand of wine I am now going to drink with gusto yet care, as to not further inebriate my laptop.

Laptop keyboard can usually be accessed and removed without disassembling the whole laptop. Depending on the make and model, your keyboard might be attached by only a few screws on the bottom of the case or clips on the perimeter of the keyboard.

It's a HP Envy. From what I've seen of instruction videos online, it seems the whole thing needs to be dismantled like William goddamned Wallace.

[RedMage0661]

It's a HP Envy. From what I've seen of instruction videos online, it seems the whole thing needs to be dismantled like William goddamned Wallace.

I remember disassembling IBM Thinkpad laptops over 10 years ago, they were never meant to be serviced. I was always left with spare screws after putting them back together... I don't know which version of the HP Envy you have but from the information I found, the keyboard removal does not require that much disassembly.

If you spilled something on your laptop, the keyboard might be shorting. I hope nothing got on the motherboard because a short there would be much more serious. This is why I tell all my clients to never eat or drink while they are working with their computer. They usually get the message after spilling coffee.

[Fervidor]

4485737

If you spilled something on your laptop, the keyboard might be shorting. I hope nothing got on the motherboard because a short there would be much more serious.

Well, the spill occurred almost a year ago, so I doubt that's something I need to worry about. Frankly, I have no idea why the keyboard issues suddenly got way worse.

This is why I tell all my clients to never eat or drink while they are working with their computer. They usually get the message after spilling coffee.

But that would mean I'd have to step away from my computer for several minutes.

[RedMage0661]

4485752
It would get worst because the substance causing the short has shifted around so that the contact is more consistent. This could be due to humidity, heat / cold, decomposition or being physically moved from you pressing the keys. It could also be caused by dust sticking to it since dust is conductive. You could always pop the keys off and try to clean it that way, but that's going to take a lot of work. I've done that a few times on my multimedia keyboard to clear it of pet hair, dust and random crud that ends up between the keys.

On a side note, if you have a laptop and are using an external keyboard, it's a good idea to put a cover on the integrated keyboard. This will prevent dust and other materials from gathering on it.