Disabled keyboard flashes poltergeist. The keyboard on the computer does not work: reasons for what to do

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 the 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 light is on but nothing is printed.

Why the keyboard does not work: reasons

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

Mechanical (cable breakage, moisture ingress, excessive contamination of the keyboard, violation of the integrity of the connection ports, and so on).
Software (software failures, incorrect BIOS settings, incorrect keyboard drivers, and so on).

Consider all the main reasons why the keyboard does not work and troubleshooting methods.

Keyboard cable or port failure

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 in order with the keyboard.

Inspect the keyboard cable with your eyes. It may be pinched or cut. For example, many pet owners have pets that gnaw through cables.

Also, visually check the keyboard connection port for breaks or bends. There are two types of keyboard connection 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 does not connect.

If the USB keyboard cable and connection port look good on the outside, try plugging the keyboard into a different USB port on your computer. Perhaps the port on the computer itself is corrupted. 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 just leave the keyboard connected to the port that works.

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'll have to find another such keyboard.

Liquid spilled or dirty on the keyboard

A flooded keyboard is a headache for all IT people 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 may fail.

As a rule, visually and by smell, it is easy to determine that liquid has been spilled on the keyboard. Take a close look at the keyboard. 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 it, dry it and assemble it back. With a high degree of probability, 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 computer power failure, the BIOS settings may change, which has an item on enabling or disabling USB keyboard support in the computer.

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

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

Turn on your computer.
Press the DEL key on your keyboard until the BIOS setup window appears.
In the BIOS settings, find the USB Keyboard Support or Legacy USB menu.
Make sure the setting is in the Enable state. If Disable is written, then switch to Enable.

You can at the same time set the rest of the USB-related BIOS settings to the Enable state. Perhaps you will earn ports on the front panel of the computer case that once stopped working.

Software or driver failure

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

To solve the problem with the keyboard not working due to software, you need to turn on the computer and log in to the desktop. Since the keyboard has stopped working and does not print, and a password may 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, to do this, 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 A computer and select Computer management — Device Manager.

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

Right click on the keyboard and select Delete.

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

Factory defect or keyboard life has come to an end

Any technology 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 service and count on a replacement device.

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

If the keyboard has been with you for more than a year, then most likely it has failed due to the service time and you should buy a new one.

Basically, the keyboard on the laptop stops working due to problems with the driver 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 broken keys.

Everyone can experience 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 malfunction - whether it is a hardware error associated with the physical connection, or a software problem (incompatible driver, incorrect device configuration).

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

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

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

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

Problems can also occur after installing updates in Windows 10.

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

Try restarting your laptop first.

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

Driver reinstallation

If the laptop shutdown/power on solution doesn't 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.

Customizing Keyboard Options

Ease of Work settings are available in almost all versions of Windows. But sometimes they do not work properly and cause problems when using the laptop keyboard. Try disabling these options and check if the issue is resolved.

In the Windows 10 search bar, type "make things easier". From the search result, select Ease of Access Center.

Navigate to the "Make the keyboard easier to work with" tab.

Uncheck the boxes:

Enable pointer control from the keyboard;
Enable sticky keys;
Enable sound switching;
Enable input filtering.

Now restart your laptop, check if the keyboard is working.

Hardware problems

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

To clean them, turn the unfolded laptop face down and give it a good shake. 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 connection to the connector.

Have you ever had a situation when you, while working at a computer, suddenly noticed that the keyboard refuses to type? And it doesn't matter if you're texting on social media or typing the most important work of your life: a thesis, a master's degree, or a much more promising professorial one. 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, as before, does not respond. You start to panic. What to do? Call the master or buy a new keyboard? What if it's a laptop? There is an exit!

To eliminate 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 the most common in our time. The USB keyboard uses plug-and-play technology ("plug and play"), so the connection is the most common problem. As soon as the keyboard stops responding, first of all, you need to disconnect it and plug it back into the USB port of your computer device. Perhaps the contacts just went away. Usually, doing this will fix the problem. But it also happens that the failure 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 the device to another device, or at least to a different USB port on your PC. Having done these steps, you can already discard some of the guesswork about why the keyboard does not work on the computer. Windows XP, 7, Linux implement device connection settings in different ways. There is a possibility 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 happens that if the connector is ineptly connected to the computer port, one of the contacts may bend. It needs to be aligned for the keyboard to work. If the keyboard stops working while working on it with the PC turned on, be sure that the problem is in the operating system or software. Perhaps some process is slowing down its work. The main difference between a PS / 2 computer keyboard and a USB is that if the device fails, you must restart the computer in order for it to work again. After all, this is not a plug-and-play technology.
The wireless keyboard is a modern type of input device, but that doesn't mean it's without flaws. It may also refuse to work, like other types of devices. You can think for a long time why the wireless keyboard on the computer does not work, but the main breakdowns and problems occur most often when something blocks the USB receiver. In this case, you need to clear the computer table of unnecessary things and see if it works now. In fact, a wireless keyboard is the same USB peripheral, with the only slight difference: there are no wires here. In this regard, it is necessary first of all to check the blocking of the signal. If no changes have occurred, then you must follow the steps described in the paragraph USB computer keyboard.

Troubleshooting through the BIOS

You have taken the steps to fix the problem mechanically, but, unfortunately, this did not help. Panic sets in. Why doesn't the keyboard on my computer work? Windows 7, first of all, needs to be rebooted. Perhaps the problem will fix itself.
Try pressing the Esc button a few times to see if the display's auto-start menu appears. If there is no response from the program, it is necessary to replace the keyboard - the problem is not in the software.
If the autorun menu worked, press the F10 key to bring up the BIOS menu. In the settings, you need to set the default values, this is done by pressing the F5 key. Some devices may have other hotkeys.
After making changes to the BIOS, you must restart the operating system.
If, after the steps taken, you still have not solved the problem and are wondering why the keyboard on the computer does not work, then you need to reinstall the keyboard software in 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. This is the section we need. By right-clicking in the window, 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 a new open window, we are looking for the necessary item Keyboards and trying to solve the problem of why the keyboard does not work on the computer. Windows 7, 8, XP are slightly different in their interface, so the path to the setup menu may not be the same. When calling the object's control panel, select the option to reinstall and update the hardware configuration and drivers. After rebooting the computer, the hardware should work correctly.

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

Sometimes while typing from the keyboard, a situation arises when the 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 settings, you must manually enter the word "keyboard" in the search bar in the start menu "Start". A new window will appear before your eyes, when you open it, you should correctly adjust the speed of the delay in 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

Often situations of keyboard failure occur due to incompatibility of drivers on the operating system. There are different versions of Windows: 32 and 64 bit. How do they differ 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 why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8, 7, XP, Linux require installation of different types of software. But to find out if this is the real cause of the problem, you need to restart your computer and look, by pressing the NumLock and CapsLock keyboard keys, check their operation using the indicators that light up.

2 way to troubleshoot keyboard through CMOS

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

The computer device beeps when typing from the keyboard: solutions

Why doesn't the keyboard on my computer work correctly? There are situations when, when working with a character set, a computer device emits beeps. In this case, you need to change the keyboard settings. To go to the settings, you need to write the word "Keyboard" in the search bar.

In the control panel results that appear, there is an item to change them. You need to follow this link, near the item “Easy typing”, uncheck sticky keys 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 previous keyboard settings window automatically opens. In it, uncheck the box next to the item of sounding switches by pressing the Num Lock button for 5 seconds. After saving the results of the settings, the computer device will no longer produce meticulous beeps.

Numeric keypad refuses to work

Some users, when buying a peripheral, 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 a combination of two keys: Shift + Num Lock. Most of the time this helps. There is a possibility that the mouse control is configured from the numeric keypad. To disable it on the Windows operating system, you must press the key combination Alt + Shift + Num Lock. There is another more complicated way to get to the optical mouse settings. But why complicate your life when pressing a keyboard shortcut can solve the whole problem?

Why the keyboard on the computer does not work when turned on: solving the problem

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

Check the connection itself. It doesn't matter what type of keyboard: USB, wireless or PS/2. If the problem is connection or signal loss, the keyboard will not work.
If everything is OK with the connection, you need to download a new version of the software that is compatible with your operating system and reinstall it for your keyboard.
When reinstalling the driver did not help, it means that you need to configure everything manually through the BIOS, CMOS or "Control Panel".
If it is possible to connect the keyboard to another computer device, check its performance on it. In each operating system, software settings are located in different paths. You need to know the interface of the operating system well in order to solve the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work. Windows 8.1 is arguably the most difficult system to set up software changes. But to change keyboard settings, you don't need much knowledge. It is necessary to strictly follow the instructions, 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 negligence or negligence, 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 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. It will be new to some users to find out 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 one of the main input tools on the computer. Without it, it is impossible to perform some operations in the OS and manage the process in games. The breakdown of this device also deprives us of the opportunity to write messages in instant messengers and social networks and work in text editors. In this article, we will discuss the main causes and analyze the solutions to this problem.

To begin with, let's figure out why the "keyboard" may refuse to work. There are several reasons. Connection ports, cables, electronic or mechanical stuffing of the device may be faulty. They can also "hooligan" software controls - drivers or BIOS. We will discuss these and other problems below.

Reason 1: Physical problems

The first thing you should pay attention to is whether the keyboard itself is working. You can check this in two ways. The first is to connect it to another PC. If everything is in order, then you need to look for the problem 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 USB, you can try connecting the keyboard to another similar port. Please note that USB connectors can be divided into groups. If one of the ports does not function, then the entire group may be inoperative.

With PS / 2, everything is 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 such a 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

Troubleshooting the cable and plug that connects the keyboard to the computer is quite simple. It is enough to move the wire at the input to the "clave" and near the connector on the motherboard when the PC is turned on. If the LEDs on the device briefly light up, then there is a failure of these elements. You can replace the cable yourself by soldering another, serviceable one, or simply take the device to the master.

Electronic and mechanical stuffing

These problems are indicated by the inoperability of several or all keys when the indicators are on and other signs of device detection 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.

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

First you need to eliminate sticking. You can check if this is the case using the on-screen 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, after disassembling the device. If the keyboard is mechanical, then you will have to change the switch, which can be mounted both with and 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 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 has got on the “clave”, then there is probably a short circuit in its electrical part. The solution to the problem will be disassembly and drying. Please note that if the device is a membrane type, then sweet tea, beer and other liquids other than pure water, even after drying, may remain between the layers of the film with tracks. In this case, only washing the films under running water will save. True, there is one caveat here - the tracks can oxidize and lose conductivity.

In any case, even if you manage 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 didn’t spill water on the “clave” and the keys didn’t stick on it, then the last thing that can happen is a breakdown of the electronic control module. For cheap devices, its repair or replacement is unprofitable, so you have to buy a new “board”. Expensive, you can try to hand over to the service center.

Reason 2: BIOS

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

The keyboard is the main instrument for entering information, without which work on a computer is impossible. Most often, in order for this device to work flawlessly, it is enough just to connect it to a computer, and it will install all the necessary drivers automatically. This happens 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 do not light up, and the buttons do not work. Within the framework of this article, we offer instructions on what to do if the keyboard on the computer does not work.

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Connecting the keyboard to the computer is as simple as possible - just insert its wire into the appropriate 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. There may be problems directly with the keyboard or the wire with which it connects to the motherboard. Also, the cause of the malfunction may be a broken connector on the motherboard.
Software. Keyboard drivers are installed automatically, but the installation process of any software can fail, and this situation is no exception. In addition, problems can be observed not 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 options for solving problems that arise.

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

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

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

It is worth noting that users whose keyboard is connected to the motherboard via USB may have problems getting into the BIOS on the boot screen of the computer if they are using an old version of the underlying 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 a computer using the PS / 2 protocol

Keyboard manufacturers are trying to move away from the PS / 2 connector, abandoning it in favor of USB. It is very difficult to find a PS / 2 keyboard for sale, but if you come across such peripherals and it does not work when loading Windows, the problem is most likely 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 the PS / 2 protocol most often occurs due to an error when installing the i8042prt.sys or kbdclass.sys driver.