[Problem] The 'a' key stopped working!

Hi

so I have alienware m17xr2 and i am facing a very pita problem, the 'a' key just stopped working!! first it used to get stuck from time to time but now its completely gone and stopped working!

i havent spilled anything on it, and the rest of the keys are still buttery smooth, i dunno wht happened to the 'a' key, although i use it intensely in games (wasd controls) but i used wsd equally.

i have tried to remove the plastic key of the 'a' carefully (saw a video on how to remove individual keys) to see wither there is dirt or something below it preventing it from registering, but nothing is there, its as clean as it gets.

i currently mapped the 'a' key to the button below escape for typing purposes, but that is definitely not an permanent solution

warranty is over, so what do you guys think? whats the problem and what are my options here other then buying a full scaled usb keyboard?

 

does it physically get stuck? if not, one thing you can do is go to the Device Manager, under keyboard, right click on both devices that show there, select "uninstall" and check the box that says "delete all software for this device", restart the computer and windows will reinstall the drivers again so it´s gonna ask you to re start again. Test the computer after restarting the second time and post back with the results.

 

thank you for the response

the key feels exactly like the other keys, its not physically stuck.




i hve more than 2 devices under keyboard but i uninstlled them all and in the last one it prompted me to restart to continute the uninstallation, which i did, and then i saw that it installed the driver again when i logged in, in the notification area.

the key still does not respond, nothing registers when i click it, i tried in notepad.

its like the the signal is cut off for the 'a' key only, i dont know how is this even possible

 

ok, try the keyboard on safe mode, re start the computer, and tap F8 several times during post, select safe mode with networking. Try the keyboard there and let me know how it goes.

 

Sounds like the keyboard has died. You'll need to get a replacement part.

 

Hi, same thing, all keys work as expected except for 'a', .. its just like ... dead .. funny thing is before, it used to work sometimes but i had to press it several times first and then it works normally, but now nowthing

how much is the replacmment alienware m17x keyboard? if its more than 10 bucks i am not gonna bother, i will just get a usb keyboard and call it a day lol

 

$60 on ebay.

 

Here is one you can potentially get for under 20 if you hurry:
USED/TESTED ALIENWARE M17X KEYBOARD MOBL-F17STANDKEYUS 9J.N9182.A01 | eBay

There are a few others in the 25-40 range at the moment, but if you don't get one now, I would just sub one in temporarily and just keep you eyes open on ebay. It might be worth spending an extra 5-10$ to have your laptop keyboard working again (especially if you travel a lot). Anyways, here's another cheaper one if interested.
New for Dell Alienware M17X R1 m17x R3 Backlit US Keyboard | eBay

 

thanx for the info guys, but my m17x isnt exactly mobile, due to its heavy nature, it stays at home waiting for me to get back and "play with it", and when traveling i travel light with a small ubuntu notebook.

is there a chance that this could be due to the ribbion cable of the keyboard being dirty on one of its "sections"? or this would cause more keys to malfuction not just one key? do you guys think it would be worth it to open up the whole keyboard and check the ribbion out or there is no chance that its related to this one key issue?

 

If it just sits at your house without much movement, then I doubt the ribbon cable would have been jostled. It wouldn't hurt to disconnect and reconnect it again, but I suspect it is not a cable issue.