Alienware 17 R3 keyboard issue

Hi guys I'm looking for some advice.

My keyboard was fine before going to bed, but when using it for the first time the next day I noticed that my Z key doesn't work at all. If I keep pressing it will sometimes after a delay keep repeating the z (i.e. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz etc) and will only stop if I press the Backspace key.

Then I noticed that my left shift key specifically doesn't work with the letters w, s, x and the number 2 key (which are all physically aligned diagonally vertically on the keyboard). Note these keys work fine by themselves and the shift key works normlly with other keys.. The left control key doesn't work with the x key also.

The keyboard is acting as if something has been spilt something on it, but nothing has and no one or thing (e.g. a cat) have could either. I checked the keyboard and everything seems normal including springs etc.

When I start up the laptop I now started to hear a single beep repeating itself, maybe because it thinks the z key is stuck down. Sometimes the laptop will load straight into windows, sometimes it will automatically go to the boot menu where you get the option to load windows normally (which it does if chosen) + options for safe mode etc.

I'm a bit baffled by this. I know nothing has been spilt on the keyboard and that nothing is stuck under the keys.

I have unplugged the laptop keyboard and cleaned everything and plugged the wires back in but the problem is still there.

Maybe it is a spontaneous keyboard fault. Anyone have any ideas what this could be, or is there anything else I can to try to resolve this issue. Thanks.

 

Sorry some how this ended up in the wrong Alienware sub-forum. This is the older model Alienware M17x R3 not a 2015 model. Can a mod move this please.

 

well, you could start by removing the keyboard and cleaning it, dust will cause registration problems.

reseating the cable might fix it.

if neither work it might be a worn out membrane, considering how old the laptop model is therefore i would recommend replacing it.

try disconnecting the keyboard and plug an external one and try boot the laptop multiple times (assuming the BIOS will let you do that)

 

Thanks for your reply. I already removed the keyboard and cleaned it to no avail. The keyboard is only about 2 years old. I'm hoping it isn't the motherboard which is about the same age. It's just odd it happened over night for no discernible reason.

 

could be something short circuiting.
i assume you're out of warranty?

 

Yes, it finished a long time ago. I bought a new keyboard off Ebay, should arrive in a few days. Hopefully it is just the keyboard and nothing else. Maybe it is time to get a new laptop, this one is pushing 5 years now. Motherboard has been replaced twice, gpu twice, and keyboard will be the third time (two of those were my fault though). Surprisingly the CPU hasn't given me any trouble.

 

i had an m17x R4 with a 3720qm and a gtx 675m.

gpu fried three times, cpu fried once, keyboard replaced once, and both fans replaced once.

all of that and i was taking pretty good care of it.... it just seems the m17 r3 and r4 are unlucky.