Inspiron E1505 has weird keyboard issues

Okay I have only had my inspirion for a month or less. So far it's been fantabulous except a couple things.

1. The Fn+ F10 combo just doesn't work. I've tried reinstalling that quickset thing that is supposed to control those keyboard shortcuts to no avail.Most of the other Fn keys don't work as well---although the one controlling brightness does. This hasn't worked since I got it--at least not that I know of. I thought it might be because i went on an uninstall rampage when i got it trying to get rid of all the crap dell bundled...but after reinstalling the quickset as Dell support suggested I don't know if this is the problem.(It was never uninstalled...I just wonder if when I was uninstalling I messed something up? Hate to to a reinstall of Windows just for this...)

2.Sometimes a weird issue with scrolling will start happening. Basically, scroll up seems..stuck? I will be viewing a web page and trying to scroll down using the trackpad and it will automatically start scrolling up. Or, when opening a new web page, the site will automatically go to really itty bitty font size---like youre holding control & the scroll wheel(but I'm not touching anything.) Rebooting fixes this problem, but when the problem is occuring I've tried holding down both control keys and making sure sticky keys wasn't enabled (it wasn't) but none of those worked.

2. Lastly, why does MSN messenger launch when I hit Fn+up? This also controls brightness but I dont konw why it launches that as well. This might be unrelated and has to do with only a checkbox. This is the least of my problems, however.


I'm totally up for any suggestions, Everyone's help is appreciated VERY MUCH!

 

Heh, that post made me think of a doctor's office when the doctor taps the knee with the hammer and the arm shoots up. Something's screwy, however, I don't know what it is.

 

lol indeed it is.


Oh, and I like your sig. I couldn't believe I got talked into getting a dell either hahaha.

 

My first post on here was hardcore pro AMD turion.....and....I was too weak....I converted.

But this is getting off topic...lets see if someone can actually help you out.

 

yeah Doesn't look like there are a plethera of ideas though...

I'm up for any suggestions, even if theyre out there!

 

Think a lot of us can't figure out how we got talked into a dell, but that is beside the point

1.) is Quickset running? It can be installed, and the FN keys still won't work. It has to actually be started and running (should see the QS in your systray).

2.) try updating your touchpad drivers (located in the input category on support.dell.com under "Drivers & Downloads). Also, you can adjust your sensitivty settings.

3.) no idea

 

Reformat and start again.

Sounds like some program is stealing the Fn key combo presses before the QuickSet program gets them. I think this is especially likely as you say that MSN messenger pops up when you press Fn+up.

 

1) I would trying reinstalling Quickset and turning it on as Souther Girl had said. I would also go into the bios and check the FN setting. I believe I saw something regarding with the FN button when I looked in the bios.

2) Reinstall the TouchPad driver and go to control panel and look at the keyboard and mice settings, make sure your settings are correct.

3) Don't know. I never had problems.

 

Thanks so much everyone I really appreciate all the replies.


Southern Girl--
Yes quickset is installed and running in control panel. I have already reinstalled. I also just reinstalled the touchpad driver, but since the problem is sporadic, I don't know if that has fixed problem #2.

geometrikal--
I too figure formatting would fix the problem, but at this point that will be my last resort. The thought that perhaps another program is trying to control keyboard shortcuts is a good thought though, I have no idea what program that might be...

kguo7--
I've already tried reinstalling quickset. That didn't work. I will check the bios for anything regarding Fn keys....I'm not super advanced in that dept. but I'll give it ago.



Thanks again everyone...any other suggestions are much appreciated. Also I wonder...is anyone else having/ever had this problem???

 

R u running NHC (Notebook Hardware Control), because it might be the problem. If u r running it make sure u have the "Use alternative function to detect the actual 'System Power Status'" checked to do that open the Notebook Hardware Control > Select Battery Tab > Click on Show advance battery settings.

Other than that u might need to call Dell for support

 

honestly, your "2" problem (the second 2) sounds quite fishy and i wonder if your machine is infected

 

No, I'm not running NHC.


By infected, I assume you mean by a virus, however I don't know how this could be possible...I'm Insanely careful and most everything I put on here and I have also been running virus protection since day 1.

 

yeah, i meant virus.

what are you currently using for a/v?

it might be worth running a scan in safe mode just to be sure. also, it might be worth grabbing a copy of avg free just to get a "second opinion" (also in safe mode).

it may not be a virus, but you never know and it's best to at least eliminate that possibility rather than spin your wheels going in other directions.

 

I'm running Antivir...just updated it yesterday. I'll let it run a scan tonite or perhaps run a norton/McAffee scan as well. Like you said, might as well eliminate that.

 

don't forget to run it in safe mode

 

Okay---In the meantime I'm still open to other suggestions I'm baffled. Maybe I'll call dell tommorow, but it's just such a hassle to sit there and deal with people with those heavy accents and...blah I'm sure you guys all know haha

 

Okay so I did the virus scan in safemode--nothing. BUT while i was in safe mode I tried the Fn buttons just for kicks and they work like a charm. Just as geometrikal suggested, something was stealing the keyboard function. Well after closing/opening running processes and checking what ran on boot-up I finally figured out that when I'd used another keyboard a few times it had caused the type32(or whatever the microsoft kb driver is) to run on startup, which was consequently stealing the keyboard shortcuts. Now that I think about it, this is a huge "duh" but It never crossed my mind becuase I'd never remembered the Fn+keys working---I guess because the first night I had the computer, before i even tried the keys, i had plugged up the external Kb thus installing the driver and causing my problem!

So I guess I'd just like to say thanks to geometrikal because you pointed me in the right direction so I could at least solve #1 & #3 of my problem. (The MSN messenger thing was apparently just a side effect of that driver being on startup..why i have no idea, haha probably because my kb was a microsoft one...)

Also huge thanks to everyoe else for their replies, I really appreciate it. I'm not certain if my #2 problem will be fixed, I kind of doubt it, so if anyone has any insight on that one I'd love to hear it!

 

LOL, i'm glad that you figured it out cause I don't think any of us would have. I would have never thought that another keyboard would have caused strange problems like that. Glad to hear that you got it fixed.

SG