FN and right Shift keys working very intermittently

My laptop does not have a hardware audio volume or brightness adjustment button, and instead the keyboard uses the FN key for the functionality.

However, for the past two months, the FN key became increasingly unreliable, thus forcing me to adjust the volume and brightness through the software instead of being able to press two keyboard buttons. I've tested other keyboard functions that relied on the FN key, such as the keyboard backlight on/off and Num Lock, and they all activate the non-FN key functions instead.

The right Shift key also started becoming unreliable since the past two weeks. I have to repeatedly mash the key to uppercase a letter, or use the left Shift key, or use caps lock instead.

I'm not sure what is causing the two keyboard buttons to become unreliable.


The laptop is an Acer Travelmate P645-MG. I'm not sure if anyone else had a similar keyboard problem, but I still have the 2 year warranty which expires in 2017.

 

Personally I would lift offending keys and clean the contacts underneath, if you think you could do more damage than good, your best option may be the warranty, but it's your call I have no idea how handy you are.

 

I'm not exactly sure how Acer designed the laptop's keyboard, especially because of its very low travel when the keys are pressed (about 1 - 1.5 mm). There's not enough space for a standard flat head screw driver to fit in, so I would need to get a small one.

 

I had older Acer Aspire, which broke, I had no problem lifting the keys, but I think Acer have at least 2-3 different key designs. There is a website that sells keys for keyboards, they had list of all types keyboards used and how to videos, but don't have url, try google it. You could use credit card, plastic knife, you should have something handy at home. Just take your time, maybe test first on some unimportant key, like "page down".

 

The FN key has completely gave out before the cleaning. I pressed it over 20 times and it no longer works.

i cleaned the FN and Shift key, but no changes in their behavior.

 

...

 

All keys are bundled together on four or five wires. Fn, Shift and Caps Lock being close, it seems either their shared wire is damaged or the keyboard cable's connection is poor.

Try cleaning and reseating the keyboard cable first. If that doesn't help; order a replacement keyboard. For the interim you might use 'On-Screen Keyboard', also to check whether it's truly hardware and not merely a malfunctioning key-logger .

 

Caps lock works fine. I have no way of checking the keyboard cable because how the laptop was built. I would have to remove about 20 screws to pop off the bottom side, and then possibly remove the motherboard. Very high risk operation, especially since the laptop is still under warranty.

Here's what the internals look like: http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/Acer/TravelMate_P645-MG-9419/_DSC3949.jpg

I guess I might have to go with a warranty repair, which would suck because I need the laptop for important things all the way until the warranty expires (August 2016).

 

I would take out the battery and have a look: The keyboard cable may well be one of the cables connecting to the edge of the mainboard next to the battery.

John