Very Strange Problem with CTRL - X (or any letter)

Yesterday my gaming laptop got a blue screen, with a bunch of number on it saying that the computer froze. We have all seen that crazy screen. So I had to reboot. The problem is that it happened when I closed the lid to put the computer into suspend mode so I had no idea this happened. When I took the lappy out of my briefcase about 90 minutes later it was SUPER HOT, obviously because it never went to sleep and stayed on with the blue screen I had thought that the screen got fried because it was super hot and when I rebooted the lappy, there was an area on the lower left of the screen, several inches in length and an inch in height that stayed BLACK for a minute, but then it slowly came back. Probably superheated whatever is in the screen, but it seems fine now.

Anyway, the problem now is that since then I seem to have completely disabled my CTRL button! Every time I hit CTRL-F, for instance, I don't get a search box. CTRL-C and CTRL-P also don't work. In fact, when I try using these functions in MSWord, what happens is that all it does is type the letter, whether it be f, c, p, a or whatever.

I went [link name=here]http://www.ietips.net/articles/find-ctrl-f-option-not-working-in-ie/[/link] and followed the directions, but it did not help even though I got a confirmation message that the function was successful. Any idea what's going on? Oh and the PC is still well into the warranty period so if there is a problem I am covered. It is a Qosmio with an 18.4 inch screen and the GeForce 460m, which I bought Waaaaaaaay back in September.

Now two updates:

1. Now the problem gets weirder. I have a second CTRL button on my keyboard and on a whim I just checked that and it works just fine! The CTRL button I am used to using is the one on the left side of the keyboard because it is in a more convenient place and it is a larger button than the one to the right of the space bar. But I find it very odd that one of my CTRL buttons is now completely disabled for some odd reason.

2. just called Toshiba Customer Support, and damn what a nightmare this is looking like it might be! I got a level 1 tech whose sage advice (read that with lots of sarcasm) was to reinstall the OS, to which I very nicely told what an absurd idea that was as a diagnostic tool for ONE non-functioning button! Then we reinstalled the keyboard drivers, which did not work. Now he wants me to send the damned laptop back to Toshiba to be repaired, which I (without curses) told him to go screw himself. I was nice, but that was a definite NO WAY! I asked him to just send me a new keyboard because I am capable of changing it myself, to which he replied NO. Now honestly what the hell kind of CRAP support is this? I had a Dell for five years and they ALWAYS sent me the parts I needed if something was wrong and I was capable of fixing it. I am NOT laying up my laptop for WEEKS so these morons can troubleshoot a damned malfunctioning BUTTON on my keyboard. Anyway, I told this guy to get me a level 2 tech and he promised that I would get a call back in an hour or so. Man, if this is Toshiba's tech support, I AM NOT IMPRESSED! Send me the damned keyboard!

 

try taking the laptop keyboard out and resetting the ribbon cable, although that is an extremely weird problem it could also be that something is inside the keyboard its self and is hanging out under the rubber contact point and the pressure pad, which could render that specific CTRL key useless

 

Hmmmm I doubt it because I have tried pressing the button harder, obviously not hard enough to break the keyboard, but harder. The button feels completely normal and is seated perfectly with the same travel as all the other keys.

Edit: And here is another interesting thing I noticed: I have the backlit keyboard. So if I wait until the backlight goes off, pressing any key makes the backlight come back on, but pressing the non-functioning CTRL key has no effect and the keyboard light stays off.

 

Hey Chiro,

So I'm assuming an external keyboard works ok? Try that to make sure it is a keyboard problem and not a motherboard issue.

Unfortunately, that is a flaw with Toshiba support, they won't send you parts (and I do understand why they do that. Another reason why I have On-Site).
But in your case, you can either send it to them and wait a month, or buy a keyboard online (~$40) and install it yourself. If Toshiba ever questions you just say it magically fixed itself [if you tell them you repaired it, they'll probably void your warranty].

Sorry to hear about your bad news.
Keep us posted.

 

Hey Alex, yeah I didn't even think to try an external keyboard. I just did and both control buttons worked just fine. Seriously, the MORON at tech support suggested I buy a new keyboard from a supply depot as well, though, why should I pay for a new keyboard if this one is a problem and I have a warranty? I should NOT have to give up my computer for a month because these idiots have crap customer service. lol Not that you are a moron for suggesting it. I actually appreciate your suggestion, but then you don't work for Toshiba. Seriously, I understand why they would have a policy like this as well, but it makes no sense.

Dude, every day I gain more and more respect for Dell! Man now THAT IS A COMPANY WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Any problem I had with my old XPS Dell offered ME the choice of sending me the parts if I wanted to replace them myself, sending me an onsite repairman, or sending me a free box with shipping label to send it back to them! They gave me a STOCK 3 year warranty as well. Toshiba could learn a thing or two, let me tell you. This is really a STUPID situation they are putting me into. I would understand if it was a mobo, GPU, or CPU issue or some other intrinsic hardware problem. But a freaking keyboard I have to send it in?? What kind of stupid, moron crap is that?

Next thing you'll tell me if a HD or the DVD drive failed, they would not send me that part either!

Well I am going to call and lodge a huge complaint with customer service tomorrow. This is atrocious, and the worst example of customer dis-service I have ever seen.

 

I believe they have a repair depot in California; that they don't want anyone to know about. If you live on the west coast, try to see if you can send it there instead [I hear they have better trained techs].

 

No, I live in NY City. So I am SOL if the people in customer service won't help me.

 

Update:

I forgot to post this resolution from last week:

Well, I called in again, and FINALLY managed to find someone who spoke real, unadulterated English! (God, I hate to sound ethnocentric, but it is REALLY annoying that every tech support person I have ever spoke to has a horrific command of the English language!) Anyway, the reason I got him was because I asked to be transferred to complaints and customer support. Anyway, he assured me that Toshiba has to do the repairs and that I have a long time left on my warranty so he didn't want me to void it.

I told him that I was a very good customer and asked what he could do for me. After placing me on hold for a while, he managed to find out that J&R Music World, a huge electronics store in my area, could service the laptop for me under warranty. So, I called them and I can bring it in and they will do the repairs. The only glitch is that they need to physically "see" the laptop to make sure I didn't abuse it or spill something corrosive on it or something. This means I have to drive or take the train into lower Manhattan (I live in Brooklyn) let them inspect it, then they have to order the keyboard. But I don't have to leave it. I can still use my PC without the left CTRL button for now and just bring it back in in 4-5 business days when they get the keyboard.

It is a little inconvenient, but truthfully a helluva lot better than mailing my blessed laptop into a Toshiba Service Center ten states away from me and who the hell knows how long it will be before I get it back. So it's all fixed and all it cost me was two trips to Manhattan.

 

I'm glad to hear they were able to come to a more reasonable conclusion. Still not the same as sending you the part, but like you said, at least you don't have to ship your entire laptop to them and wait several weeks.
I guess the key here is to get an American on the phone


Keep us posted with results.