Laptop Keyboard Gibberish

[Erick]

I have Lenovo Flex 2-15 on the bench here.....

Thought it would be something simple. Guess we've run out of simple, eh?

So, when booting into Windows the keyboard spits out gibberish. Seriously; some keys give nothing other give multiple character (2x, 3x 0\/).

I can log in using the on-screen keyboard. Checked the set up and it's set to U.S.

Plug in an external keyboard and that works fine.

Here's where it gets weird.....

Boot to Ubuntu 12 Live CD and it does the same thing. It's not a Windows setting that had gone goofy.

There's nothing in the BIOS about keyboard layout. I'm kinda stumped. Customer claims nothing "bad" has happened the the machine.

 

[Krynn72]

Customer claims nothing "bad" has happened the the machine.

I usually interpret this to mean "something bad happened to the machine, but I know if I tell you then you'll charge me accordingly so I'm not telling you."

If its happening in Linux, then its a hardware problem. Replace the liquid damaged hardware.

 

[GTP]

Have you checked the keys to make sure one or more are not stuck?

 

[Larry Sabo]

... or disconnected and re-seated the keyboard ribbon cable?

 

[cypress]

Yup, re-seat the keyboard if not, replace it.

 

[AML]

Like everyone above.... they probably spilled something on the keyboard.

 

[Archon Prime]

Lenovo Flex 2-15 has a dual mode. It's touch screen. I had an issue with this EXACT model a few weeks ago that one of my clients have. The keyboard AND trackpad would stop working. This occurs because it's a driver problem (or at least updating all the drivers with SDI, fixed it) When the screen is swapped around in stand up tablet mode, the keyboard/trackpad disengage so they are not causing issues when the laptop is upside down.

Try a driver update with SDI first. if it persists, then try a swap.

 

[Erick]

I called the customer today to get a little more information about the laptop thinking, suspecting something.

Sure enough, second thing after pleasantries was "I completely forgot that I spilled wine on it a few weeks ago."

*blink*blink*

Normally I don't charge for the full extent of time I spend making confused faces and muttering expletives but in this case I'm making an exception.

Thank you all for the help.

 

[Archon Prime]

A cross-platform driver problem that affects Linux as well as Windows?

We're doomed!

LOL I somehow didn't even read that last sentence.

 

[PcTestCard.com]

Has the laptop been previously dropped on floor or liquid spill issue, please?
I would suggest checking on the keyboard ribbon connectivities on the motherboard keyboard controller.
Hopefully replacing the other new KB may help.

Hope this helps.
Bill
Tech Support Manager

 

[Blues]

Just to put out what I have seen do this has been liquid spills onto the KB and usually they clean up the face but upon disassembly you find the remaining residue and mess left behind. Sometime the damage he hit the MB sometimes just the KB and/or Ribbon Cable.