Keyboard "sticks" with multiple keypresses

Wulven · Apr 14, 2009

Alright, Ive had a brand new Studio 15 laptop since last Sept. since day one, i have had issues with the keyboard. Anytime I press more than two keys at once, one of the keys tends to "stick". It doesn't physically stick though. This causes a problem in near every game I play. Every FPS, i move diagonally (wsad), I continue moving laterally when i stop. Jumps in stepmania (keyboard DDR) causes one key to be unresponsive until i mash it again. I can't even play some flash games on the internet.

I have called Dell with the issue, and they responded with a BIOS update. I did so, not a single change. They have since been unresponsive and idiotic, even with other issues, so I have passed on. Since then, I have noticed that sometimes my keys around the Enter key have been unresponsive or switched. [ was unresponsive, ] became [, \ became ], and ; and ' became unresponsive. however this was only part of the time, while sticking keys were all the time.

I have looked on the internet for any possible similar issues, to no avail. I can't be the only one with this issue. I installed a new game recently and again the issue came up. I searched the specific game for issues, and one, single result came up. The exact issues I was having with the game was solved by one guy, and he mentioned to uninstall the Microsoft MCIR 109 Keyboard driver. I did so, and bam, everything worked fine. the user mentioned that, being an essential driver, it will reinstall itself every restart. so I rebooted and again had issues, uninstalled the driver, and... the issue persisted. the uninstallation only worked once.

I have had the issues since the beginning days I got this machine, and have yet to get it solved. ANY help appreciated. Sorry for wall-o-text, but I figured I would mention every detail.

Ayporos · Apr 14, 2009

I recommend returning your laptop to DELL for repairs, since it is obviously broken.

I'm afraid you won't find a 'software' fix for your problem.

EDIT: if you really dont want to return it though and it isn't a big hassle you could also try hooking up an external keyboard and see if the same issue occurs then.

if it doesnt its definatelly a hardware issue with your laptop keyboard.

Wulven · Apr 14, 2009

Alright, most of my suitemates are hardcore gamers and have the best of the best computers and accessories, and wont let anyone touch them except themselves most of the time. However, i DID see a cruddy backup keyboard in one of their rooms... attempt to find and retrieve will occur soon. Everyone is still asleep this moment.

Although, I wonder exactly why you said "since it is obviously broken".
Yes, it has issues, but it isnt "broken", I am obviously typing with the thing. Everything else works fine, backlight, touchstrip, etc. Seems like a rush, harsh statement, IMO.

I am reluctant to send it in for multiple reasons. Yes I game on this computer, but I also need it for schoolwork and the like, and I have no proper backup for the replacement time. Also, my trust and respect for Dell plummeted after previous instances. At first with this issue, they insisted it was the "game" after repeated statements of the issue being universal. Then my HDD crashed, and after being called every day for "did you get replacement yet?" it came a week late, with not one courtesy call at all that day or thereafter. I regret ever getting this thing with such cruddy service...
Sorry, had to vent there, heh.

Update soon, any other assistance appreciated. :3

Ayporos · Apr 14, 2009

It is perfectly understandable Wulven.

I believe most people that own 'branded' laptops will agree with you that customer service could definatelly use improvement.

Moreover not to forget if you send your laptop in you can be sure that they WILL format your hd making you lose everything on there even if it wasnt necessary.

I say it is 'obviously broken' because I can't think of anything software-wise that could make keys hang but especially not 'switch them'... unless it's a virus or something?

You say though you've had the problem since day 1 so I am very much inclined to believe it is a factory error

Wulven · Apr 14, 2009

Keyboard obtained, plugged in, worked perfectly fine, no conflicting issues.

Used laptop keyboard while external was in, issue was there.

So... send in for repair time? Ugh. Thanks for the help.

H2SO4 · Apr 14, 2009

Try reproducing any of these problems with the laptop's keyboard in the BIOS config menu. In other words, don't boot to Windows at all - go straight into the BIOS configuration and attempt to make the keyboard misbehave.

If it does the "sticky keys" thing or any of the other syptoms you've seen, it's almost certainly time to invoke that hardware warranty. Otherwise, if the keyboard is consistently 100% A-OK in the BIOS menu, it might indeed be software. In that case, try booting Windows to safe mode (hold F8 at startup) and testing what happens there.

Ayporos · Apr 14, 2009

^ what he said.

Wulven · Apr 14, 2009

Loaded into BIOS, could not reproduce the error, though it was tough to do as there were not many available keys in the menus. I did load up password creation menus and could not get keys to repeat.

Booted into safe mode without drivers or networking, and after searching for a game that did not error due to no sound or networking, got one to work and the keys DID stick. I attempted to just create a profile name and the problem occurred.

I also forgot to mention, the arrow keys do NOT have this issue, while every other key does. I can mash multiple arrow keys just fine with no sticking, except the fact that they are the arrow keys and cannot mash more than 2 or 3 at a time. Thats normal with every keyboard.

I am a bit confused now, so does that mean it is a software issue? What shall I do next?

Ayporos · Apr 15, 2009

not necessarily.

If my guess is correct BIOS does not support key holding.. so even if your keys did 'stick' and were to continuesly send keystrokes to BIOS it would just ignore it after the initial press.. giving the result of seemingly no key sticking.

Personally I would still think it's a hardware error tbh.

IF you don't mind doing so though... you could try formatting your HD and reinstalling windows to see if that changes anything.

Wulven · Apr 15, 2009

As mentioned before, my HDD crashed a while ago, and I lost everything, did not bother to retrieve anything. So I was sent a new HDD, fresh. The issue occurred before with the old drive, and persists after the new one. I do not believe another fresh installation will help.
Also not in the mood to do so cuz im just now getting those last things to back to be where I was before. Its been a very slow recovery process.

Ayporos · Apr 15, 2009

aye I know how THAT feels... having to redownload/install/set everything from scratch is a big pain

Wulven · May 8, 2009

Reviving this thing after so long...
It has been a while, the problem still persists, and now I have slightly damaged my machine that has not affected performance in any way. I hoped to use the damage as a precursor to get the keyboard fixed, or at least looked further into, but I found out today that I actually do not have the proper warranty to allow system repair. Fun fun...

So now I am again on the search to figure out why this issue keeps recurring. I can barely stand it any longer, but it really is not a life-threatening problem. Unless it gets to the point where I throw my laptop at someone in frustration, then~ it becomes life-threatening...

Any further suggestions greatly appreciated.

NQ4 · Nov 14, 2009

I have this same sticking problem, but my arrow keys stick too. I think my computer is slowly falling apart as it also randomly flashes the monitor black for about a second...like a wire is loose or something. I find it almost impossible to play flash games with a combination of said sticky keyboard and for some reason, flash games are slightly zoomed in [without a zoom option] so I cant see the outsides of the game..

And Internet Explorer randomly freezes upon trying to load a webpage

JimJoe · Nov 18, 2009

Have you read the 'Full Screen Games Keeps Minimizing!' thread here in Gaming ? There is a tutorial linked there about sticky keys.

I am not sure it will help. But you might check into it.

bildramer · Dec 10, 2009

I've got exactly the same problem, too, and my laptop is a Dell Studio 1735. I'm certain it's not a hardware issue. Any help? I'm suspecting the drivers...

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