I'm having issues with my laptop where it seems to think the Ctrl key is being pressed all the time, even though it isn't stuck. It's really frustrating because when I try to type, nothing works except keyboard shortcuts. This problem happens in tablet mode too. Additionally, the cursor sometimes disappears, and when I click on something, it opens in a new tab instead of just executing the action.
My laptop has experienced some water damage in the past and has been repaired, but I can't remember the details since it was my dad's before me. We've replaced the battery a couple of times; the last replacement was three years ago. Any chance this has to do with the previous water damage or something they might have messed up during repairs? It's an HP Spectre, about 10 years old, and it gets super hot, the fan is always running, and the battery life is almost non-existent.
3 Answers
Water damage could definitely be the culprit. It can cause keys to register without being pressed. When was the last time you cleaned out the dust from inside the laptop? That might help with the heating issue too.
Have you tried checking for any dirt or debris under the keys? Sometimes that can cause weird keyboard issues. Grab a can of compressed air and give it a go!
I did try that! I even plugged in an external keyboard but the problems persisted. Maybe it's an internal issue after all?
Changing the keyboard isn't too complicated! Water can cause a lot of issues with the connections. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube for replacing your specific model's keyboard. Alternatively, you could stick with an external keyboard for now.
Good idea! I'll look up a tutorial. I tried using an external keyboard, but I ran into the same issues there too!
I cleaned it about a year ago. My dad mentioned he did some cleaning before passing it down, but who knows! The repair shop said the overheat is from the battery, and it still overheats even after cleaning.