The D, E, and 3 keys, along with F1 through F4, randomly stopped working on my HP laptop today. I ran the built-in keyboard diagnostic, and those keys were not detected there either. The laptop is out of warranty. What should I check, and is this something I should have repaired by HP or by a local technician?
3 Answers
Before paying for repair, shut the laptop down completely and check whether there was any liquid exposure, debris, or physical pressure around those keys. Avoid repeatedly pressing or removing the keycaps, since that can damage the hinges. Back up your files and use the USB keyboard until the internal keyboard is inspected.
Connect a USB keyboard first to confirm whether the problem is limited to the built-in keyboard. Since the external keyboard works, the issue is probably with the laptop keyboard, its cable, or the keyboard connector. Depending on the exact HP model, the keyboard may be replaceable separately or as part of the top case.
Because the keys also fail during the hardware diagnostic, this is unlikely to be a Windows or driver problem. Have the keyboard ribbon cable and connector checked first; if they look fine, the built-in keyboard will probably need replacement. An independent repair shop is usually fine and may cost less than an official service center, but choose one that has experience with HP laptops.
The external keyboard works normally, so it does seem to be limited to the built-in one.