Several keyboards have developed failures where random groups of keys stop responding at once. The latest keyboard worked normally earlier in the day, then suddenly stopped registering the minus and equals keys, both Ctrl keys, the arrow keys, and the Windows key. Changing USB ports made no difference. This has happened with three or four keyboards, ranging from about a day old to roughly a year of occasional use. The newest keyboard also failed when tested on a laptop, so I'm trying to determine whether the keyboards are defective, damaged, or whether my PC could be causing the problem.
2 Answers
Testing the keyboard on another computer is the best way to separate a keyboard problem from a PC problem. You can also try a different cable when the keyboard has a detachable one, or carefully clean it with compressed air. Since these keyboards have fixed cables and the newest one still fails on a laptop, cleaning may be worth trying, but replacement or warranty service is probably the realistic solution.
Since the latest keyboard also fails on another computer, the PC probably isn’t causing the problem. That points more toward a keyboard-side hardware fault, such as a damaged cable, connector, controller, or circuit board. A whole group of keys failing together can happen when they share part of the keyboard matrix. Liquid or debris can cause this, but manufacturing defects and cable strain are also possible.
I don’t drink over the keyboards, so I don’t think liquid damage is likely, but I’ll check them carefully for debris or cable damage.
If multiple keyboards fail in the same way, inspect the USB ports and cables for physical damage, but the fact that this one fails on the laptop makes the keyboard itself much more suspicious.