netbook keyboard probs

[berley]

Daughters netbooks keyboard is not working properly, it?s a Hp mini 110 1110sa and has a bios password on it, the return key types something instead of returning, the delete key also types instead of deleting etc, I have googled and the best I?ve found is to press - fn+no.lock ? tried this and it didn?t work also tried ctrl +shift, and every other thing google is suggesting. Tried hooking up a seperate keyboard and this behaves the same way as her netbook keyboard.

Tried getting into the recovery mode on her hard drive but before you can press f11 it keeps going to the bios password, which she knows but because the keyboard is behaving oddly it doesn't recognise the password.

the netbook has HP instant web on it

? Instant Web is an instant on software solution that allows users to quickly and easily get to a browser, an IM client, and their media in a secure, fast booting environment.

The keyboard did work fine when she was using instant web, ie she could type in url addresses etc.

To get from instant web into normal windows you press the windows key on the keyboard, she had a password set for windows, originally it was just here when her keyboard started playing up, non of the keys worked apart from the space bar so she went into the bios to see if she could change the password to spacebar x 3 (because the spacebar was working) instead she inadvertently put that as a bios password

So now she's got a netbook that cant even boot into instant web because its asking for a bios password.

Is there a workaround for this or is she caught in a catch 22 ?

[03ahmads]

What OS is it running? Seems like a clean install may be the only option, where was it bought & does it still have a warranty?

[berley]

clean install isn't an option because it asks you to press f9 to change the boot sequence, tried pressing f9 with a bootable usb flash drive with w7 on it but it still goes to the bios password

No it doesn't have a warranty its about 2.5 years old

[03ahmads]

It's quite a mess if it's completely unusable first thing to do is to try erasing the bios password, try removing the cmos battery for 30 mins & putting back in, may do the trick.

[03ahmads]

If bought new it should still have a guarantee under Sales Of Goods Act (up to 6 years) I would first try getting a replacement/refund before tinkering with it.

[berley]

It's quite a mess if it's completely unusable first thing to do is to try erasing the bios password, try removing the cmos battery for 30 mins & putting back in, may do the trick.

I had thought of that but it doesn't always work and I'd be scared of breaking something else in the process

[berley]

I posted the original post a few places so here's a quick update with suggestions from everywhere, its for the benefit of anyone else who might encounter the same problem.

I tried the cmos battery it didn't work

I tried putting the netbook battery into an external caddy and hooking it up to laptop to virus scan it, it came back clean.

I originally said I had tried hooking up an external keyboard, which i had btw , what I hadn't done was to disconnect the netbook keyboard before I hooked it up. Once it was suggested that I try that, the external keyboard worked and I was able to put in a master reset code that someone generated for me

So it seems like the netbook keyboard is goosed.

Thanks for all the help.

[03ahmads]

I did think it was odd that an external keyboard was doing the same, keyboard faults seem a common problem with these hp netbooks, glad you got it sorted :-)

[CaptainCretin]

You have checked the obvious, like a key stuck down??


Would Dban help ??
I am not sure if it can be run from within windows, or needs the cd drive set as boot device.

TBH, if the KB is buggered even in bios mode, it may be something more serious than a virus or config error.

[Canker_Canison]

My suspicions are that something was spilt on the keyboard.

Here's a cheap replacement

[berley]

Cheers canker Fergal had already given me a link (same one btw)

It arrived today and is now fitted and working perfect.

Thanks to everyone for all the help I received.

EDIT: ooops forgot to say there was deffo nothing spilt on the keypad, it was as clean as a whistle as it's seldom used as daughter doesn't have broadband in her house, and at 25 I am assuming she's past the stage of telling lies .