Toshiba L300 Keyboard Issues

[Jordy-Gaz]

Can anyone help...i've got a toshiba satelite pro l300 laptop and the keyboard is very tempremental - it will only fully work when logged in and i have been to switch user - even though there is only one user, this is the only way to get the full operation of the keyboard. i can't access the bios as the keyboard doesn't register the key presses until logged into windows - if i crash out of windows i have to wait for the 30 second period as pressing any key (even carriage return) pauses the timer and doesn't allow any other selections.
like i say the only way to get the fully operational keyboard is to log in - start - switch user - select user and then it works. i have tried to plug an external keyboard in but to no avail... still the same error. i have tried to re-install windows xp - vista and windows 7 but i cant select any options during the setup process as the keyboard fails to work...
any ideas anyone?

[timbo343]

try buying a keyboard off ebay... we bought a L10 once from there and it is a test keyboard if any fail, it was only £10. Is the laptop still under warranty?

[Jordy-Gaz]

nah its not under warranty - and it works perfectly after i go to switch user - its just the initial step. the thing that confuses me is that it doesn't work in bios either ( i cant F2 into the bios to check the settings in there... do you think resetting the bios is a valid option?

cheers for the reply

[chazzy2501]

Anychance that you have a stuck key like the fn modifier? that windows sticky keys is fixing after login?

[sted]

is it worth shoving a usb keyboard in seeing what that does?

[Jordy-Gaz]

i've tried a USB keyboard - same symptoms -
with regards to the FN thing - the only funny thing i've noticed is that the left ctrl doesn't appear to work - like for copy and paste (or even changing tracks in spotify!!)
the desktop opens up a seperate window for each double click - so it appears the ctrl is an issue - it appears to copy a folder if i move it around the desktop.
could this be causing it....

[korifugi]

Sounds like the key is stuck (or something is under it pushing the small rubber 'nub' down). Have you tried lifting the key off (don't worry - it'll snap back into place as long as you're careful) and checking for anything under it?

[Jordy-Gaz]

i tried last night - i'll try again tonight - i'll post my findings (if any!)