Laptop Problems - Toshiba Windows 7

[Tubbycoates]

Hi all,

I've a couple of problems with my laptop, which have appeared since yesterday morning. I don't recall doing anything out of the ordinary, so I'm baffled.

When I switch it on, it started beeping, and instead of automatically loading windows, I had to select 'Windows 7' from a screen. It then started beeping again for about 10 seconds, before loading Windows. Any ideas why ?

I also had problems whereby it looked as the F4 button was being permanently pressed. I couldn't get out of things like the games, nor any directory listings. It appeared to come and go. While I've been typing this, the keyboard is occasionally doing odd things (a scratchpad is appearing when i press the shift key, there is no repeat on some keys when I'm holding them down).


Any ideas ?

thanks in advance

[bhg481]

It feels like a keyboard problem - perhaps it just needs a good clean. With the machine off, turn t upside down and give it a good shake. Then try vacuuming the keyboard. You've nothing to lose and it could just be dust (or whatever) under some of the keys.

[Buenchico]

There are tables online which show what different beep codes mean. However they're different for each make of motherboard, so I'd need to know the exact model of your laptop (so I could find out what type of motherboard its got) before directing you to the relevant one.

However I suspect that there's probably no point anyway, as you might well have answered your own question. One of the most common reasons for computers to start beeping when they're turned on is because there's a key pressed down on the keyboard. (On several occasions I've had friends phone me about beeping sounds when booting up their desktop computers and the first question I've always asked them is "So what have you got on top of your keyboard then?". After they've removed the book, the pile of papers, the cat or whatever, the problem has disappeared).

So, given your 'F4' reference, I suspect that there's a problem with your laptop's keyboard (where your laptop thinks that one or more keys are pressed down, even though they're not).

Borrow a USB keyboard from your desktop or from a friend. Uninstall the driver for the built-in keyboard. (Don't worry; it will automatically re-install itself the next time you boot up the laptop). Plug in the USB keyboard. (You might have to wait a short while for the laptop to find the driver for it). Then try using your laptop via the external keyboard. If it then works normally, as I suspect it will, you'll know for sure that the built-in keyboard is defective.

Trying to repair a defective laptop keyboard is pointless. You won't succeed. Instead you'll need to replace it. You can either pay PC World thirty or forty quid for a new keyboard, plus another sixty quid to fit it (giving you a total bill of around a hundred pounds) or you can buy a new keyboard online, typically for £10 to £15, and fit it yourself for free. (I know which I'd do!)

I've replaced several laptop keyboards myself and it's usually very easy. You just use a small screwdriver to release the (almost hidden) catches around the edge of the keyboard, prise it out, unplug the connector on the end of its cable, plug the new keyboard in and push it back into place. It only takes a minute or two. (There are Youtube videos for most laptops to show you just how easy it is).

This link shows you how to uninstall the driver for the built-in keyboard:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/laptop/how-turn-off-laptop-keyboard-3676272/

This video shows you how to change the keyboard on some Toshiba laptops. (I see that involves undoing a few screws, which makes the task just a little longer - but not really any harder - than the basic process I've described above. It's still easy though):

[Tubbycoates]

Now I'm feeling guilty.

I gave it the once over with a vacuum cleaner and the keyboard problems have disappeared.

Thanks Buenchico for the long answer, gone beyond my expectations !

And thanks bhg481 as well.