It sounds like you're dealing with a persistent issue with your F3 key, and since it behaves normally with an external keyboard, it’s likely that the problem could be hardware-related. However, there are a few steps you can try to diagnose whether it’s a software or hardware issue before considering a keyboard replacement.
Here’s a troubleshooting approach:
1. Check for Stuck Keys
Sometimes dust or debris can cause a key to be stuck or pressed unintentionally. Try gently cleaning around the F3 key with compressed air or a soft brush to see if this resolves the issue.
2. Boot in Safe Mode
Boot your laptop into Safe Mode to rule out any third-party software conflicts. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services.
- Restart your laptop.
- Press F8 or Shift + F8 during boot (or use Windows Recovery Options to boot into Safe Mode).
- If the issue persists in Safe Mode, it's more likely hardware-related.
3. Check Keyboard Driver Conflicts
Sometimes a corrupted or conflicting keyboard driver can cause strange behavior. You’ve already updated the drivers, but here’s another step:
- Go to Device Manager.
- Expand Keyboards, right-click on your keyboard device, and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart your computer, and Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers.
If the issue persists, you might also want to check for ASUS-specific drivers (like Armoury Crate) that might conflict with keyboard functions.
4. Test in BIOS
To determine whether it's a hardware issue:
- Restart your laptop and boot into the BIOS menu (usually by pressing F2 or Del during startup).
- If the F3 key issue persists in the BIOS, it's almost certainly a hardware issue since no operating system or software is loaded.
5. Run a Keyboard Diagnostic Tool
You can use a tool like Keyboard Tester or Aqua’s KeyTest to check if the key is being pressed continuously or registering abnormal inputs. These tools will show live key presses and help you confirm if the F3 key is malfunctioning.
6. Disable the F3 Key Temporarily
If it’s a hardware issue and you need a temporary fix, you can disable the F3 key using third-party software like SharpKeys or AutoHotKey until you're ready to repair or replace the keyboard.
7. Hardware Replacement
If none of the above works and the problem persists, it’s likely a hardware issue. Given the replacement cost is around 7k INR, you could try contacting ASUS support or a local repair shop to see if they can clean or fix the specific key before replacing the entire keyboard.
If after following these steps you determine it’s a hardware issue and repair seems too expensive, continuing with the external keyboard might be the most cost-effective solution in the short term.
