(ASUS G60Vx) Sudden malfunction of 2 specific keyboard keys (W and X)

[Mister_Musashi]

(EDIT NOTE: The problem came back after a couple hours, also occurring as I played Team Fortress 2.)

(IMPORTANT NOTE: The issue appears to have mysteriously resolved itself during the course of typing this post, but, in skepticism of this blessing lasting too long, I will post this regardless.)

THIS IS THE PART WHERE I RAMBLE AND IT'S NOT REALLY IMPORTANT

Hey, yeah, new here and never posted computer problems on the internet before, but I'm at a loss for ideas. I don't know if my laptop's model has anything to do with it, but I've had this thing for ages and never had a single keyboard key issue which is miraculous, really -- thing's quite a mess. I guess it's just this really nice keyboard design -- nice, thin keyboard key caps that make it difficult for debris to get in there (and neat backlights, though I disabled that some time ago). My old cruddy Dell laptop had tons of issues when it came to that, and I had to resort to using this crummy old USB keyboard that came with this horrendously fat Playstation 2 controller-keyboard hybrid that was a crime against technological nature. Its keys are really packed together tightly and the spacing is entirely different so it makes it a nightmare since I never need to look down when typing/gaming.

ANYWAYS, SHUT UP ALREADY, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?

Alright, so, without having any prior keyboard issues for the years I've used it, suddenly my W key started malfunctioning/stopped working entirely. I say this because, at first, the W key would begin to start spamming on its own -- first at irregular intervals, then constantly. Repeated (but not excessively forceful) presses/mashing would eventually fix the problem, but after that the W key would stop responding entirely. (At the time, I was playing Team Fortress 2 on Steam -- never a fun time when you either can't stop moving forward or can't move forward at all in a first person shooter. Oddly, opening the chat box would not stop me from moving forward nor would it spam the text box with W's.)

Anywho, after a few hours of attempted fixes, fits of rage and despair, and physical inspection/cleaning, I couldn't for the life of me figure it out. I removed the W key cap as gingerly as possible and removed a few hairs from in there and sprayed it with some Gust duster canned air. (NOTE: While typing this, my laptop's keyboard W key started spamming W again, and, though with some further completely unprovoked key presses, seems to work normally again -- however, I will continue making this message as I fear this won't last) Not even a response from the key during the cleaning, not even when the "little rubbery nipple-thingy" (computer genius right here, I tells ya) inside the key was directly pressed.

All other keys work completely fine EXCEPT for my X key -- the X button itself works fine, but it does not respond when used in conjunction with SHIFT or CTRL. (NOTE: At this time, it does appear to be working again, which is wierding me out because I've done nothing to keyboard whilst typing using this external USB keyboard)

TO RECAP, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

• W key does not respond at all; sometimes spams without any external provocation
  
• X key works normally, but not when holding either SHIFT or CTRL
  
• UPDATE: LEFT Shift works when pressing X, but not right shift. Holding any other letter keys prevents x from working as well.
  
• UPDATE 2: Discovered that LEFT Shift does NOT work with Z, but right shift does. Other keys do not prevent Z from working.
  

AND WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED?

• Repeatedly pressing the key
  
• Removing the cap to inspect and clean the key (2-3 small hairs were removed; no other debris found)
  
• Restarting the laptop
  
• Reopening Team Fortress 2 to see if, if the issue was indeed caused because of TF2, the issue could resolve itself (it elicited a response at some point, but it was more irregular W spam; after some repeated presses to make it stop, it resumed not responding entirely)
  
• Performed a quick scan with my antivirus, Trend Micro Titanium+ Maximum Security 2012; nothing. I am holding off on a full scan with either my antivirus or Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware because it literally takes upwards of 12 hours or so.
  

SO... WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PROBLEM IS?

• I don't even
  
• I can't even
  
• I don't even know how to even
  
• HELP
  
• What do
  
• No, but seriously, I have absolutely no clue.
  

[Mister_Musashi]

The problem came back even harder than before. It took a lot of time to get it to stop spamming. It happened again during Team Fortress 2. I just can't explain it, this is destroying my brain, and I can't do anything like this. The tiny USB keyboard gives me more wrist problems than I need right now. It seriously stresses me out to end, and obliterates any hopes of focusing on anything productive -- I can't properly search for a job let alone play video games.

I almost forgot to mention that the problem with the x button not working while ANY other key is pressed has returned along with the w key issue.

UPDATE: Oh, okay, sure. I can press LEFT shift ith X to capitalize it, but NOT right shift; pressing any other letter key and holding it then pressing x also doesn't ork. (edit: god dammit, w key)

FURTHERMORE, I have discovered that I can use right shift with Z, but NOT left shift. Holding other keys doesn't stop Z from working normally. How can any of this possibly be happening?

[cl-Albert]

Welcome to the forums!

Not sure what is causing this, but guessing this may be some kind of hardware problem, so you may want to check your warranty and consider getting a better USB keyboard if necessary until you can get this solved.

1. If possible, try to tap 'F8' when you turn on the notebook and get into Windows Safe Mode to check the problem. Better yet, boot to DOS if possible to check and eliminate any software issues.

2. Assuming you confirm it is a hardware problem, try to find a copy of your invoice and contact ASUS U.S. support through this link to confirm the warranty and set up an RMA if necessary.
If you're out-of-warranty, you can also send it in for out-of-warranty service if you wish.

3. If you want to take a chance and try to replace the keyboard on your end, you can buy the G60Vx keyboard from the U.S. estore site at this link, but it's not certain this will solve the problem, so send it back for service if necessary.
Actually, if you have a way to safely do this, you might try to reseat the keyboard cable to see if this can make any difference.
I may worry too much, but people sometimes break the plastic keyboard latch which causes big problems, so find someone qualified to do this for you if necessary.

Good luck!

[Mister_Musashi]

cl-Albert wrote:
Welcome to the forums!

Not sure what is causing this, but guessing this may be some kind of hardware problem, so you may want to check your warranty and consider getting a better USB keyboard if necessary until you can get this solved.

1. If possible, try to tap 'F8' when you turn on the notebook and get into Windows Safe Mode to check the problem. Better yet, boot to DOS if possible to check and eliminate any software issues.

2. Assuming you confirm it is a hardware problem, try to find a copy of your invoice and contact ASUS U.S. support through this link to confirm the warranty and set up an RMA if necessary.
If you're out-of-warranty, you can also send it in for out-of-warranty service if you wish.

3. If you want to take a chance and try to replace the keyboard on your end, you can buy the G60Vx keyboard from the U.S. estore site at this link, but it's not certain this will solve the problem, so send it back for service if necessary.
Actually, if you have a way to safely do this, you might try to reseat the keyboard cable to see if this can make any difference.
I may worry too much, but people sometimes break the plastic keyboard latch which causes big problems, so find someone qualified to do this for you if necessary.

Good luck!

Thanks for advice, but the problem fixed on its own again that same day. It's been several days without any problems, but out of nowhere it came back again just now. I'm also seeming to have issues with random key inputs not registering (resulting in missing letters/spaces in my typing with no discernible pattern). I type pretty fast, but Filter Keys and all that stuff is turned off (and I don't think turning it on solves my 'w' problem, either).

Now, what I gotta know is, what kind of hardware (or software for that matter) problem surfaces, fixes itself after a while, and resurfaces days later? I mean, I use the 'w' key quite heavily, and I've done nothing different since the problem disappeared a couple days ago. I'm willing to buy a new keyboard if I must, but I just want to figure out why I'm buying it before I go through with it, if that makes any sense.

[cl-Albert]

cl-Albert wrote:

1. If possible, try to tap 'F8' when you turn on the notebook and get into Windows Safe Mode to check the problem. Better yet, boot to DOS if possible to check and eliminate any software issues.

Actually, I was thinking if your external USB keyboard is working okay when your notebook keyboard is not, this should indicate a hardware problem with the notebook keyboard since the software shouldn't know the difference between the 2 keyboards.
It may not be easy with an intermittent issue, but If you haven't already, try to confirm if it really is a software or hardware issue.

If your notebook never moves around and just sits at the desk all day, it might make sense to just get a better USB keyboard and be done with it if you confirmed this will solve the problem.

Mister Musashi wrote:

Now, what I gotta know is, what kind of hardware (or software for that matter) problem surfaces, fixes itself after a while, and resurfaces days later? I mean, I use the 'w' key quite heavily, and I've done nothing different since the problem disappeared a couple days ago. I'm willing to buy a new keyboard if I must, but I just want to figure out why I'm buying it before I go through with it, if that makes any sense.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you exactly what is causing this flaky hardware problem, but just know hardware can be flaky at times. It may not be related to this issue, but if you have a bad connection/loose solder joint somewhere, slight flexing of the motherboard can cause the problem to come and go. It's also why I suggested reseating the keyboard cable if possible although it isn't a common problem I've heard about (I don't always hear that much though).

Also, just wanted to clarify that replacing the notebook keyboard might not solve the issue if there is a problem on the motherboard side, so something else to worry about (sorry, I tend to worry a lot, but wanted you to be aware of this possibility although probably less likely).

[Mister_Musashi]

Welp, it's settled now. After a really long and stressful day out with my dad, when we finally got him he decided to try to help me fix this since it became a problem again. Except he wanted to remove the rubber nipple-thing under the key because he suspected I got dirt and junk under there, but I told him to really not do that. He did it anyways, and now it won't stay on - it slides around and even when I put the key cap back on it, it doesn't sit right; it has little resistance to go back to the unpressed position, no clack sound, no response. When I take the cap off the rubber thing is always upside down SOMEHOW despite being dead sure its facing the right way every time I placed it. At least before I had the chance of it eventually fixing itself again, but now... it appears permanently screwed thanks to him. He's offered to buy the replacement keyboard or even a new computer altogether - this thing is pretty old and outdated in many ways. I just... really hate parting with a computer, let alone transfer and redownload everything. All of the settings will be different, the OS will probably be Windows 8 by default which I want to avoid like the plague... ugh.

Anyways, I'm not sure how to remove the keyboard from this thing even if we did get a new keyboard. I'm reluctant to let him try anything now.