On a computer, few will envy. And, as often happens, such troubles most often happen precisely when reports are being submitted, typing is being done during the battle for the fate of the world in the next computer game, etc.

On the other hand, the question “why the keyboard doesn’t work on a computer” is not asked too often, since with the beginning of the “USB era” many “childhood diseases” in this area of ​​​​computing devices are a thing of the past. In light of this, a broken keyboard is a reason for a kind of pride in one’s “luck.”

Connection

All modern keyboards use a USB serial bus interface to connect to the motherboard. It has a number of advantages over the discontinued PS\2 standard, among which we can especially note the possibility of “hot replacement”. That is, the user can theoretically, when the system unit is turned on, connect and disconnect the plug to the corresponding free connector. And many people take advantage of this, especially owners of portable computers. In such a case there are two negative points. Firstly, it was noticed that frequent switching of the device leads to the fact that the spring-loaded contacts in the plug lose their elasticity, resulting in poor performance (the power or data line disappears).

It is not surprising that this is followed by the question “why the keyboard on the computer does not work.” Thus, with frequent connection, the plug wears out and requires replacement. Secondly, sometimes when a device was hot-swapped, it failed, so this opportunity should not be abused. To check the contacts, you need to disconnect the keyboard plug and carefully reconnect it, gently shaking it in the connector. Sometimes it is possible to return the contacts with a needle to their previous spring-loaded state.

Electrical problems

Like any other USB device, the keyboard receives power directly from the port. And since the features of the internal implementation of the bus are such that several connectors are connected to one control chip at once, when powerful devices (with a current of 500 mA) are turned on, their functionality is not guaranteed. The solution is simple: if the question arises “why the keyboard does not work on the computer,” then you need to disconnect all USB devices except the most necessary ones and check their functionality.

If there are a large number of simultaneously used USB peripherals, you need to use an intermediate splitter with an external source. Also, quite often the problem with USB is observed in old computers and laptops, the power supplies and other elements of which have exhausted their service life and do not produce the required voltages. The solution is similar to the above. And, of course, do not forget that the fault may be in the connector itself: to check, you need to connect the plug to another USB port.

Software glitch

Modern operating systems use a driver control program to interact with the keyboard. Sometimes it stops working correctly. As a result, the user cannot understand why the keyboard on the computer does not work. You need to use the mouse to go to the “Device Manager” and try to update the driver in the “Keyboards” item. If this does not help, then you need to remove the device using the appropriate command and reconnect the keyboard to the computer - the Plug&Play mechanism should work.

Settings incident

In modern motherboard BIOSes there is an item that allows you to refuse to use USB by setting the Disable mode. If for some reason this happens, then you need to find an old PS/2 keyboard, use it to enter the BIOS (Del button immediately after turning on the power) and enable USB. Another option is to reset the settings to their initial state by closing the corresponding Clear CMOS jumper on the board (its exact location is indicated in the instructions). Beginners are sometimes faced with the fact that the keyboard on the right does not work. This can be caused by accidentally pressing the NumLock button, which switches the modes of the right numeric keypad. If the indicator of the same name is on, then you need to press the button again to switch it to another state.

5 minutes to read. Views 466 Published 01/10/2017

A computer keyboard is one of the main information input devices. At the same time, if problems arise in its operation, users immediately wonder why the keyboard on the computer does not work. As a rule, in order for the keyboard to start working, it is enough to connect it to the system unit into a special PS/2 connector or into a USB port. But it often happens that after connection, the keyboard buttons do not respond to pressing and the lights do not light up. Therefore, let's figure out what to do if the keyboard stops working and how to solve the problem yourself.

Reasons why the keyboard on the computer does not work.

We all know that in order to connect a keyboard to a computer, you just need to plug the plug into a special connector. In this case, the device will automatically be detected in the system and the appropriate drivers will be installed. The user only needs to wait a little. But there are times when, after turning on the computer, the keyboard shows no signs of life. There may be two reasons why the keyboard on a computer does not work.

1. Mechanical damage to the device.

• Cable damage. Check the integrity of the keyboard cable, it may be damaged;
• PS/2 plug is broken. Very often in my practice I encountered situations where the pins in the keyboard plug were bent or broken off. To check this, pull out the purple plug and inspect its inside. If you see bent contacts, try to carefully straighten them and connect them back to the system unit;
• Problem with PS/2 connector on . It is also quite common for the connector used to connect the keyboard and mouse to fail. The solution is to install a keyboard with a USB interface;

Important! Be sure to perform all steps for connecting a keyboard with a PS/2 interface when the computer is turned off. This will allow you to avoid damage to the keyboard or port on the motherboard.

• The keyboard board or microcontroller is faulty. In this case, replacing the keyboard with a new one will help, since repairs will not be practical.

1. Software problem. Software failures when installing and connecting a keyboard are quite rare and are not always associated with operating system problems. Perhaps a failure occurred in the BIOS and the keyboard was disabled by software.

These are the main reasons why the keyboard on a computer does not work. Let's now take a closer look at how to solve problems with different types of keyboards.

Why doesn't my PS/2 keyboard work?

As I already described above, there are many reasons why the keyboard on a computer connected via the PS/2 interface does not work. If no mechanical damage is observed, then it is possible that the problem is software. Let's follow these steps to get your keyboard working again.

As a rule, in the event of a software failure, the ps/2 keyboard refuses to work if the i8042prt.sys and kbdclass.sys drivers are installed incorrectly.

Why doesn't the USB keyboard work on my computer?

Keyboards with a USB interface have long begun to replace keyboards with a PS/2 interface. USB keyboards are not so capricious and can work with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. Therefore, it makes no difference which port you connect the keyboard to. It often happens that USB keyboard support is disabled in the BIOS. We definitely check this by following these steps:

After restarting the computer, the problem of why the keyboard on the computer does not work should be resolved. Some users have problems accessing the BIOS on a USB keyboard. If this problem also occurs to you, then you should find a keyboard with a PS/2 connector, go into the BIOS from it and make the settings. After that, restart the computer and connect the USB keyboard.

Brief summary.

As you can see, today we figured out the reasons why the keyboard on the computer does not work, and also found ways to troubleshoot the problem. I always advise you to check the most basic things yourself. Since it often happens that the problem, for example, is that the user accidentally pulled out the keyboard plug with his foot, the wire was damaged, or the connector was broken. In such cases, you yourself will be able to diagnose the problems and easily find solutions. If the described methods did not help you bring your keyboard back to life, then I recommend replacing it with a new one. Fortunately, their prices are affordable and will be affordable for any user.

Let's imagine a situation: you turned on the computer, it booted, but the keyboard does not work. And why the keyboard stopped working is not clear.

Agree, for many users this will cause confusion, and some will even decide to give keyboard for repair

It’s good if you have another old keyboard at hand, which you can use to check the general performance of the computer. But usually it doesn’t, so let’s try to figure out why the keyboard doesn’t work and what to do to make it work again.

The advice in the article is universal. It doesn't matter what brand your device is -a4tech, logitech, genius, oklick or any other - we will try to solve the problem.

6 reasons why the keyboard on your computer does not work

We will describe a few simple steps that may help you fix your keyboard:

1. The keyboard connector is disconnected from the computer.

Action one: Let's check if our keyboard is connected to the system unit.

This reason is the most trivial - the contact between the computer system unit and the keyboard is broken. The keyboard connector is usually located on the rear panel of the computer system case. You can easily find it - its shape resembles a domestic standard tape connector.

To fix this problem, you just need to securely secure the keyboard cable connector in the mating connector on the computer system unit.

If necessary (for example, if the contact is unreliable), you can wipe the contacts on the keyboard connectors with alcohol.
Make sure the keyboard wire is not damaged.

Turn off the computer and disconnect and reconnect the keyboard.

You can check the functionality of the keyboard itself on another computer.

2. The keyboard is connected to the wrong connector

Action insecond: We look to see if we connected it to the mouse port by mistake, the ports for the mouse and PS-2 keyboard are located next to each other and differ only in color.

3. Checking the functionality of the PS/2 port

Action tretier: Let's look at the condition of the PS-2 keyboard port itself, and see if it's loose.

The functionality of the PS/2 port can be checked using another keyboard

4.Checking the functionality of the PS/2 connector

Act four the most common one, we look at the condition of the keyboard plug itself; it is often stepped on, inserted incorrectly, deformed and broken. If you were careless, you could bend the legs of the PS/2 keyboard connector.

The arrow shows where the thin antennae-contacts of the plug are located, which are the easiest to bend and break.

Just note that the connector itself usually purple :o).

If the legs of the connector are bent, straighten them with something thin, such as tweezers or a knitting needle.

5.Keyboard with USB interface

In order for a keyboard with a USB interface to work on some computers, you need to enable the corresponding option in the BIOS, it is called USB Keyboard Support, opposite this parameter can be Disabled you need to set the value Enabled, sometimes the settings in the BIOS disappear.

I understand that you don’t want to go into the BIOS, but it’s necessary. You need to go into the BIOS and check, maybe the USB controller itself is disabled and you will need to set it opposite USB Controller value Enabled.

In this case, only the PS-2 keyboard can help; by connecting it, you can make your own changes to the BIOS and switch, for example, the option USB Keyboard Support, responsible for the operation of the USB keyboard from the position Disabled to position Enabled Only after this, having saved your changes and rebooted, will you be able to work with the USB interface keyboard. Also pay attention to the parameter USB Controller Is it turned on?

Save settings and exit BIOS

Then you need to reinstall the drivers for the keyboard. In Device Manager, you need to remove the keyboard from the list of equipment and start searching for new hardware in the Control Panel

6. Drivers are not installed

Nowadays, a huge number of new multimedia keyboards are appearing with additional keys that require certain drivers to work, which must come with this keyboard.

If you purchased a keyboard that came with drivers, you need to find and install them, again after you remove the old drivers.

And, of course, if your wireless keyboard fails, you need to check condition of batteries or accumulators.

All of these keyboard problems are typical. Now, let's look at special cases when the keyboard does not work.

• the keyboard is locked using a key (lock) on the system unit;
• The XT/AT switch on the back of the keyboard is not installed correctly;
• There is a hardware problem with the keyboard.

The keyboard is locked using a key (lock) on the system unit

To eliminate the possibility of unauthorized access to the computer, there is a special lock on the front panel of the system unit.

Using the key included with your computer, you can completely lock the keyboard. In this case, any presses on the keyboard keys will be ignored by the keyboard controller, and upon booting the computer will display a message stating that the keyboard is locked and needs to be unlocked:

It should be noted that using a keypad lock by itself is not sufficient protection against unauthorized access. For more information about sharing access to your computer, see the "How to protect the data you store on your computer" section.

The XT/AT switch on the keyboard is not set correctly

Most keyboards can be connected to both IBM PC/XT and IBM PC/AT computers. However, the keyboards of these computers operate in different modes. For compatibility, there is a switch for selecting the computer type - XT/AT - on the bottom panel of the keyboard.

If you connect the keyboard to an IBM PC/XT computer, then this switch should be in the XT position, and if the keyboard is connected to an IBM PC/AT computer, then the switch should be in the AT position.

If the switch is in the wrong position, the keyboard may not work.

Sticky keyboard keys

The reason is that Keyboard buttons don't work, also causing one of the keyboard keys to stick. Sticking of some keys can lead to unpredictable consequences. For example, if the Del key is stuck on the keyboard, the SETUP program will launch immediately after turning on the power.

After using your computer keyboard for a long time, it becomes dirty. As a result of this, individual keys on the keyboard may become stuck, that is, after pressing and releasing a key, the contacts of the key remain closed. Since the contacts remain closed, the keyboard controller turns on the auto-repeat mode, as if you had not released the key.

The result of such sticking can be the auto-generation of a stuck key symbol and an overflow of the keyboard buffer. For example, if the “q” key is stuck and you are working with a text editor, then a very long line “qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq...” will appear on the screen, which, in addition, will grow at a catastrophic speed.

1. Check to see if one or more keys on your keyboard are jammed.
2. Try pressing all the keys in a row.
3. After using the computer for a long time, contamination occurs; to get rid of dirt, you need to carefully disassemble the keyboard, clean it of debris and wipe the contacts with alcohol; only this is a very tedious task, remember that disassembling the keyboard is much easier than assembling it.
4. Try disconnecting the keyboard from the system unit for a short time and connect it again.

To protect the keyboard from contamination, you can use a special cover that covers the keyboard from above and protects the keyboard from dust. Typically, these keyboard covers are sold along with the keyboard.

PS. It happens that the keyboard is blocked by a virus. An unlikely event, if there is such a suspicion, check your computer with an antivirus using a computer mouse

The keyboard could simply be faulty. Don’t be lazy, try connecting it to another computer, will it work :o).

Based on materials from remontcompa.ru, lib.csu.ru

Laptop keyboard not working? This cannot be said to be a typical situation for modern technology; this is a rather rare breakdown of laptops. And if in the case of a PC you don’t even have to figure out the cause of the breakdown, simply replacing one keyboard with another, then in the case of a laptop things are much more complicated, because its keyboard is an integral part of a single integral structure. What could be the reasons for the breakdown of a laptop keyboard, what consequences can presumably be expected, how to get out of a situation when you urgently need to enter text on a laptop that is not working - we will consider all these questions below.

1. Is there a blacklist of laptop models that are prone to keyboard failure?

Before we begin to directly consider the problem of a broken laptop keyboard, a few words about whether it is possible to prevent the occurrence of such a situation. Is there a kind of black list of laptops - specific models, products from a specific manufacturer, which in practice would prove their tendency to cause keyboard failure? No. There are no models on the computer market that are prone to this particular breakdown in practice. A laptop keyboard from any manufacturer can fail. Moreover, this applies to both flagship models and budget ones.

2. Possible reasons for laptop keyboard failure

Before taking your laptop to a service center, you can try to figure out on your own why the laptop keyboard is not working. And if this is a software failure or problems with the keyboard cable, your attempts may be successful, and you will save on the services of a service center. So let's get started.

2.1. Software glitch

The reason the laptop keyboard fails may be due to errors in the Windows operating system itself. As a rule, this happens when the drivers fail. You can check this in the BIOS. To enter the BIOS, restart the laptop and hold down the Del key. In some laptop models, the F1 or F2 buttons may be used to enter the BIOS. This point can be clarified in the laptop manufacturer's instructions. If the keyboard works in the BIOS itself, you can boot Windows in safe mode to further test whether the keyboard works without drivers and with a minimum set of system services.

You can get into safe mode in Windows XP, Vista, 7 using the F8 key, which must be held while the system boots. A boot mode selection menu will appear, where you must select to boot in safe mode without drivers. In the case of Windows 8/8.1, entering the system's safe mode is somewhat different; some preliminary system settings are required. Follow the path:

“Control Panel” - “Administration” - “System Configuration”.

In the “Downloads” tab, set the value to “Safe Mode”, click “Apply”, “OK” and reboot. After rebooting you will be in safe mode.

You can return the settings to their previous state in the same way by removing the “Safe Mode” value.

So, you have entered Windows Safe Mode. Check the functionality of your laptop keyboard. If the laptop keyboard works in safe mode, then the problem lies in the drivers. If the keyboard does not work in Windows safe mode, but the BIOS responds to input, most likely the problem is in the operating system itself.

After returning to normal Windows operation, proceed to install or update drivers.

Download and install the driver pack. This is a special type of software designed to select drivers for specific hardware components of a computer device. Having scanned the laptop and determined the drivers necessary for installation, the driver packs automatically remove their installers from their database and carry out the installation. Driver packs on the Internet can be found in the form of a DVD with an existing driver database, but it is much easier to quickly download and install the driver pack software client, which, after scanning, will download from the Internet only the necessary drivers in the latest, most current version.

DriverPack Solution, Slim Drivers– client programs for these driver packs can be downloaded absolutely free on the Internet. These are the top two among driver packs; they are popular among users because they are free and have a regularly updated driver database. Use the driver pack to scan your laptop and install (or update) the drivers that the program indicates.

You can install or update drivers without using driver packs. Download them manually from the official website of the manufacturer of your laptop model.

If the work of installing or updating your laptop drivers does not solve the problem with the keyboard not working, you can try reinstalling Windows itself. For example, Windows XP is today an outdated operating system, and perhaps by installing Windows 7 or 8/8.1 the problem with the keyboard not working will disappear.

2.2. Pressed out or oxidized contacts of the keyboard cable

If you have been using a laptop for a long time, perhaps the problem of the keyboard not working lies in the oxidized or pressed contacts of its cable. To check this option and attempt to solve the problem, the laptop will have to be disassembled. If this is your first time disassembling a laptop yourself, use the instructions from the manufacturer. Instructions for many device models can be downloaded on the Internet in electronic form, in particular, on the official website of the same manufacturer. You can also watch video tutorials on how to properly disassemble a laptop on YouTube or other resources.

Having reached the keyboard cable, disconnect it by sticking it out of the connector and carefully inspect it. If you see obvious damage upon inspection, then this is the reason for the laptop keyboard not working. And you can solve it by replacing the cable.

If everything is in order with the keyboard cable, wipe its contacts with an ear swab moistened with alcohol, or use a regular eraser. After cleaning, insert the keyboard cable back and test.

2.3. Microcontroller failure or liquid spilled on laptop

If the reason for the laptop keyboard not working is a burnt out microcontroller or spilled liquid, in this case you cannot do without the services of a service center. It is impossible to thoroughly determine which hardware components of the laptop are faulty and solder them at home (of course, if you are not a specialist).

When liquid is spilled on a laptop, if it gets on the board, over time this leads to oxidation of the contacts. As a result, the keyboard completely fails. If you accidentally spill liquid on your laptop, immediately turn it off, remove the battery, and dry it with a hairdryer on a gentle hair-drying setting. If your hair dryer model has a cold air button, use only cold air. This is necessary in order to, if not prevent, then at least slow down the process of oxidation of contacts, microcircuits and boards.

3. I urgently need to enter text on a laptop with a non-working keyboard – what should I do?

Your laptop keyboard isn't working and you urgently need to send a message. Or even to download the same driver pack from the Internet, you will need to enter its name into a search engine. What to do in such a situation?

3.1. Windows virtual keyboard

Windows OS has built-in functionality that emulates a physical keyboard - this is the standard On-Screen Keyboard application. Click the “Start” button, select “Accessibility”, and here – “On-screen keyboard”.

Click the desired keys with your mouse to enter characters. The Windows on-screen keyboard has an “Options” button; when you click it, you can make some settings to customize the application for yourself.

Windows 8/8.1 OS, in addition to the standard On-Screen Keyboard application, has an alternative in a slightly different format. This is a special touch keyboard for tablets and laptops with a touch screen - a smooth sliding window with large buttons so that they can be easily reached with your finger. If Windows 8/8.1 is installed on your laptop, open the content menu on the Windows taskbar and select “Properties”.

The “Taskbar Properties” menu will open, go to the “Toolbars” tab and check the “Touch Keyboard” option.

3.2. USB keyboard

If we are talking about speedy typing of a test, of course, you can’t do much with the on-screen keyboard. You can connect a physical USB keyboard through the laptop's USB port.

3.3. Bluetooth keyboard

A Bluetooth keyboard is a physical keyboard that can be connected to a laptop via a Bluetooth module. Almost all modern laptop models are equipped with this module.

Fortunately, at the moment the keyboard is such a popular device that you can even buy it in a regular supermarket, not to mention specialized stores. Despite the simplicity of this gadget, problems and malfunctions may arise with it. One of the most well-known problems goes something like this: “the keyboard has stopped working.” I just stopped and that’s it. Today I will talk about why this can happen and how you can deal with the problems. It is also necessary to add that in this case we will talk about a computer keyboard, and I will talk about a laptop keyboard next time, since there is a very big difference between them.

Causes of problems and solutions

Where should I start? First of all, you shouldn't panic. Yes, that's right, because in 90% of cases your problem is very easily solved.

• If you have a pet that loves to climb everywhere, I recommend that you take a look at the back wall of the system unit. It is possible that a cat passing by touched the keyboard plug and it simply fell out of the socket.

• The next possible option is some kind of glitch that occurred in the operating system. For such cases, there are two solutions to the problem. Firstly, unplug the plug for a few seconds and insert it back, and secondly, you can restart the computer if the first option does not help. After restarting the PC, the device starts working in 90% of cases.

• If you are using a PS/2 keyboard, carefully inspect the connector itself. The fact is that its legs could be bent, which need to be aligned, otherwise it will not work. For this, you will need tweezers (ideally) or something sharp like knitting needles.

• Most modern keyboards (like ) connect to a PC based on a modern USB system. It is recommended to change the USB port and check the functionality of the device. Ideally, it is better to check its performance on another PC or laptop.

• It is theoretically possible that the keyboard has given up its life, in other words, it has become unusable. However, in practice this happens very rarely, and often only one or several buttons fail. It's easy to check - connect the device to another computer or laptop.

• One of the funniest problems is related to entering numbers - users complain that the right side of the gadget, where the numbers are located, does not work. In fact, it is connected upon request with the Num Lock button, which is located above the numbers. This is done so that you don’t accidentally click on the numbers.

• Often on the keyboard, in the places where the buttons are located, the rubber band, which is located inside the case, slips. Sometimes various crumbs and other small objects get on it. To get rid of them, the keyboard must be disassembled and cleaned. By the way, large crumbs can get under one of the keys and it will stop being pressed. In this case, it is enough to remove only one key, which, fortunately, is very easy to do.

• If you have a fairly expensive keyboard with a lot of extra buttons, you'll probably need to install separate drivers. Without them, the keyboard can and will work, but except for individual buttons. You need to install drivers for the device, which can be found on the manufacturer’s official website.

• Speaking of drivers. In some cases, the problem arises not with the keyboard itself, but with the driver that is responsible for its operation. It may have been damaged. This problem can be solved in two ways: either by updating the drivers to the latest version, or by updating them to a few days ago when the keyboard was working.

• If you just purchased a computer and have never used it, try going into the BIOS - keyboard support may be disabled. In the BIOS menu, you need to find an item called USB Keyboard Support and change it from Disabled to Enabled.

• If you are using a wireless device (keyboard) that runs on batteries, do not forget to charge it. It probably just ran out of charge and therefore stopped working.

• Users also often complain that the keyboard does not work in games or programs. Fortunately, in most cases this problem is easy to deal with. The fact is that by default the controls are programmed for certain keys, which you can change at your discretion. To do this, you need to go to the game settings. The same fully applies to .

Finally, I remind you once again that in most cases you can solve the problem with the keyboard yourself. Well, if it still refuses to work, then you will have to spend money on buying a new one, because repairing this device is usually unreasonably expensive.