ALT key "sticks" - sporadically

[javelin]

I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?

Thanks

J

 

[smlunatick]

On Jan 3, 8:55 am, javelin <google.1.jvm...@spamgourmet.com> wrote:
> I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
> boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
> it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
> ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
> the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
> works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks
>
> J

Hardware problem and not an XP issue. You need to get the keyboard
"cleaned" or "repaired," if you can not return the Dell.

 

[Panic]

Use the external keyboard.

"javelin" <google.1.jvmail@spamgourmet.com> wrote in message
news:41ba6268-908d-4c18-bde8-9ee778c1c4a4@m34g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
> boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
> it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
> ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
> the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
> works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks
>
> J

 

[javelin]

On Jan 3, 9:20 am, smlunatick <yves...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 3, 8:55 am, javelin <google.1.jvm...@spamgourmet.com> wrote:
>
> > I just got a used Dell XPS 1210, and I think it may be a lemon. When I
> > boot up, I can use the ALT key like normal, but then, after a while,
> > it works only for menus. Sometimes, most clicks wont work, as if the
> > ALT key was pressed down, the shortcut properties appear instead of
> > the application starting up. If I plug in an external keyboard, all
> > works fine, but the built in keyboard has the issues. Any suggestions?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > J
>
> Hardware problem and not an XP issue. You need to get the keyboard
> "cleaned" or "repaired," if you can not return the Dell.

I've experimented some more, and have noticed that the mroe common
problem is that ALT+F4 doesn't work, but F4 works by itself as
expected, and ALT works by itself as well. Put them together and you
get nothing. Nada. Zip. It is not "sticking" anymore, as I described
originally. Of course, that can come back in 5 minutes.... Still think
it's strictly hardware?