Troubleshooting strategies

[El Koeno]

Alright, my (old HP) laptop has me stumped. Sometimes the keyboard will just stop responding, and I don't even know what the problem is: hardware or software. If anyone out here has some good suggestions about how to narrow down the problem, I'd be very glad to hear from you. Even if you don't think you're suggestion isn't that good, don't hold back! I want to try everything to get this thing working. Let me start out (well, the post already is longer than the average post out here, but as long as my keyboard works, I'll keep typing!) by describing the problem, and then the (unsuccessful) steps I've taken to solve it.

Alright, the problem doesn't affect my entire laptop. It only seems to emerge with my "work account". I keep work and fun separated, so I don't go chatting while I should be doing my thesis research. So I get to my office, start the laptop, begin doing my thing, and first the keys would stutter a bit (not responding directly) but after a while nothing will happen. Sometimes if I wait a while I can type a few letters, or even a few words! But the problem will get worse. Closing the account doesn't work. If the problem is at its worst, it will also affect the other accounts. A reboot doesn't work either, and I can't even access safe mode if the problem is at its worst because the keyboard will not respond even then. That's before windows is even loaded right? so that seems a hardware thing, while all the things I said before this seemed to indicate a software problem.

Then I go home disillusioned, and my "fun" account will work again, allowing me to happily surf the web. This laptop doesn't want me to work I think... or it's simply that is doesn't like my office...

What I've tried:
-See if there's unusual programs running. There aren't any. I did notice one instance of svchost using 20megs of memory, while in my other accounts it only uses 15 tops. So I used process explorer to see what this svchost instance does. Doesn't seem to be anything unusual; windows update, system restore and bunch of other things. Disabled WU and SR, didn't help.
-Ran a virus scan using COMODO antivirus. Nothing.
-Ran an Ad-Aware scan. Some IE cookies, nothing else.
-Ran a Avast Antivirus scan of my work profile's documents and settings subfolder; nothing.
-Did some cleaning up, defragmenting, checkdisk to get performance as good as possible. Nothing.

What I haven't tried:
-Reinstalling drivers, or windows. HP doesn't have keyboard drivers for my laptop on its website, and I don't have a windows cd right now (I'm abroad for a few months).

Suggestions for troubleshooting are, as said, very welcome!

 

[Turner]

You said a work and a fun account....Is this the same account (Log in as Mike for each) or do you have two seperate accounts? It could be that the 'work' account has some kind of program running (virus scan or somesuch) that your 'fun' account isn't loading.

Check your processes that are running for each one. See if there are any that are different, and google for them to see what they are if you aren't familiar with them.

It could also be your network. At my work we have two seperate networks, for some reason. The second floor is on a gigabit network. The first floor is 100mb. If someone goes from floor to floor and hardwires in without changing their Link Speed and Duplex, that can cause the laptop to come to a screeching halt. It sounds to me like your laptop doesn't work well for any account when at work or uni, but works fine at home. So check and see if maybe your network connections have the wrong settings.

 

[El Koeno]

You said a work and a fun account....Is this the same account (Log in as Mike for each) or do you have two seperate accounts? It could be that the 'work' account has some kind of program running (virus scan or somesuch) that your 'fun' account isn't loading.

Check your processes that are running for each one. See if there are any that are different, and google for them to see what they are if you aren't familiar with them.

I've tried this. There's really not that much running, and everything that is at least looks legit.

It could also be your network. At my work we have two seperate networks, for some reason. The second floor is on a gigabit network. The first floor is 100mb. If someone goes from floor to floor and hardwires in without changing their Link Speed and Duplex, that can cause the laptop to come to a screeching halt. It sounds to me like your laptop doesn't work well for any account when at work or uni, but works fine at home. So check and see if maybe your network connections have the wrong settings.

Hmmmm... I might look into this.

I should say that it did work for a while at uni. I'm honestly beginning to think my laptop doesn't want me to work. Always looking out for me you know. ;

 

[Turner]

Well, when we upgraded the second floor to the gigabit network, we didn't announce it, we just did it. I wasn't on the decision loop for that, so I'm not quite sure why we did it that way.

You may also want to run a speed test and see what kind of speeds you're getting out of the different connections.

 

[Macha]

I'd suggest trying a USB keyboard next time it happens and seeing if that works. Most are PnP so if it doesn't work it's a software issue and if it does work it's a hardware issue with your laptop's keyboard. I'm assuming your either using XP or Vista here. Older versions of Windows aren't entirely PnP.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Might also want to check if its Windows. (I've heard about hardware issues being with Windows). Pop in a live Linux CD (Knoppix seems cool) and give it a try.

Good luck with things.

 

[El Koeno]

It seems it's either my headphones or the network causing the problem.

In the morning I decided not to plug anything into my laptop, and I got a lot of work done. Then I decided to listen to some music, and after a while, I noticed the shift-key didn't respond. A minute later all other keys had followed. As it was lunchtime, I decided to give my PC its well-deserved rest. After that it worked again, until I decided I needed to send an e-mail. Plugged in the network and a few minutes later I could go home. Where I could happily type away in my "work" account. (they are indeed two different windows accounts, with their own desktop, my documents, etc.)

It is a weird problem. Especially the fact that today it seemed to be triggered by the headphone or the network, but removing them didn't help solve the problem. Only leaving the thing turned off for 15 minutes would get it to work again.... But I guess I will just leave the headphones and the network alone. I don't need them that badly, and I'll leave here in a week. After that I might consider more rigorous measures if the problem reappears. Perhaps I'll reinstall windows. Linux doens't work to well with laptops, does it?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

It works fine with them.

 

[El Koeno]

It works fine with them.

Hmm.. when I get back home (in two months) I'll think I'll try to convert this laptop to Linux. I've got a desktop PC for gaming, so if it works on laptop (I was afraid of driver issues) there's no problem.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Linux has come a long way, and there is a lot more driver support now. The primary concerns used to be graphics and wireless, but I think that even those are fine now.