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hello all, im having a bit of trouble with my laptop and im just looking for a bit of info..

i only got it about three months ago, its a dell inspiron 9300 and in the last few weeks my number eight key in the keypad has started acting up...

the first time i realised something was wrong was when i was typing in word and suddenly a load of eights just started appearing, kinda like the key was stuck, except it wasent. anyways since then this has happened on and off at completely random times in various programmes. i could be typing in a password or posting a reply on here and suddenly im bombarded with eights. in addition to this, the button itself only works some of the time...

personally i think the button must be shorting or something, but im sure nothing has ever been spilt on the keyboard.

one of my mates thinks it might be some kind of virus and/or software bug but i doubt it. it did however coincide with my anti-virus software becoming out of date... something i still havent sorted out:o

has anyone out there ever encountered a problem like this, and as regards dell, ive heard some horror stories bout sending stuff back to them under warranty... anyone have any experience with them??

any help would be much appreciated:) youd be on my christmas card list :D

I have a dell and here's what you do. First 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888:D

Seriously though, did you try to clean the keypad yet? I use dell for my office and have had very few issues, including service work.

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Originally Posted by strangeirish

I have a dell and here's what you do. First 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888:D

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u realise at this stage ive heard every possible conutation of that joke...

sounds like a short alrite but it could be drivers although unlikely as its confined to one key
Try reinstalling the cd's that came with the laptop it cant do any harm and may fix the problem if not then contact the dell service desk and tell them of the problem (you may have to return the laptop for maintainence or a replacement )

You could try reseating the keyboard - very easily done on Dell laptops now a-days, failing that, call Dell, they'll replace a keyboard easily enough

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Originally Posted by willymccann

You could try reseating the keyboard - very easily done on Dell laptops now a-days, failing that, call Dell, they'll replace a keyboard easily enough

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right, how would one go about doing that?

Or get one of those cans of air and spray it into the keys, might be an obstruction???

Open the display all the way (180 degrees) so that it lies flat against your work surface.

Using a small flat-blade screwdriver, insert the screwdriver on the right side to gently pry the hinge cover loose.

Pulling up from right to left, remove the hinge cover.

Remove the two M2.5 x 5-mm screws across the top of the keyboard.

Tilt up the rear corners of the keyboard and gently slide it toward the display.

Hold the keyboard up and slightly forward to allow access to the keyboard connector.

Pull up on the keyboard connector pull-tab to disconnect the keyboard connector from the system board.

Remove and reconnect the keyboard, Dell will probably ask you to do that when you call them anyhow.

Hope this helps.

cheers, will have a look at it when im home..

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Originally Posted by monkey magic

cheers, will have a look at it when im home..

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If your laptop is new then it's still under warranty.
Opening it up when you haven't a clue what you're doing is a good way to go about voiding your warranty.

Ring Dell and explain the situation.
Demand that it's repaired or that you get a replacement.

Laptops have all their components crammed into a small place and it's very easy to disturb them or damage them, if you don't know what you're doing.

You've been warned!

Don't like these "Urgent Help required Threads" so i'll just go off topic here.
'6 pages typed using double spacing'
What does that mean?
Tap space twice after each word or skip a line after each line?
Or both?
Clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Risteard, it's skip a line after each sentence.

I only found this out after handing in an essay that lost 25% of it's marks from me putting two spaces after every word instead of after every sentence!

Fantastic, thats the better of the two.
Cheers.
Thats disgraceful behaviour in fairness.

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Originally Posted by Peadar

If your laptop is new then it's still under warranty.
Opening it up when you haven't a clue what you're doing is a good way to go about voiding your warranty.

Ring Dell and explain the situation.
Demand that it's repaired or that you get a replacement.

Laptops have all their components crammed into a small place and it's very easy to disturb them or damage them, if you don't know what you're doing.

You've been warned!

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Agree. Do not attempt to open it up. Use Dells support service. I never had any problems dealing with dell.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peadar

If your laptop is new then it's still under warranty.
Opening it up when you haven't a clue what you're doing is a good way to go about voiding your warranty.

Ring Dell and explain the situation.
Demand that it's repaired or that you get a replacement.

Laptops have all their components crammed into a small place and it's very easy to disturb them or damage them, if you don't know what you're doing.

You've been warned!

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as it happens, i came to that conclusion myself, im thinking theres no getting round just ringing dell... problem is i really need the feckin thing at the minute, trying to finish christmas projects, and i dont wanna be left stuck without it for a couple of weeks... grrrrrr

thanks for the advice neways gents, its dawning on me that theres just no magical/simple solution:(

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Originally Posted by Risteard

Fantastic, thats the better of the two.
Cheers.
Thats disgraceful behaviour in fairness.

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A word processor will typically do it automatically for you. In M$ Word for example, it's under Format>Paragraph.

Monkey Magic, Peader is right. If you're not sure what you're doing, call Dell before opening the laptop. You've already paid for their help! ;) Trying it yourself could save a tiny bit of bother, but it could also cost you the warrenty. Just not worth it.

i had the same problem... i figured out that there was a key that changed the value of every other key. try looking for that. its either that, a virus, or a dodgy keyboard with coffee and donouts in betweeen the keys:)

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Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

i had the same problem... i figured out that there was a key that changed the value of every other key. try looking for that. its either that, a virus, or a dodgy keyboard with coffee and donouts in betweeen the keys:)

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thats interssting but i dont necessarily have to be typing for it to happen...

anyways as said before, im going with the other option

Did you try and kick start it ??




If you lift the lefthand side of the laptop about five or six inches off the table it is on, so it is roughly at a forty five degree angle and then take your finger away really quickly, waiting a few seconds and you should hear the sound of an engine reving up if it has worked for you !! :p .... make sure you keep your foot on the accelerator though. :D