My Dell XPS laptop has a keyboard problem. The right hand shift key no
longer works when typing uppercase letters but still works with the arrow
keys when highlighting text. I don't think that the key has actually failed
completely.
I am not familiar with laptops as this is the first one I have owned. Does
anyone know what might have caused this and how to fix it?
The laptop was sold in the UK and has a UK keyboard. It is correctly set as
a UK keyboard.
Thanks

"T" <spamtrap@spambouncer.org> wrote in message
news:Ox1QA7xyJHA.4632@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> My Dell XPS laptop has a keyboard problem. The right hand shift key no
> longer works when typing uppercase letters but still works with the arrow
> keys when highlighting text. I don't think that the key has actually
> failed completely.
> I am not familiar with laptops as this is the first one I have owned.
> Does anyone know what might have caused this and how to fix it?
> The laptop was sold in the UK and has a UK keyboard. It is correctly set
> as a UK keyboard.
> Thanks[/color]

Possibly it could be just wear & tear. If it's under warranty, take it to
an approve DELL repairer - could just mean the keyboard needs replacing. If
not a complete failure, then maybe it's just dust or dirt affecting the
correct operation of the key. Get a can of compressed air (available at
computer retailers) and spray it in between the keys to get rid of any dirt
and muck.

If that doesn't fix it, it may be a more serious problem so then take it to
the DELL repairer. How old is the computer?

"T" <spamtrap@spambouncer.org> wrote in message news:Ox1QA7xyJHA.4632@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> My Dell XPS laptop has a keyboard problem. The right hand shift key no
> longer works when typing uppercase letters but still works with the arrow
> keys when highlighting text. I don't think that the key has actually failed
> completely.
> I am not familiar with laptops as this is the first one I have owned. Does
> anyone know what might have caused this and how to fix it?
> The laptop was sold in the UK and has a UK keyboard. It is correctly set as
> a UK keyboard.
> Thanks
>
>[/color]

As the key works in some situations it may be a software glitch.
I know nothing about Dell laptops but could you try changing
the keyboard layout to another language and then back to UK.
It may 'reset' something that has changed. Just a thought.

"T" <spamtrap@spambouncer.org> wrote in message
news:Ox1QA7xyJHA.4632@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> My Dell XPS laptop has a keyboard problem. The right hand shift key no
> longer works when typing uppercase letters but still works with the arrow
> keys when highlighting text. I don't think that the key has actually
> failed completely.
> I am not familiar with laptops as this is the first one I have owned.
> Does anyone know what might have caused this and how to fix it?
> The laptop was sold in the UK and has a UK keyboard. It is correctly set
> as a UK keyboard.
> Thanks[/color]
Thanks to all who replied. The computer was bought in September last year.
I have tried cleaning the keyboard with compressed air and changing from UK
to US keyboard and back and this has not worked. I have booted the PC using
an Ubuntu CD and tested it using Abiword, the same problem occurred which
seems to indicate a hardware fault.

On Sun, 3 May 2009 13:12:21 +0100, "T" <spamtrap@spambouncer.org>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Thanks to all who replied. The computer was bought in September last year.
>I have tried cleaning the keyboard with compressed air and changing from UK
>to US keyboard and back and this has not worked. I have booted the PC using
>an Ubuntu CD and tested it using Abiword, the same problem occurred which
>seems to indicate a hardware fault.[/color]

Dell is known for bad keyboards.

"+Bob+" <nomailplease@example.com> wrote in message
news:n2grv4tdon14mb94s6vo2pi2513nnq23n0@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 3 May 2009 13:12:21 +0100, "T" <spamtrap@spambouncer.org>
> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Thanks to all who replied. The computer was bought in September last
>>year.
>>I have tried cleaning the keyboard with compressed air and changing from
>>UK
>>to US keyboard and back and this has not worked. I have booted the PC
>>using
>>an Ubuntu CD and tested it using Abiword, the same problem occurred which
>>seems to indicate a hardware fault.[/color]
>
> Dell is known for bad keyboards.[/color]

Why is that? You drool on them?