Toshiba Satellite M45-S165 Keyboard Problem

I have a Toshiba Satellite M45-S165 Laptop. I have noticed that when I hit the key stroke shift/a or shift/n combination I get an odd outcome. when i am in word, excell or any other programs on my laptop and go to capitalize a or n by using the above key strokes I get an enter or other reaction. Any suggestions???
:(
shift A = enter in word and outlook
shift A = jumps up a cell in excell

Please help!!!!

You may want to check you have the correct keyboard type specified in the keyboard applet under the control panel.

I looked under the control panel and I only have one keyboard and one driver on this laptop

I have an almost same problem. When I type shift/n or shift/b it goes to next line in Word. It shifts UP to next cell in Excel. However, this only happens when I use left SHIFT key. The Right shift key + n or b works OK. Strange :(
Have you found how to fix your problem? Thank you.

ps. My PC is the same as yours. Toshiba Satellite M45-S165

That is stange. I installed a firewall for a guy with the same exact laptop at work. Done it lastnight. It does the same thing you guys descibe! I thought maybe it was just me. He didn't say anything about it acting strange. But his does the same thing in Notepad as well!

My PC does the same thing in Notepad and Wordpad as well.
Even in browser (Firefox).

I purchased my M45-165 on Monday and immediately installined XP Pro.. problem is I don't know if this keyboard issue would have been with the XP Home that was pre-installed.. Toshiba support says they won't help since I upgraded the OS, and now its 50-50 whether this is a hardware or software issue. (same issue y'all have complained about: <Left Shift>A, <Left Shift>N, and <Left Shift>
| all prepend an <ENTER> - was all the time, now maybe 90%. Toshiba said the service guy would probably charge me if it turns out to be a software issue. I really don't want to reconfigure a second time this week; I'm only 50% done to begin with.. should I just take it back to the retailer?

Well, actually I demonstrated this keypad problem at Staples where I bought this PC. Eventually Staples offered me to replace with new one (same Toshiba PC) as it past only three weekes since I bought it. So far, this new Toshiba M45-165 has been working without any problems.

I had the same problem with the Shift A,N, and sometimes B. My laptop was still under the warranty. I had the keyboard replaced and it works fine now.

:hotouch: Toshiba told me to contact microsoft and microsoft told me to contact the keyboard manufacturer. Obviously, this is not a one time problem if we're all having it. What do we do?

Me too- same problem with new Toshiba notebook. Has anyone received a decent answer yet? Or found a simpler solution than having the keyboard replaced? (I am temporarily in Uk and purchased Notebook in Australia - very frustrating!)

I just purchased six of the M45-S165 models for work and five of them had this weird keyboard A/N/| problem. Here's the scoop from Toshiba: They have the older BIOS V1.30 from 6/27/05. View the BIOS version by going into Control Panel in Classic View), then running HWSetup. The latest BIOS V1.50 corrects this problem. Go to http://support.toshiba.com and download the latest bios for this model. It's SM43V15.exe, unzip and run it, create the bootable diskette or CD-R (I used the CD method), stick it in the laptop, reboot (forcing reboot from the CD by tapping the "C" key when the Toshiba Logo appears) and watch it happen. Takes 1 minute and the problem goes away...

Thanks heaps - I have fixed my problem. I had to go to the Australian Toshiba site as we have slightly different models but, thanks to you, I found the updated BIOS file and it installed in seconds. I didn't even need to create CDs or anything complicated!

I'm having the same trouble and also with "~" and "|". It appears that these two characters and "Shift-A" and "Shift-N" prepend a carriage return.

I bought my notebook in August 05 and had the same problems as mentioned with the keyboard. I sent it back to Toshiba, they replaced the keyboard and that didn't help. I sent it back and then they updated the BIOS and now ti works fine. I got the notebook back in 4 days after shipping.

papalucian

same problem - in canada, the toshiba m40 = toshiba m45.

i have the same problem - the right shift key would give a weird carriage return *|* and the left shift gives a *NB~A*

the shift key is just plain stuck down occationally!!!

i thought this was a software / driver conflict, reinstalled Windows, same problem. then i fired up Knoppix - a bootable version of Linux - same problem. then i noticed the keyboard will be stuck at the bios password. this confirms that this is a hardware problem!!!

sent to toshiba, replaced keyboard and still have the problem...= not a keyboard problem but something more...

going to send it back to them...hope that they can fix it this time around...

My Toshiba M40 gives me similar keyboard problems. I get funny characters like
NB¬A
when I press the left Shift key and then the keyboard starts behaving abnormally:
1. it shifts to caps mode, to type lower letters, I have to actually use caps lock.
2. I cant use the shift key to type in the special characters above the numerals.
3. clicking on the menu bar gives me a different effect as if the shift key is already pressed while it is not.
4. I cant select one file or folder as several of them selected at one time.

and then I give up, shut down the computer (it doesnt restart at this time)
after some time, the computer starts normally but I am never sure when it will start misbehaving again.
I read on this board about he bios update, so got mine updated to the 1.7 version from toshiba website (this is the latest one they had for machines with ATI graphics). Dont tell me to take it to Toshiba because I did take it to their authorised service centre in Mumbai and they were of no use.
thanks

I have the same problem as the last 2. Is it really the same as the one that started the thread? They look different. Is there a new thread on this one?

Did you ever get an answer? I have exactly the same problem. I think it's different from the one at the top of the thread so I started a new one.

I have the same problem. Can anyone help?

I also had the same problem earlier.

I was able to find a solution.

Do the following:

Click Start -> Control Panel
Click Regional and Language Options
Click Languages
Click Details

Setup Should look like this:
English (United States) or (Canada)
Keyboard
US (in Bold)

I knew it was a software problem.
Just had to google for it.
If it works for me, then it should work for everyone. :stickout:

i had tried this earlier and it did not help. i think problem maybe with the keyboard hardware and apparently quite a few of us are facing it.....
i would love to have a solution that does not mess with the hardware but might have to wait. till then, i have been often using an external keyboard. so much for a laptop!

My Toshiba M40 gives me similar keyboard problems. I get funny characters like
NB¬A
when I press the left Shift key and then the keyboard starts behaving abnormally:
1. it shifts to caps mode, to type lower letters, I have to actually use caps lock.
2. I cant use the shift key to type in the special characters above the numerals.
3. clicking on the menu bar gives me a different effect as if the shift key is already pressed while it is not.
4. I cant select one file or folder as several of them selected at one time.

and then I give up, shut down the computer (it doesnt restart at this time)
after some time, the computer starts normally but I am never sure when it will start misbehaving again.
I read on this board about he bios update, so got mine updated to the 1.7 version from toshiba website (this is the latest one they had for machines with ATI graphics). Dont tell me to take it to Toshiba because I did take it to their authorised service centre in Mumbai and they were of no use.
thanks


My laptop had the same problem but its finally repaired. Take your M45 to a Toshiba Depot and tell them NOT to replace the keyboard but replace the CONTROL PANEL CIRCUIT for the buttons on the left of the keyboard (the buttons for DVD, Internet, Play, Stop, Power, etc) This should fix the keyboard issue.

hey,

i had the same problem with my toshiba m40.. yesterday i ran several anti-spyware-programs like lavasoft ad aware and spybot search and destroy.. it found some problems which i deleted and since that my keyboard doesn't make problems anymore, even if i press the shift key for 20 seconds..

hope it helps someone and sorry for my english

I have the same problem in a Toshiba A100-493.

Suddenly one day, after i installed a TV tuner in a USB port, when i stroke the L-key, backspace was hit too immediatelly.

I entered BIOS (v.2.0) and checked if I could write "L" there for example in a password and I had the same problems.

I booted without the TV tuner and it was working fine for some days. (I did that trick 6-7 times).

Now i don't have the TV tuner on the USB port but still the ptoblem with the L-key remains!

Has anyone tried the Bios update that was mentioned above? I just purchased six of the M45-S165 models for work and five of them had this weird keyboard A/N/| problem. Here's the scoop from Toshiba: They have the older BIOS V1.30 from 6/27/05. View the BIOS version by going into Control Panel in Classic View), then running HWSetup. The latest BIOS V1.50 corrects this problem. Go to http://support.toshiba.com and download the latest bios for this model. It's SM43V15.exe, unzip and run it, create the bootable diskette or CD-R (I used the CD method), stick it in the laptop, reboot (forcing reboot from the CD by tapping the "C" key when the Toshiba Logo appears) and watch it happen. Takes 1 minute and the problem goes away...

I just updated from version 1.2 to 1.5 (got from the toshiba web site). I'm hoping this fixes the problem. If someone has done this and it didnt work lemme know!

thanks!

dartmax, you may want to do a little searching about this issue. I am fairly sure the keyboard problem is not bios related. There are numerous posts about the Toshiba keyboard problem on this site as well. This is a hardware issue.

I just took my laptop in for repair for the wierd keyboard response specifically described in the first post in this thread.

They replaced only the control panel circuit for the special keys to the left of the keyboard and it repaired the issue.

Thanks for posting that fix. It worked perfectly!

dartmax, you may want to do a little searching about this issue. I am fairly sure the keyboard problem is not bios related. There are numerous posts about the Toshiba keyboard problem on this site as well. This is a hardware issue.


I've had this problem for a couple of years and I finally decided to do something about it. I tried updated the bios as suggested above, and that fixed the problem.

The change history was listed and "A change was made to correct an issue where the Shift key would respond like the Enter key. " is one of them.

Updating the bios solved the problem for me.

I've read through a lot of the threads on keyboard issues. I'm wondering if anyone else has had symptoms similiar to mine: At random and variable intervals, my mapping will go screwy, the light below F10 will turn on, several keys may become completely unresponsive, context sensitive menus pop open, etc. Here's the thing I haven't seen anyone else report: I can be sure one or more of these will happen if I put pressure on or squeeze the area to the left or below the keyboard - including the black part where the media buttons are and the silver cover that is a natural palm rest. Based on that, I belive it to be hardware related. Anyone have something similar? Do you think replacing the control circuit thing as others have reported will work? Or am I looking at replacing the whole keyboard? Note that sometimes I haven't touched or squeezed those areas, so guess that sometimes it may be a keystroke? Thanks!?

these are language specific accents.

CP->Internet Options->Language Tab.

select the language of choice and move to the top. consider REMOVE for
all other options.

I've read through a lot of the threads on keyboard issues. I'm wondering if anyone else has had symptoms similiar to mine: At random and variable intervals, my mapping will go screwy, the light below F10 will turn on, several keys may become completely unresponsive, context sensitive menus pop open, etc. Here's the thing I haven't seen anyone else report: I can be sure one or more of these will happen if I put pressure on or squeeze the area to the left or below the keyboard - including the black part where the media buttons are and the silver cover that is a natural palm rest. Based on that, I belive it to be hardware related. Anyone have something similar? Do you think replacing the control circuit thing as others have reported will work? Or am I looking at replacing the whole keyboard? Note that sometimes I haven't touched or squeezed those areas, so guess that sometimes it may be a keystroke? Thanks!?

I have the same identical problem, have you found any solution?

In my opinion, it's a temperature problem. When it get hot left side keys don't work anymore... left shift and ctrl are crazy always, but a,q,w,e,s,z,x sometimes (when it's cold) work

Thanks

Hey.all.Im.trying.to.find.out.what.can.I.try.to.get.those.keys.back.to.work ...
I'm.getting.tired.of.typing.(dots)as.spaces..I.removed.the.keyboard.to.insp ect.it.and.found.little.crumps.removed.the.keys.and.clean.them.with.a.small .brush.but.still.doesnt.work.

The.only.way.to.add.spaces.on.this.computer.is."Alt+Fn+32".or.by.copying.a.space.and.press."Ctrl+V".could.it.be.a.virus.or.a.driver?

Please.reply.because.I'm.getting..F..R..U..S..T..R..A..T..E..D............. ..HAHA

I got this laptop from a friend at work who wanted me to take a look at it. First off his hard drive was shot so I replaced it. Then while I was reinstalling windows / drivers I noticed the keyboard started acting funny, the same f10 light thing that was happening above. I took the keyboard out of the case and had to use it just sitting on top of the case, not snapped down or it wouldn't work.

I ordered a refurbished keyboard, installed it and it worked for a while then crapped out on me. I unsnapped this one and it still was acting weird. So I started poking around on the motherboard with my finger under the keyboard.

Lo and behold, I discovered a spot where if I apply just a little pressure, a right-click command or a bunch of //// show up on the screen.

I was testing this with notepad open. Obviously it's a temperature problem because this only happens after it's been on for a while.

It's a small piece of metal, looks to be a heatsink bracket, under the keyboard on the left side.

HI,
I am just new here and I have a problem with my keyboard. The letter "w" does not work, I did'nt realize how often I need it! I have a Toshiba Satellite A205-S4777 and it is 18 months old. The "w" popped off and I put it back on but now it doesn't work. I have to copy and paste it in each time. Please if anyone has a suggestion I am up for trying it. I would really appreciate the help. Thank you in advance,mamac

Were there any solutions to the issues that lm_wise, danconix, and budonkadonk had? I'm having the same issue with pressure on the left side "locking" the function key, so that the light under the F10 key turns on and off. the light also does not even need to be on for the Fn key function to be enabled.