Laptop turns off or won't turn on Unless holding down certain keys

[DemonVenom]

Okay, sorry if this isn't in the right place, wasn't sure how to classify this!

I have a Toshiba Laptop that will not turn on unless you are holding EITHER the Ctrl, Shift or Alt Key while powering it up! and the second you let go of the key the screen goes black and it shuts down.

It took me a while to figure out holding any one of those keys while pressing power would work. I placed a weight on the shift button & managed to reformat it with Win 7 Pro thinking it may somehow alleviate this perplexing issue. it's reformatted with all the updates done, but still has this issue.

One thing I also notice is whenever the "machine" shuts down or restarts (even during the reformat) it goes to the boot screen where I am forced to select "F2" for the bios menu or "F12" for the boot order... I select the HD and then Win 7 starts up.

I just don't understand how these buttons are somehow tied to the power or hibernation maybe of the Laptop

If anyone can help me figure out an approach to this it would be greatly appreciated, at this point I'm baffled and could use any suggestions you may have to offer... Thanks in advance!

 

[bazz2004]

My first guess would be a faulty keyboard. Have a look in Device Manager and see if it has any exclamation marks next to it. Follow the route, Control Panel, System and Security, System, Device Manager. Replacing a keyboard can be cheap or dear and easy or hard depending on your make of laptop. Has it ever had a good clean out since new including vacuuming the keys to remove fluff and crumbs? If anyone has spilt some liquid on the keyboard that's another potential cause of the problem.

 

[DemonVenom]

Thanks for your reply, I have tried using a USB Keyboard attached to it and using the On-Screen keyboard running into the same issue where if one of the previously mentioned keys isn't held down on the main keyboard it immediately "fails" again!

The owner did tell me that her Infant son was playing with it prior to this... she said nothing was spilled on it but he may have pressed too hard... I doubt I have a laptop keyboard that fits it but I'll see if I have one which at least has the same hook-up to test

and I doubt it has been cleaned properly... I will do so when I remove it

It's just so peculiar that these buttons are acting like the power button somewhat

 

[DemonVenom]

Alrite so... I removed the keyboard and cleaned it!
I tested using an "external" keyboard but the laptop wont even turn on... I then hooked the "cleaned" original keyboard back up but didn't screw it in place!
along with the Ctrl, Shift, & Alt Keys I've now noticed the "Caps Lock" button also works!
So while holding down caps lock I press the power and the laptop does it's usual, taking me to the boot screen where it offers "F2" or "F12" until I choose F12 & select the HD to boot... Now it starts win 7. I can lift the Keyboard up in the air so long as I'm holding one of those "special" keys and it works still (I thought maybe it was an issue underneath and pressure on the board was keeping the Power switch relay in line or something). I don't have another keyboard with the same hook up to test but it's absolutely baffling me how holding a certain key means the difference between there being a display or not... I just don't get this one!


EDIT: Now it seems so long as I hold down Any Key the machine will work. Even a "letter" key.... when I let go of whatever Key I am holding down the screen dims to Black... when I get it to come back on it is at the "User login/Switch User Screen.... WTF!!!!

 

[bazz2004]

The keyboard is most likely damaged. There are loads of laptops on eBay with missing keys and now I think I know how it happens. How about checking out the cost of a replacement keyboard?

 

[DemonVenom]

Yeah I hope I can find one to test before I buy one, I'm just worried that it may be where the Board connects and not necessarily the Keyboard itself!
Thanks for the feedback though, appreciated!

EDIT: I just found a spare Keyboard (actually the right keyboard to fit) and it still has the same issue! Damn...

 

[bazz2004]

It's strange that a usb keyboard and onscreen keyboard have the same problem. The ribbon connector to the motherboard doesn't seem relevant for those. Did you try uninstalling the keyboard drivers from Device Manger and restarting? I can't really see that helping though. It's looking like there may be a motherboard fault in which case a repair is likely uneconomic.

 

[Tmagic650]

Yes, it might be a motherboard issue... You can get most laptop motherboard for less than $100 but it takes skill to replace them properly

 

[DemonVenom]

It's strange that a usb keyboard and onscreen keyboard have the same problem... Did you try uninstalling the keyboard drivers from Device Manger and restarting?

Sorry, I wasn't very Clear in my previous post. When I mentioned the USB & On-Screen Keyboards, I meant that I still had to hold a Key on the Laptop keyboard for them to work.
I did also try Uninstalling The keyboard drivers & Re-installing them, as well as rolling them back etc., but still with No luck!

I have been suspecting a MoBo issue from the start simply because of the Odd nature of this problem! I'm capable of swapping out "Boards" myself but doubt it would be worth the cost & effort!

Thanks For your Help... I appreciate the feedback!

 

[Nrketan]

Same problem... How to fix it.. Do you have any idea now ?? Please please Help me

 

[iPae3]

This happens on keyboards with the built-in power button. There's a voltage problem. The connector is bad. If the power button is completely damaged, it's a big problem.

What's going on? If you hold down a key, the PC will work fine; but if you release that key, the PC will shut down. If you have this problem, then it is a voltage problem with the power connector of the same keyboard.

This happened to me. The solution was to replace the power button connector, or just remove it completely.

 

[raysosher]

Okay, sorry if this isn't in the right place, wasn't sure how to classify this!

I have a Toshiba Laptop that will not turn on unless you are holding EITHER the Ctrl, Shift or Alt Key while powering it up! and the second you let go of the key the screen goes black and it shuts down.

It took me a while to figure out holding any one of those keys while pressing power would work. I placed a weight on the shift button & managed to reformat it with Win 7 Pro thinking it may somehow alleviate this perplexing issue. it's reformatted with all the updates done, but still has this issue.

One thing I also notice is whenever the "machine" shuts down or restarts (even during the reformat) it goes to the boot screen where I am forced to select "F2" for the bios menu or "F12" for the boot order... I select the HD and then Win 7 starts up.

I just don't understand how these buttons are somehow tied to the power or hibernation maybe of the Laptop

If anyone can help me figure out an approach to this it would be greatly appreciated, at this point I'm baffled and could use any suggestions you may have to offer... Thanks in advance!

What you are facing is just a keyboard flaw. Try one thing use a external keyboard and press the same buttons and see if the same thing happens or not. If it does then you have to reinstall the windows.

 

[jpduminy11]

I also faced the same issue with my laptop... and then changed the whole keyword and now its worked fine...

 

[ipacer]

This happens on keyboards with the built-in power button. There's a voltage problem. The connector is bad. If the power button is completely damaged, it's a big problem.

What's going on? If you hold down a key, the PC will work fine; but if you release that key, the PC will shut down. If you have this problem, then it is a voltage problem with the power connector of the same keyboard.

This happened to me. The solution was to replace the power button connector, or just remove it completely.

I think I m facing the same problem. My laptop is Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G and it has keyboard with built-in power button. Plus my charger(power connector) might be faulty. I don't know if it is a voltage problem or not but sometimes my laptop gives electric shock when connected.
Can you tell me about your laptop model and also describe the repair process.

 

[harshjai31]

I am facing the same problem right now. Can you please tell me if you found any solution for it?

 

[harshjai31]

Were you trying to change some permissions when it happened?

 

[GH0STg]

I think I m facing the same problem. My laptop is Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G and it has keyboard with built-in power button. Plus my charger(power connector) might be faulty. I don't know if it is a voltage problem or not but sometimes my laptop gives electric shock when connected.
Can you tell me about your laptop model and also describe the repair process.

Hey I also have acer aspire 5 A515-51g and it gave me the same problem 2 months after I bought it. But it got fixed after I reached acer because my laptop was in warranty, so the technician checked my laptop and he said its the keyboard which is faulty. He ordered another keyboard and it got fixed. But after a year it again started giving me the same problem I had before and I feel like that every model of this laptop is having this issue. I also did research on this thing and it came to a conclusion that the laptop is so badly designed that it will give you problems in almost every aspect. So whoever bought this laptop are *****s including me, but acer is genius who made us fool by selling us intel i5 and dedicated graphics card in very cheap price and we *****s fell for it. I am so frustrated at this laptop and wasted my money on this shity laptop. The best you can do is just sell this laptop and get a new one but not of acer because no matter how much you fix it will still give you problems after problems. So its better to just solve your problem permanently by selling it but not temporarily by fixing the laptop.

 

[Tvor106]

Im facing the same problem too my asus fx504 .my sister drop some liquid ang now pressing one button makes it power on releasing the button shut down it self cant afford to buy new keyboard too expensive! Now im putting small paper in the sides of one button to turn on and when I turn it off just removing the small piece of papers
Power on button not working
Any keys can be used to turn on my laptop
Sorry my english is bad hehe