Strange keyboard problem

[Little John]

Hi all,

this question is not related to PureBasic. However, I hope someone can help me.

A friend of mine has a Sony Vaio notebook, model VPCYB1S1E, it runs Windows 7 Home Premium SP 1.
The problem is, that on the built-in keyboard pressing [left shift]+[p] has no effect (regardless in which context this is tested).
[left shift] does work in combination with all other keys, though. [right shift]+[p] does work, too.
When using an external USB keyboard, [left shift]+[p] works as expected!
The issue obviously is independent from the operating system, since after booting from a Linux live system, on the built-in keyboard [left shift]+[p] has no effect, too!

Any ideas?

[ostapas]

Had a similar issue few years ago. Strangely enough, it was caused by an external mouse(it had shared bus with keyboard or something like that). Maybe this is the same case?

[IdeasVacuum]

Not sure about Linux, but running Windows the Vaio should have two or three keys that you can 'program' - that would be a work around at least. It is highly likely that the keyboard is faulty. I'd expect it to get worst if it's a manufacturing fault. If the machine is still under warranty, contact Sony support and arrange for a repair (they will either replace the keyboard or the whole machine). Need to act fast, because the Sony laptop business is being sold-off.

[Little John]

Hi, thanks for your replies.

Had a similar issue few years ago. Strangely enough, it was caused by an external mouse(it had shared bus with keyboard or something like that). Maybe this is the same case?

Interesting, I didn't think of something like that.
However, this wasn't the cause in this case. Connecting or disconnecting an external mouse doesn't make any difference. And there are no other devices connected to the notebook.

Maybe someone has another idea?

[IdeasVacuum]

Well if it's out of warranty, you could remove the keyboard and examine the underside.

On the Sony website, there is a trouble-shooting guide (pdf):
http://download.sony-europe.com/pub/man ... TRG_EN.pdf
It mentions that the keyboard layout is selectable..... potentially interesting.

They also have an email support system: http://services.sony.co.uk/support/en/contacts/email
If in Warranty: http://services.sony.co.uk/support/en/repair

[deesko]

It may be a problem with key code multiplexing, but that is controlled by a microcontroller that problably has a firmware program running. It may be a code bug caused by rom corruption or something, but I'd guess you have no way to solve that...

[Thunder93]

Using Windows 'On-Screen Keyboard', and inside Notepad for instance. Clicking Shift key and pressing a letter like p, does it do upper-case then? Or lower-case if CAPs Lock was set.

To troubleshoot this I would start by refreshing the keyboard driver install. Remove keyboard driver and re-boot and let Windows re-detect and install it, then test.

I would next load BIOS default settings and before customizing (if using altered setup) simply boot up into Windows and test. Then I would try grabbing the latest BIOS and applying. R0162Z7 happens to be the latest for that model information giving.

[IdeasVacuum]

To troubleshoot this I would start by refreshing the keyboard driver install. Remove keyboard driver and re-boot and let Windows re-detect and install it, then test.

It's the best idea so far to refresh the driver, but do not remove the existing one - you may not be able to log-in.

[Thunder93]

Refreshing the keyboard driver install may not work since Linux Live system shares what appears to be the same problem. But who knows...

[heartbone]

Refreshing the keyboard driver install may not work since Linux Live system shares what appears to be the same problem.

That's correct reasoning for why it isn't a driver problem, therefore it has to be the hardware, and it looks like that's what it is.
http://community.sony.lu/t5/pcs-accesso ... -p/1305262
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardwar ... 01081.html
http://community.sony.com/t5/VAIO-Softw ... /td-p/1674
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/left-s ... 24238.html
Sometimes even SONY makes mistakes... even one across several models and years.
But since they never explicitly guaranteed that you could use the left shift along with the P,
unless the machine is on warranty you'll have to settle for using the right shift to access the capital p,
or fix it yourself.

[Little John]

Thanks again for all your replies.

I forgot to mention, that the most recent BIOS update is installed on that notebook.

I already had uninstalled the Windows keyboard driver ( after removing the login password for the Admin account ), and then Windows automaticilly re-installed it. I also had applied the Windows "System File Checker", and performed other test, but to no avail.
When I later found out that exactly the same problem existed on Linux, it became clear that searching for any Windows specific issue wouldn't find the cause. I also think now that it might be a firmware problem.

Yesterday something funny happened: In the morning, the problem was gone! I didn't do anything special with the notebook before. The problem was gone on Windows AND on Linux. I was very happy, I defragged the built-in hard disk, and copied an image of it to an external drive. Some hours later, the same problem was back again! Maybe some kind of "electronic loose contact"?

I don't know whether the notebook is out of warranty. I'll wait now until the owner is back from holidays, and I think then we'll take the notebook to Sony or a local repair shop. But at least I'm now able to give them a pretty precise report of the problem.

[IdeasVacuum]

Hmm - the first link posted by heartbone - a cry for help August 2013 and no reply from Sony. That says to me that maybe all of recent Vaio's potentially have the fault and Sony does not wish to acknowledge this - the business has in fact already been sold-off it seems: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press ... index.html
However, they state

Even after Sony withdraws from the PC market, Sony customers will continue to receive after care customer services

So, maybe surviving without a capital P on the left shift is OK - though another heartbone link suggests that the fault could get worst.

[Thunder93]

If that Sony Vaio notebook is under warranty, and everything is pointing to hardware faulting, then it should be sent in for repair. Like it has already been stated, it could become bigger problem giving some time.


The fact that booting from a Linux live system, and the problem is shared, points to non-Windows related issue.

That being said, and for future references. The problem described, [Left Shift] + [P] and nothing is typed. This behaviour is exactly reproducible with programs like Skype with poorly configured Hotkeys. Troubleshooting, booting up into Safe Mode or Clean Boot and this key combo works, obvious then its third-party software.


Now if the notebook isn't under warranty, and the key combo isn't hijacked. I'd be kind of curious to see if you could use freeware utility called KeyTweak by Travis Krumsick's found on majorgeeks. If you could remap to the Right Shift and be alright with that?