This past week I have lost use of some of the punctuation buttons on my laptop (full stops being one of them!)

I can use the punctuation and signs on the top row of numbers with the shift or ctrl button but cannot use the three buttons after "l" or "m" so full stop comma colon semi-colon apostrophe at sign hash question mark etc

I also cannot use the arrow keys for page up down left or right which prevents me from changing volume too

I know the shift and ctrl keys are functioning and everything else is working ok I have tried to do a system restore and checked my AVG cover so there are no viruses or changes that I may have mistakenly made

I have also checked regional language settings through the control panel as suggested by google to make sure no keyboard changes had been made

Am at a complete loss as to what to do next As I only get paid 1 day a week at the moment and money is tight - wages will be available to pay a "techie" to look at it after next weekend however  I need to complete my online training form this week and cannot access my email from work or the local library

Any help on a fix would be very much appreciated or I shall have to ask if I can borrow one of the neighbours computers - am sure they wont mind but feel weird asking

thanks

Two thoughts before consulting a 'Techie'

My in-house 'Techie' suggests

A.  Try another keyboard.  Do you have a spare usb keyboard or could you perhaps borrow one?   If you have the same problem with the spare/borrowed, then it's your keyboard that is the problem.

or

B. Try a Linux live CD or Flashdrive (Bootable stick) - any one of them would do.  And try typing with that instead of your operating system.   If you have the same problem, it's probably the keyboard.  If not it's something in your computer operating system.   Try here http://www.linux.com/directory/Distributions/livecd for a version of Linux, most of them can be downloaded free to a CD or flashdrive

If it's the keyboard then it's a far cheaper fix than the computer part ;-)  the keys may simply need lifting and cleaning underneath !

Try this - Hold shift and alt then press 0169. Then see if it works.?

Ok so I have tried the alt shift method and it didnt work so will try to download the linux program

Was really hoping it would be that easy

My sister is a techie but unfortunately she is the real life version of hyacinth bucket and we are basically onslo and daisy! anything she needs doing should be done today but anything I need help with has to wait until she has time so rather not ask her

Will show link to hubby and get him to do it - Im about as capable as a chocolate teapot and yes I am a teacher! Lack of confidence me thinks - that and the ability to shift the blame should the damn thing blow up!

ps we are not really Onslo and Daisy - we just happen to have 4 dogs that leave tumble weed fur about the place at the end of the day that daily vacuuming will never fix - some people are just never happy just snootty!

edited to say thanks tinar and dill (now that we have emoticons - wish there was a kissy one! Gosh we are always asking for more)

To be honest I couldn't figure out what the shift-alt-0169 was supposed to do.  Neither could my in-house Tech support (aka DS - a whizz on computers)

I do know that alt-0169 produces a © 

hope it's something simple to fix

xxx

ps we are not really Onslo and Daisy - we just happen to have 4 dogs that leave tumble weed fur about the place at the end of the day that daily vacuuming will never fix

Oooh - I wonder if some of the fur has got in under the keys and is stopping them working?   I had something similar and it just needed lifting and cleaning

Have had a similar problem with certain letters, resolved it by vacuuming the key board of dog hair.

gsdowner

We're related.  

We have the same sister anyway.

If its the keyboard lift one key off turn upside down and very gently shake side to side to see if anything comes out - be careful though with a laptop - with a home computer keyboard I just turn upside down and bang it on the table rather than hoover and its normally okay - and usually quite surprising how much stuff comes out - its all a bit more difficult with laptops .... sorry don't know anything else to suggest - don't use a laptop often just my home pc -hopefully its just a bit of dirt under the key interfering or someone else can get a techie to suggest more things to try - good luck :)

If vacuuming doesn't work, I've used pure alcohol on a cotton bud to clean underneath a key lifted with a cocktail stick.  Surgical spirit works too

We're related.  

hahahahahaha  that made my day

much rather have a like minded sister anyway!

Will try to hoover it and the cleaning with alcohol and cotton bud

If I do download Linux should I try the puppy version - seems apt given the forum

Hubby has point blank refused to do it as he is fully aware of the shifting blame tactic

am now umming and aahhhing over biting the bullet and downloading

how sad am I

on a happier note - new american fridge freezer arrived today- only took 4yrs to save for it and totally worth it
now I wish I had more things to put in it - pay day pay day pay day!

Honestly,  downloading Linux is easy (I've done it  )

Linux Puppy is a very light version -  and partucularly apt for Champdogs I feel

There are instructions online for downloading a live version to Flashdrive.   Be careful though,  you may fall in, love with it and never want to use Windows again

I played with a Linux live CD (Kubuntu)   and after half an hour,  replaced Vista on the laptop with Kubuntu    Have never regretted it