Hello,
I own an ibm laptop model t20 and for some reason my keyboard is not allowing me to use the letters that share keys with the number pad.  I am able to use the numbers fine. just not the letters.  I am however able to use the letters when I log on using my password.  So it appears as if all the keys work properly...just not in WINDOWS xp.D C......By any chance did you hit the Num Lock key ?

That would do that.......


dl65  Not wonderfully familiar with laptops, but is their a Num-Lock key (or equivalent)? Does toggling it on/off help at all?

Just pray it's not a hardware fault...Simu-post! Computer-HOPE certainly is on the ball today... I did attempt to toggle the numlock button...that SADLY does not change a THING.  What's with the fact that it works in the password screen but after that does not work at all?

anyone have an idea on repair costs for laptops???For the latter question, I sure hope you have a lot of cash to throw away.

Where I work, we cannot open up a laptop to repair it -  due to how a laptop is put together, you need to have one of these space-age anti-dust and anti-static type rooms which would simply cost too much to be practical. We therefore need to send it to the manufacturer.

But to give you a rough idea, most companies charge us £120 just to pick it up. That doesn't include parts and labour. I've found that with some laptops over about 2-3 years old, it's sometimes more viable to get a new laptop than to have something as menial as having a key replaced on the keyboard.

Ouch, huh?

So, enouch about economics - you were probably close to tears at the prices, poor soul. Let's stick to software for now. Have you tried updating the drivers for the keyboard? Have a look in the device manager and you should be able to work it out.You may need to use the 'Fn' key in conjunction with NumLock to switch between the embedded numpad and the main keyboard... Many of my laptop user friends use the external numpad to force the machine to disable embedded numpad.

I never came across a need to whiteroom the entire laptop, only the hard drives... I've fixed several Thinkpads and other laptops by just downloading the service manual so I'd know where all the case screws are and popping the case, then swapping parts out as appropriate. Making two WORKING TP600s out of three dead ones is cool...maybe the shift key is stuck! you can reove the keyboard...rubber pad...check there is no dust stopping the shift key operating!! or just give it a whack on the side..of it...