Keyboard stopped working [SOLVED]
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Keyboard stopped working [SOLVED]
Hi.
My laptop keyboard stopped communicating with Linux Mint. I first noticed it when logging in (no way to type my password in the log in window). Then I tried several combinations of key combinations (especially with the Fn key), including NumLock, but with no success. I then connected an USB keyboard and it worked. I also logged entered the BIOS setup on start up and, not only the function keys were working (or I wouldn't be able to enter the BIOS setup) but all the other keys (like the arrow keys and enter) were working. So, this doesn't seem to be a problem with the hardware part of the keyboard.
I also booted from an USB stick (Linux Mint 18) and it didn't work.
So:
- keyboard working with BIOS setup
- external keyboards OK
- stopped working within the installed Linux Mint 19.1
- doesn't work with Linux Mint 18 on a USB stick
Any help, please?
Thank you!
My laptop keyboard stopped communicating with Linux Mint. I first noticed it when logging in (no way to type my password in the log in window). Then I tried several combinations of key combinations (especially with the Fn key), including NumLock, but with no success. I then connected an USB keyboard and it worked. I also logged entered the BIOS setup on start up and, not only the function keys were working (or I wouldn't be able to enter the BIOS setup) but all the other keys (like the arrow keys and enter) were working. So, this doesn't seem to be a problem with the hardware part of the keyboard.
I also booted from an USB stick (Linux Mint 18) and it didn't work.
So:
- keyboard working with BIOS setup
- external keyboards OK
- stopped working within the installed Linux Mint 19.1
- doesn't work with Linux Mint 18 on a USB stick
Any help, please?
Thank you!
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Update: the keyboard also works with grub menu. But if I try to go into recovery mode, when the recovery options show up it stops working. I have to use an external keyboard to select the options and enter.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
So, the keyboard did once work with LM 19.1, then stopped one day, correct?canhoto wrote:- stopped working within the installed Linux Mint 19.1
If the keyboard did once work with LM 19.1, and now doesn't work with a LM 18 native ISO burned to USB (and therefore, has received no updates), I'm suspecting that the issue doesn't have to do with an update that LM 19.1 received.canhoto wrote:- doesn't work with Linux Mint 18 on a USB stick
Have you tried a different live distro? e.g., Ubuntu, or perhaps even something outside of the Debian/Ubuntu/LM lineage? This could help narrow down where the problem lies.canhoto wrote:Any help, please?
Lastly, to help others assess your issue, post the output of
inxi -Fxz
here, inside code tags (it's the </> button when you're editing). Obviously using the external keyboard. Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Correct!JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:18 pm So, the keyboard did once work with LM 19.1, then stopped one day, correct?
I'll try with different distros.JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:18 pm Have you tried a different live distro? e.g., Ubuntu, or perhaps even something outside of the Debian/Ubuntu/LM lineage? This could help narrow down where the problem lies.
Lastly, to help others assess your issue, post the output ofinxi -Fxz
here, inside code tags (it's the </> button when you're editing). Obviously using the external keyboard.
Joe
The output is:
Code: Select all
System:
Host: carlos-laptop Kernel: 4.15.0-43-generic x86_64 bits: 64
compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.0.9
Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: Intel product: Skylake Platform v: 0.1 serial: N/A
Mobo: Topstar model: U931 v: RVP7 serial: <filter>
UEFI: American Megatrends v: 5.11 date: 03/01/2016
Battery:
ID-1: BAT0 charge: 37.6 Wh condition: 38.8/46.6 Wh (83%) model: TPS S10
status: Discharging
CPU:
Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i5-6200U bits: 64 type: MT MCP
arch: Skylake rev: 3 L2 cache: 3072 KiB
flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 19200
Speed: 400 MHz min/max: 400/2800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 400 2: 400
3: 400 4: 400
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 520 driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0
Display: server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 520 (Skylake GT2)
v: 4.5 Mesa 18.0.5 direct render: Yes
Audio:
Device-1: Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
bus ID: 00:1f.3
Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-43-generic
Network:
Device-1: Intel Wireless 3160 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: f040
bus ID: 01:00.0
IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 82.12 GiB (36.7%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: OCZ model: TRION100 size: 223.57 GiB temp: 33 C
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 211.65 GiB used: 82.11 GiB (38.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: swap-1 size: 7.92 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 38.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
Processes: 212 Uptime: 4m Memory: 7.71 GiB used: 1.71 GiB (22.2%)
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19
inxi: 3.0.27
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Also, it may also be interesting to see what happens with a different desktop. e.g., LM 19.1 Xfce.canhoto wrote:I'll try with different distros.
Joe
Last edited by JoeFootball on Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Keyboard stopped working
I tried with Solus OS in a USB bootable drive. Still not working. Somewhere between the BIOS and the OS (or between grub and the OS) the keyboard stops being recognized.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
This may be good, as it indicates that the issue isn't OS-centric. And since live sessions don't leverage GRUB, that also indicates it's not the culprit.canhoto wrote:I tried with Solus OS in a USB bootable drive. Still not working.
Were you able to confirm that the letter/number keys were working in BIOS setup? Or just the arrow and enter keys?canhoto wrote:Somewhere between the BIOS and the OS (or between grub and the OS) the keyboard stops being recognized.
Could it be that the arrow and enter keys are working when LM 19.1 boots up, but just not the letter/number keys? Would it be possible to test this, (for example) where you use your mouse to open a spreadsheet, and see if you can move the spreadsheet cursor via the arrow keys?
Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
I tried this now, following your advice, but the arrow keys (and the enter and tab keys) don't work. So, something must be happening when the OS boots up. I could try with a Windows thing (to check if it's a Linux-specific problem), but I don't even know how to make a bootable Windows USB (I can look for it, of course).JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:33 pm Could it be that the arrow and enter keys are working when LM 19.1 boots up, but just not the letter/number keys? Would it be possible to test this, (for example) where you use your mouse to open a spreadsheet, and see if you can move the spreadsheet cursor via the arrow keys?
Joe
Carlos
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
In your BIOS setup, are there letter/number options that you can try to confirm that aspect of your keyboard is indeed working?canhoto wrote:I tried this now, following your advice, but the arrow keys (and the enter and tab keys) don't work. So, something must be happening when the OS boots up. I could try with a Windows thing (to check if it's a Linux-specific problem), but I don't even know how to make a bootable Windows USB (I can look for it, of course).
Also, try a live session of LM 18.3 KDE. I recall that the Solus desktop leverages GTK+ (I think), as does Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce (I think), but KDE does not (I think). I'm just trying to identify commonalities to test for.
I'm not too familiar with Windows, but I don't think I've heard of a live session ISO for it.
Let's keep in mind that LM 19.1 did work once, but not a non-updated LM 18 live session (released prior to your issue) still does not. This was is what makes me curious about the hardware, and validating that letters/numbers do indeed work in BIOS setup. The hardware remains a suspect until then.
Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
This is weird. I booted Windows 7 installer from an USB drive and the keyboard was working. I then aborted the installation using Esc and Enter keys (I didn't really want to install Windows,of course). But then... When I retried it once it was still working. But the third time I rebooted from Windows...it had stopped working! I tried again and again... and nothing! What's happening? Very weird.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Very weird indeed. Since this symptom presents itself outside of Linux, my hardware suspicion continues.canhoto wrote:Very weird.
I've replaced a few laptop keyboards, and I know they're connected by a thin ribbon that seats into a connection only a millimeter or so deep. I'm not recommending that you open up your laptop (yet), but do you recall if it took a good bounce recently?
Another test to consider: With the laptop totally cooled (e.g., not used in the past hour or so), does the keyboard work directly booting to LM 19.1? Troubled hardware can often present different behavior as it warms up.
Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Maybe have a look at http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id- ... ndows.html
I know the above link talks about the keyboard not working in Windows but there are a few things to try that might help you regarding powering off completely that seemed to work for some people.
I know the above link talks about the keyboard not working in Windows but there are a few things to try that might help you regarding powering off completely that seemed to work for some people.
Running Mint 19.3 Cinnamon on an Intel NUC8i5BEH with 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Well, I opened the laptop and disconnected the battery from the motherboard. I waited for one or two minutes. But that didn't fix it. But thanks.murray wrote: ⤴Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:07 pm Maybe have a look at http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id- ... ndows.html
I know the above link talks about the keyboard not working in Windows but there are a few things to try that might help you regarding powering off completely that seemed to work for some people.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Re: Keyboard stopped working
Yes, it's the same after a few hours of cooling. I also tried with Windows 10 on USB. This time it didn't work at all. The weird thing is that it keeps working on BIOS (and on Grub). So that shouldn't mean a hardware problem.JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:00 pmVery weird indeed. Since this symptom presents itself outside of Linux, my hardware suspicion continues.canhoto wrote:Very weird.
I've replaced a few laptop keyboards, and I know they're connected by a thin ribbon that seats into a connection only a millimeter or so deep. I'm not recommending that you open up your laptop (yet), but do you recall if it took a good bounce recently?
Another test to consider: With the laptop totally cooled (e.g., not used in the past hour or so), does the keyboard work directly booting to LM 19.1? Troubled hardware can often present different behavior as it warms up.
Joe
I also opened the laptop, disconnected the COMS battery, waited and reconnected, disconnected the battery from the motherboard and waited, and nothing changed.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
That is indeed interesting. Were you able to confirm that the letters/numbers were working in BIOS and/or GRUB, and not just the arrows/enter? That would certainly help demonstrate it's not hardware.canhoto wrote:The weird thing is that it keeps working on BIOS (and on Grub). So that shouldn't mean a hardware problem.
I'm running out of ideas. Anyone else?
Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
I tried to use the other keys in BIOS (simulated a password for administrator). They work.JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 25, 2019 8:21 amThat is indeed interesting. Were you able to confirm that the letters/numbers were working in BIOS and/or GRUB, and not just the arrows/enter? That would certainly help demonstrate it's not hardware.canhoto wrote:The weird thing is that it keeps working on BIOS (and on Grub). So that shouldn't mean a hardware problem.
I'm running out of ideas. Anyone else?
Joe
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Re: Keyboard stopped working
I tried to do a fresh installation of LM 19.1 but the keyboard, of course, didn't work with the Live USB.
The good news is that this time there was a message after the boot menu and after Grub:
The good news is that this time there was a message after the boot menu and after Grub:
firmware bug tsc_deadline disabled due to Errata please update microcode to version 0xb2 (or later)
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
ok, let's see if we can identify where the keyboard stops working. In GRUB, select Advanced Options for LM 19.1, then Recovery Mode for your latest kernel.canhoto wrote:I tried to use the other keys in BIOS (simulated a password for administrator). They work.
At this point, the Linux kernel boots, but not to a graphical UI. Let's see if that changes things.
You should get to the Recovery Menu. Does the keyboard still work from here? I know you said it hasn't before, but let's try now, as it seems that you're having inconsistent results. At this point, you still haven't started any desktop, and are in a textual user interface (as is GRUB). Wondering if that has anything to do with it.
If it still works, select the "Drop to root shell prompt" option. Then Enter for maintenance. You would now be at the command line. Keyboard still work?
EDIT: Regarding the firmware message, I think you'd get that with a new LM install, until you did the microcode update. Not sure this has anything to do with your problem, especially given that Windows causes the same symptoms.
Joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
First of all, many thanks for your help and patience!JoeFootball wrote: ⤴Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:16 pmok, let's see if we can identify where the keyboard stops working. In GRUB, select Advanced Options for LM 19.1, then Recovery Mode for your latest kernel.canhoto wrote:I tried to use the other keys in BIOS (simulated a password for administrator). They work.
At this point, the Linux kernel boots, but not to a graphical UI. Let's see if that changes things.
You should get to the Recovery Menu. Does the keyboard still work from here? I know you said it hasn't before, but let's try now, as it seems that you're having inconsistent results. At this point, you still haven't started any desktop, and are in a textual user interface (as is GRUB). Wondering if that has anything to do with it.
If it still works, select the "Drop to root shell prompt" option. Then Enter for maintenance. You would now be at the command line. Keyboard still work?
EDIT: Regarding the firmware message, I think you'd get that with a new LM install, until you did the microcode update. Not sure this has anything to do with your problem, especially given that Windows causes the same symptoms.
Joe
I followed the steps you suggested, but at the Recovery Menu the keyboard doesn't work any more. I connected a USB keyboard to select the "Drop to root shell prompt" and I tried the built-in keyboard again at the root prompt. But it still didn't work.
On the other hand, if I press "c" on the Grub options I get a command-line shell where the keyboard works perfectly. But it's still the grub command-line, not the OS.
Linux Mint 19.1
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
Desktop: Processor AMD A8-6600K APU with NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti Graphics, 16 GB RAM
Laptop: Processor Intel i5-6200U@2.5GHz with Intel HD 520 Graphics, 8 GB RAM
- JoeFootball
- Level 13
- Posts: 4673
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: /home/usa/mn/minneapolis/joe
Re: Keyboard stopped working
You're welcome, but while you have compiled great information, I'm still at a loss. Hopefully some wise wizard will find this and assist.canhoto wrote: First of all, many thanks for your help and patience!
You have now proven that when a real kernel boots, be it Linux or Windows, your keyboard fails, and it has nothing (apparently) to do with a graphical UI versus a text UI, while GRUB and BIOS setup continue to be unaffected, and everything was fine until something happened one day, and even non-updated live sessions via ISOs released prior to that "something" exhibit the problem.canhoto wrote:I followed the steps you suggested, but at the Recovery Menu the keyboard doesn't work any more. I connected a USB keyboard to select the "Drop to root shell prompt" and I tried the built-in keyboard again at the root prompt. But it still didn't work.
On the other hand, if I press "c" on the Grub options I get a command-line shell where the keyboard works perfectly. But it's still the grub command-line, not the OS.
And with that, I am at a loss.
Joe