Locked keyboard

Hello,

It is possible that Spybot was blocking all internal devices, it's strange, but possible; this antimalware is no longer highly recommended. Do you have the paid version?

It would be useful to start and access the BIOS. Often it's the F1, F8, or ESC key during the PC startup.
If the keyboard works in the BIOS (the arrow keys, for example), then it's not a hardware issue but solely Windows. This would allow us to be certain before proceeding.

Conversely, if it doesn't work in the BIOS, then the problem is more serious and certainly hardware-related.

If Windows is confirmed, first try starting in safe mode and check. Whether the keyboard works or not will provide additional information.

If okay in safe mode, you can attempt to launch a "DOS" command CHKDSK? Start=>run=>type in the field: CMD => a black box will appear => type: chkdsk /f.

See if it corrects any errors. If so, it will prompt to restart.

Hello,

It is safer, just in case, to specify the reader, but in any case there is a space between CHKDSK and what follows, exaggerated on purpose:

CHKDSK  C:\  /F

But you are taking a shortcut here: you haven't returned the keyboard functionality in the BIOS, but if we can enter characters in the command line, which is just DOS emulation under Windows, not pure DOS mode, then the problem indeed lies in a Windows corruption.

The on-screen keyboard was not mentioned; as pointed out by madmyke, at least the keys 1 to 9 or the arrow keys followed by enter to access it work in the BIOS, which shows (unless it’s a laptop with an external keyboard) that it’s not the keyboard itself that is faulty but its Windows driver or more generally a Windows corruption that should be attempted to correct either by restoring/resetting from the BIOS menu if it offers that in the recovery console, or from a Windows installation USB support for reinstallation ideally with data preservation.

Sorry I was on a photo trip. Thank you Brucine for the follow-up.

Unless I'm mistaken and it's important, we still do not have a clear answer to the question: do the physical keyboard keys work in the BIOS (nothing to do with safe mode)? Just the fact of starting the machine and pressing the mentioned access key (F1 F11 ESC or another), the only way in principle to access the BIOS, would confirm that the physical keyboard is not the issue.

(PS: Expert means nothing, various people including Brucine (it seems to me) have been in this profession for a good while or like me, have done it for 20 years (or more) professionally. Does that make us "experts"? I'm not even sure about that, but it probably gives us a little more experience.)

Hello again
So the BIOS is a small "permanent" memory that contains various information about the PC and allows it to start up (I’m simplifying). Without it, the PC is just an "inert" assembly of components.

When you turn on a computer, it is the BIOS that is called upon and allows the machine to "load" the Windows system. It acts directly before and without going through Windows. (So no virtual keyboard, which is a Windows function). So let’s forget about the virtual keyboard for now.

To access it, you need to know the keyboard key, for ACER it is the F2 key on your keyboard apparently, (or ESC if it’s a desktop).

Turn on the PC, in principle, a black screen appears first .
But as soon as you have pressed the power button, start tapping gently on the F2 key repeatedly and continuously.

If everything goes normally, after a maximum of 10 seconds, a technical screen with various information will appear, and if so, just try the arrow keys, left, right, up, down, on your keyboard. Are they also active?
If yes, we’re good, the keyboard is working fine, press the F10 key, choose NOT to save the settings and confirm (Enter).

If the F2 or ESC key (pressed repeatedly just at startup) has no effect, it is more than likely that the keyboard is physically defective.

So we're not quite there yet, not entirely.
I still have a doubt, because having never performed this type of manipulation yourself, there remains a possibility that:
- It may not be done correctly (and thus a hope).
- Another BIOS option might be enabled (an equivalent of fast startup FAST BOOT). If so, sometimes the DEL key will be activated for BIOS access.

First, we will try to ensure 100% that everything is done correctly; as soon as we have that certainty, you can buy an external USB keyboard.
This will remain a partial solution because a laptop is made to be portable, meaning your PC would always have to "travel" with an external keyboard, which is not the primary purpose.

I must insist on the access phase to the BIOS at startup, which is often very (very) short. We can "miss" the timing; it can go from 1.5 seconds to 5 or 6.
Access to the BIOS can only occur during this phase.

Question:
as soon as (immediately after) you press the "On" button of the machine, what do you see on the screen? (thus in the second that follows or the 2 or 3 seconds before Windows)
- A completely black screen with no indication? (Then Windows starts)
- A black screen with a small logo in the middle or at the bottom of the screen? (Then Windows starts)
- A black screen with a phrase at the bottom in English like "Press F2"? (Then Windows starts) In this last case, please specify what is written.

Regarding the F2 key, as soon as the screen lights up or better just right after pressing the "On" button, you must immediately start tapping the key (i.e., pressing in the usual way) but quickly, it should sound like: "tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, etc." and not "tick..., tick..., tick..., tick..., tick..., etc.).

I know this is "basic," but since it's important, let's make sure we understand each other well.

If all efforts yield nothing for accessing the computer’s BIOS, then yes, something must have happened that damaged, blocked, or short-circuited the keyboard. It's quite rare but not impossible (What is the model of this ACER?)

There are still some options:

1) Find a temporary wired external keyboard (USB) (to borrow from family, a neighbor, etc.). Any USB external keyboard will do.
This would allow access to the BIOS and attempt a BIOS reset to factory settings (it won't affect Windows).
Honestly, there’s little hope, but it's worth trying first.

Assuming it’s no longer under warranty, if so, try to use the warranty, remaining vague; if the PC is not damaged, it may work.

2) Replace the keyboard of the laptop; it’s a part that can be changed, it will be cheaper than a new laptop, generally a pro can do it in less than 30 mins.

3) If you have a tech-savvy person in the family, they can do it too. Start by checking if you can find the keyboard (online), then look for tutorials on the internet for disassembly/reassembly; just be careful and have the right small screwdrivers.

4) Use an external keyboard with the previously mentioned drawbacks, thus a partial solution.

5) Play the lottery, get the right numbers, and buy a new one :-))

I just made the last chance attempts, ticking well, tick, tick, tick... on F2, then on Delete at startup.

So one try with F2 and another separately with ESC, with no results? No specific screen appears or basic menu. If so, it's indeed a bad sign.

What do I see on the screen in the meantime? The "acer" logo in orange, and a dotted circle spinning around, then the request for my password...

Ok, so the BIOS phase is indeed present, but the keyboard doesn't respond.

My laptop is an Aspire 5 A517-51G-59RC (i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz). I've had it since 2019, and it suits me very well (except since the keyboard has been acting up), I take care of it and externally, it looks like new. It permanently stays on my desk; it's better than a tower in terms of space, so the option of an external keyboard might be the simplest. Because obviously, it's been out of warranty for a long time!

A 5-year-old laptop, so yes, no need to change it as long as it works well. As a precaution, I would still suggest trying to borrow a USB external keyboard from anyone, for a maximum of 10 minutes. Just enough time to start up, access the BIOS, and perform a BIOS reset if it works. You never know if that will resolve it, and it will show that there are no other issues.

If all goes well, then only buy a USB keyboard, wired or wireless; you can find them cheap (but avoid the very low-priced ones). Since the laptop seems to function as a "desktop".

Good luck for the rest, and if you have more questions about this or anything else, feel free to come back to us.

PS: if you have a professional or a shop nearby, still ask how much it might cost to replace/repair the keyboard; it could cost the same as a good branded desktop keyboard, while keeping the advantage of portability.

Best regards

I am very stingy when it comes to PC accessories.

I always have a USB keyboard connected to my PC (and while I'm at it, a mouse; I hate trackpads), the previous one, the cheapest I could find, had its letters worn off after a few months.

So, I have made extraordinary efforts; I'm now more willing to spend 20 € rather than 10, anyway, not the lowest price.

Some models are also lacking a numeric keypad (or a caps lock indicator), which isn’t practical, so be cautious.

My cat is the king of cuddles, but a bit clumsy; he spends his time purring stretched out on my lap with one paw on my chest, sometimes with an unexpected claw: it's also costly, but more for keyboards and T-shirts.