Section of keyboard crashes laptop

Having odd behavior from a laptop… a section of the keyboard crash or reboot the laptop every time on of them is pressed (from a diagnal line between ‘7’ and ‘M’ and to the semicolon).

If it helps (i think this may be it actually, but not sure) i recently took the keyboard out to replace a part. would a bad connection between the keyboard and computer do that?

The laptop is a Gateway MX6625 if that helps as well.

Quite likely. :smiley:

Try taking it apart and re-assembling. Perhaps a screw or slot-and-tab got missed and the back side of the keyboard’s contacting something it shouldn’t.

and after posting this… we tried that… no luck

The keys on a keyboard are arranged into “rows” and “columns” which don’t necessarily correspond exactly to the physical rows and columns. More often they make a diagonal or diamond shaped pattern of keys. I don’t know the specific design of your keyboard, but since it’s a diagonal pattern of keys it’s a safe bet that all of the affected keys are essentially one “column”. Most likely you’ve got a single fault here. The column select line for that bunch of keys is probably shorting to something, and every time that column is activated it causes the computer to reboot.

Check the connector for the keyboard very carefully. It could be a tiny frayed wire is touching another contact. Check where they keyboard connects to the motherboard too. A tiny piece of wire about the size of a hair could easily be causing all of your woes. Check whatever part you replaced. Is it possible that there’s now a part sticking up that could be touching the back side of the keyboard once it’s all put back together? You might also try turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it to see if a screw or something fell in between the keys.