Venerable laptop repair

[Maczebus]

I've got a Compaq laptop from circa 2000. I haven't used it for around 2 years but last year I let my housemate type his Phd up on it and apparently all was fine. I got it out tonight and for some reason only the letter 'a' is working. The mouse works, but no letter (or it seems other keys) works.

What can I do? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[prk166]

Weird. Only the letter a? If it were a couple letters I'd guess stuff was stuck under the keys. The only thing I can think of is that maybe something got spilled on it and the keys go shorted out. Are you able to plug an extra keyboard into it?

[MikeLastort2]

Venerable?

And shouldn't the message that started this thread look something like this:


Aaaaaa aaaa aa aaaaa aaaaaa

[Maczebus]

Weird. Only the letter a? If it were a couple letters I'd guess stuff was stuck under the keys. The only thing I can think of is that maybe something got spilled on it and the keys go shorted out. Are you able to plug an extra keyboard into it?


It's taken a few days and action with a small screwdriver to basically come to the same conclusion. I figure my chum decided to keep quiet about something spilt on it.
And yes, I went out and got another keyboard to plug in - works fine now.
Was hoping to find a cheapish replacement keyboard - but can't find one under £50, so I suppose the external keyboard will have to do for the time being.