Troubleshooting Keyboard Lockup on IBM Thinkpad with Windows 7

[mathman]

On occasion my keyboard locks up. IBM thinkpad, Windows 7. It occurs when I am typing a message in a forum like now. Fortunately my mouse still works, so I can save the (incomplete) message and then restart the computer, freeing the keyboard. Any ideas why it is happening and is there a simpler way to free the keyboard?

 

[Borg]

Have you tried unplugging the keyboard and plugging it back in right away? My mouse locks up at startup sometimes because I have it plugged into a docking station. It always works as soon as I do that.

 

[phinds]

You should be able to use the mouse to navigate to the device controller and see if something is wonky with the keyboard driver. I think this is unlikely but it's worth a shot.

 

[stoomart]

This can happen accidentally if "sticky keys" are enabled, which can instruct Windows to ignore keyboard input:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...cky-keys/e0dcc897-5ae5-4d5d-a75c-09d7dcf952f0

 

[rootone]

Could it be that the ctrl or alt keys have got stuck?
It happens with well used keyboards, fluff and dirt in there (including dead skin cells).
WD40 spray does a quick fix, but taking keys off and removing properly the gunk is best.

 

[Tom.G]

WD40 spray does a quick fix, but taking keys off and removing properly the gunk is best.

NO, please don't use WD40! It destroys some plastics by stripping out the plasticizers, leaving behind solids similar to cookie crumbs lightly stuck together.

(Had a customer several years ago who tried that. The keyboard crumbled upon disassembly. The local community college where he taught had to replace the keyboard. [Another learning experience for him.])

 

[mathman]

This can happen accidentally if "sticky keys" are enabled, which can instruct Windows to ignore keyboard input:https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...cky-keys/e0dcc897-5ae5-4d5d-a75c-09d7dcf952f0

Sticky keys were off

 

[davenn]

On occasion my keyboard locks up. IBM thinkpad, Windows 7

is it a cabled ( USB / other) keyboard or a Bluetooth keyboard ?
if a BT keyboard ... possibly flat battery