Dell 8500 Laptop User Manual


 
Using the Keyboard and Touchpad 67
External Keyboard Problems
CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE Shut down the computer (see page 42).
Disconnect the keyboard cable and check it for damage.
If you are using a keyboard extension cable, disconnect it and connect the keyboard
directly to the computer.
C
HECK THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD
1 Turn off the computer, wait 1 minute, and turn it on again.
2 Verify that the numbers, capitals, and scroll lock lights on the keyboard blink
during the boot routine.
3 From the Windows
®
desktop, click the Start button, point to All Programs, point
to Accessories, and click Notepad.
4 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the
display.
If you cannot verify these steps, you may have a defective external keyboard.
T
O VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD,
CHECK THE INTEGRATED KEYBOARD
1 Turn off the computer.
2 Disconnect the external keyboard.
3 Turn on the computer.
4 From the Windows desktop, click the Start button, point to All Programs, point
to Accessories, and click Notepad.
5 Type some characters on the external keyboard and verify that they appear on the
display.
If the characters appear now but did not with the external keyboard, you may have a
defective external keyboard. Contact Dell (see page 150).
NOTE: When you attach
an external keyboard, the
integrated keyboard
remains fully functional.
Unexpected Characters
DISABLE THE NUMERIC KEYPAD Press to disable the numeric
keypad if numbers are displayed instead of letters. Verify that the numbers
lock light is not lit.