Weird keyboard problems....

[Mark Komarinski]

You can isolate it by plugging in a USB keyboard and seeing if it still happens.  My guess is you're correct that it's a mechanical problem with the keyboard.
Depending on the laptop model you have, purchasing a new one probably won't cost much (the ones I got were under $20) and replacing it is usually easy.  YouTube will likely have a video covering it.
If you want to clean it I'd recommend removing the keyboard and using rubbing alcohol or distilled water. I get a box of alcohol pads from CVS and it's very convenient for occasional cleaning. 
There's also a putty you can buy called Cyber Clean that you can press into the keyboard and gets into crevasse and gets dirt and gunk out.  Probably won't help in this case but it's good stuff to have around.
YMMV
-Mark

-------- Original message --------
From: Joshua Judson Rosen <rozzin at hackerposse.com> 
Date: 2/7/2016  3:53 AM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: GNHLUG discuss <gnhlug-discuss at mail.gnhlug.org> 
Subject: Weird keyboard problems.... 

So, this may be only marginally on-topic at best..., but....

I've got this weird problem with the keyboard on my laptop: I've got
a bunch of keys that intermittently become dependent on some other keys.

Every so often, the Y, U, J, 9, comma, Enter, and Home keys all stop working
unless I hold down either W or left Shift or Caps Lock. Then they actually
trigger (though not in a way that's useful since I'm holding down other keys
that prevents software from interpreting them in the normal way...).

I gather that the Y, U, J, 9, comma, Enter, and Home keys are all sharing
a signal line or something, which would explain why they all go out together;
how holding other keys effectively routes around that damage..., I'm clueless.

But I think my question is: how likely is this to be caused by some sort of debris or
corrosion somewhere (under one of the keys? on the contacts on the ribbon-cable?),
and, if so, what would be the right (non-destructive) way of clearing it out?

This can't possibly be a software issue, right?

Anyone dealt with anything like this before?

-- 
"Don't be afraid to ask (λf.((λx.xx) (λr.f(rr))))."
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