Occasional Keyboard Unresponsive

Topic

I have been experiencing occasional unresponsive keyboard entries. There are times that I have to hold any key down for a minute or so for it to be responsive. I have researched possible solutions. They recommend updating the driver through windows update to see if that could be why. Is that a safe method? Right now, I have my updates paused after the last round of updates. Is there any other solution?

Replies

What sort of keyboard, wired or wireless?
Do you have another one you can test?
When did it start failing? Did anything else change then?
I would not change the driver until you have proved the keyboard is OK.

cheers, Paul

It is a Logitech wireless keyboard with wireless mouse combo.

No, I do not have another one to test.

In thinking back, I had similar issues when I had this same keyboard/mouse combo connected to my Win 10 computer. I should reach out to the manufacturer and see if they have a solution and/or send a replacement. If in fact that I have a defective keyboard.

Rush2112 wrote:

It is a Logitech wireless keyboard with wireless mouse combo.

Some basic research on Logitech’s site indicates that most (if not all?) wireless keyboards and mice use the 2.4 GHz band for their communication and many have a range of up to 33 feet. Some wireless keyboards and mice also use Bluetooth in the same frequency range.

When the frequency or frequencies the keyboard and mouse are using become congested, sometimes the signal quality can degrade to the point that they will only intermittently work, and intermittent functioning can also be a sign of weak batteries as pointed out by @b right below.

So, if you live in an area with very high 2.4 GHz bandwidth usage, such as in a high density apartment or condominium complex, interference could be a reason for your troubles as well as low batteries, or even a malfunctioning driver.

First, though, as Paul suggests in his reply above, see if you can get a different keyboard and mouse and plug them into the very same USB ports you’re currently using for your keyboard and mouse. If the replacements work consistently, then that points to your current ones as having one if the issues described above, weak batteries, interference in their frequency or a driver with minor issues.

I suppose I could replace the batteries again. No, I don’t have another keyboard lying around to test. I’m not going to spend money on a new keyboard and mouse if the same thing happens again. It may be 2.4 GHz bandwidth in the area. There is a tower nearby that transmits internet signals. But I think that would be on all the time.

Rush2112 wrote:

No, I don’t have another keyboard lying around to test. I’m not going to spend money on a new keyboard and mouse if the same thing happens again.

If replacing the batteries with fresh ones with a long expiration date doesn’t do the trick, see if a friend or relative nearby might allow you to borrow theirs for a small period of time, say for a couple of days, and see if those act up in the same way with intermittent behavior. They don’t have to be wireless, they can be wired. The point is to try to isolate the problem to either your computer or the mouse and keyboard as being the source of the errant behavior.

Also, see @Paul-T’s post #2748737 just below here.

Rush2112 wrote:

Is there any other solution?

Rush2112 wrote:

It is a Logitech wireless keyboard with wireless mouse combo.

New batteries.

One of the Windoze updates fubarred something with occasional keyboard input. Hopefully the latest updates fixed it?

Does the mouse work when the keyboard doesn’t? If so the 2.4G is OK but the keyboard maybe is not.

What does the driver say about battery state? (The Logitech driver should provide that info, the MS one may not.)

cheers, Paul

The mouse works sporadically too. I have replaced the batteries in both the keyboard and the mouse. Though the batteries are about a year old but unused. The mouse I have less issues with though.

How do I determine the battery state from the driver? It states the device (keyboard) is working properly.

I am beginning to think that the huge antenna that transmits internet signals is interfering with my keyboard and mouse. Though the older batteries may be suspect too, come to think of it.

Rush2112 wrote:

I am beginning to think that the huge antenna that transmits internet signals is interfering with my keyboard and mouse.

If you have access to to the WiFi router, try changing the WiFi channel.

The setting is typically under the WiFi setup section.

BTW, another item that can cause interference is cordless phones, especially if it’s one of the older models that uses the same 2.4 & 5 GHz frequencies and the base unit is within ~6 ft or less of the keyboard/mouse and PC.

The computer in question isn’t connected to Wi-Fi directly. It is connected via ethernet to the Wi-Fi modem. If I were to be able to change the Wi-Fi channel. I don’t know how to do that. I have Metronet internet and basically everything is monitored through the eero app on my Smartphone. I don’t want to alter anything without not knowing how to get it back to were everything worked internet speaking wise.

The PC’s connection type has nothing to do with possible interference.

WiFi and cordless phones work by broadcasting a radio signal at a specific frequency. If it’s broadcasting at the same frequency as the keyboard/mouse and the sources (keyboard/mouse, cordless phone base, or the antenna you mentioned) are within 6 ft of each other, it can cause inference because the radio signals from the antenna/cordless phone can cause the signal from the keyboard/mouse to be misread by the PC.

I.e. you press the Y key but, because the antenna/cordless phone is broadcasting something at the same time on the same frequency, what the PC see isn’t a Y key press but something that’s a merging of the keyboard’s signal and the antenna/cordless phone’s signal (which most likely the PC won’t understand and will ignore.)

BTW, as long as the device that’s actually using the WiFi has it’s channel mode set for AUTO (which is always the default setting) changing the WiFi channel in the router will not effect that device’s ability to connect to the internet.

Also, since your PC is hard-wired to the WiFi router via an ethernet cable, changing the WiFi settings in the router won’t effect it’s connection in any way!

Rush2112 wrote:

How do I determine the battery state from the driver?

Logitech Options.

cheers, Paul

Open the Logitech SetPoint Settings app and click the battery icon on the left side.

You should also check the expiration date on the battery to ensure it’s not too old.

After extensive back and forth communication from Logitech. They determined that my keyboard was defective. So, I broke down and decided to buy a new keyboard/mouse combo like what I had. So far, I have had no issues with the new keyboard and/or mouse since I connected them up to my computer. Though the jury is still out. I am giving it some time before making a final determination.

I have had no issues with this new keyboard. I must have had a defective keyboard. End of post.

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