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March 23rd, 2026 11:01
17 R4, specific keys not working even with a new keyboard
Hello,
I have an Alienware 17 R4
Recently, I replaced both the CPU and GPU fans. Immediately after, 5 keys stopped working - 1, R, F2, F10 и Macro Key 9.
I've already replaced the keyboard with a new one, but the same keys still don't work. The issue persists in BIOS as well.
Where could the problem be?
ejn63
10 Elder
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30.8K Posts
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March 23rd, 2026 12:53
Best guess would be either a bad mainboard connector or a bad keyboard controller on the mainboard.
apendix
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March 23rd, 2026 14:14
@ejn63
According to a report from another service shop, the old keyboard shows the same dead keys on their tester. However, the new keyboard tested 100% functional on their equipment, but the exact same keys still don't work in my laptop. I am not sure exactly what happened technically, I am just following their diagnostic report.
ejn63
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30.8K Posts
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March 23rd, 2026 15:45
That means the keyboard is OK. If the new keyboard came with a new cable attached, the problem is external to the keyboard -- either the mainboard connector is damaged or the keyboard controller is damaged.
If the new keyboard did not come with a new cable, replace that next.
If it did or that didn't solve the problem, replace the system board.
apendix
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March 23rd, 2026 16:39
What strikes me as very strange is that the old keyboard also shows damage on those exact same keys on the tester.