ubuntu - Keyboard and touchpad stopped working after battery drain in Samsung notebook

07
2014-07
  • pmichna

    I was watching a video on my Samsung 400B4B notebook running Ubuntu 14.04 when it went to sleep because of low battery level. I plugged the AC power, resumed from the sleep but now the keyboard and touchpad don't work. Restarting the system hasn't helped. I can't reboot to Windows to see if it's different there because Ubuntu is set by default in GRUB.

    The built in keyboard doesn't work in BIOS or GRUB. It doesn't work in Windows, either. However, while being in the GRUB screen, I press the arrow keys but nothing happens. Then, the timeout for default OS ends, Ubuntu loads and for a few seconds I can see on the scree somthing like ^[[A^[[B^[[A so it seems the signal from the keyboard somehow works but I can'u use it in BIOS/GRUB/OS - only USB keyboard/mouse works.

    What could be the problem?

    • Answers
  • pmichna

    The problem disappeared after taking the battery out and placing it in again.


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  • Carbonara

    I have a Benq Joybook 5000 which is coming up for 6 years old now. It will boot fine but after between 1 and 5 minutes after boot the keyboard will stop functioning along with the mouse pad and all other buttons. The only way to switch it off once this has happened is to hold down the power button.

    Once i've done this then the laptop will refuse to boot, the BIOS doesn't even start up but the lights and fan come on. If the laptop is left for an hour or so then it will again boot but the keyboard issue returns as above.

    EDIT 01-10-09

    After trying out a few of the suggestions below it would seem that the problem is hardware related. I've done a memory test using Memtest which passed OK. I've now booted from a Linux live cd, then opened up a word processor to leave the cursor flashing in an empty document. After 5 minutes the keyboard and mousepad etc stopped working again, same problem as in Windows but the computer itself has not crashed or locked up, the cursor is still flashing in the document. The computer seems fine in all other respects apart from the fact that the keyboard and mousepad stop working.

    I've also plugged in a USB mouse after the keyboard and mousepad have stopped functioning and it worked fine.

    Any suggestions further to this would be welcomed.


    • Related Answers
  • sgmoore

    If it lockups up and only starts working after leaving it for a while, it sounds like it is over-heating.

    If you go into the bios, does it have an option to show you the cpu temperature and fan speed. Also if you leave it in the bios for about five minutes does it lock up?

  • jrb

    not much to go on, but here's a couple of things to try..

    • try an external mouse / keyboard. same issue?
    • try a live boot CD.. e.g. xp install cd, ubuntu. do you see the same issue if you leave the device on for a while?
    • has the bios battery gone flat? try replacing it?
    • search the manufacturer's website for bios and firmware updates for the laptop