Help! My keyboard isn't working!

jordon412

33 Year Old Railfan
I'm having problems with the 'down arrow' button. I use it continuously in Trainz and everything else on my computer, since it changes your camera view in Trainz. All the other buttons work, also. I've already replaced my keyboard once, and I don't want to do that again. One other thing to note is that I had the same problem yesterday, that time with the 'P' button, but I managed to solve the problem after randomly pushing buttons after restarting the computer. And like yesterday, I have the same cat in my lap, whose paws occasionally cover up a button or two, which might be the stem of the problem. I don't know if she pushed the 'Ctrl', 'Alt', or some other button, but that could have caused the trouble yesterday. She could have caused this problem, but I don't know for certain. Can someone help me?
 
I got one of those big yellow type Easy Reader wired USB KB's at KMart (a return, with a corner of it slightly damaged, regularly $19, knocked down to $4) Periodically the contacts get corroded, and lose contact (as do cheepo wired KB's, and especially cheepo wireless KB's). I have taken mine apart so many times that I can't count. The first time all the rubber buttons fell out all over the floor. Usually I swap buttons around that are not used, and I wipe the metal contacts off with either rubbing alcohol, or spit ... whichever is handy. It works for a month, or six months ... I have gotten to be a professional KB taker aparter, with my magnetized Phillips screwdriver, placing all 28 screws in a deep plastic bowl ... It really is hard the first 10 times you do it :hehe:
 
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Logitech makes some really nice ones, both wired or wireless. They even come with mice too in combo packs. I can't remember, but the last time I bought a combo kit it was $20.00 and it's lasted for some time. I don't have it myself since I bought it for my bro and he loves it.

Keyboards are cheap today and fall apart easily. I used to work for a company, see the other posts I've put up. that used to purchase $200 keyboards back 30 years ago. I would get in boxes of these to clean up and send back to the customers. You can't do that with those $5 or even a $20 keyboard you can get at Staples.

John
 
Forgot to mention two things:
1. This is the keyboard for my laptop, not a PC.
2. My laptop also includes a keypad, which is a requirement whenever I look for a new laptop. Therefore, I can simply use the 'Num Lock' to turn the 2, 4, 6 and 8 into arrow keys. However, whenever I need to type some numbers, I have to press 'Num Lock' to type the numbers, then push it again so I can change my camera angle. So at least I've got an alternative until I can get a new keyboard.
 
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