keyboard keys won't work

[ivanoe]

I have a dell d520 latitude and the keyboard as gone on the blink.some of the keys are ok some don't work .i check at the back and the ribbon that connects to
the motherboard was badly creased.so i bought a new keyboard and replaced it  .only to find the same problem.  any answers.

[truenorth]

Have you tried an external usb keyboard? truenorth

[Geek-9pm]

Some addition information would help.
What efforts did you take to make sure it really was the keyboard?
The link below has a general purpose CD that can test your PC's basic hardware. Everybody should have it, or some equivalent, in the panic chest.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Ultimate Boot CD
Available at PC World Downloads
Current release: 5.1.1
Ultimate Boot CD is completely free for the download, or could be obtained for a small fee. If you had somehow paid a ridiculous amount of money for it, you have most likely been fleeced! ...

[ivanoe]

thanks to both of you  Truenorth /geek9pm.i just assumed it was the key board (dumb eh) anyway the new keyboard is just the same ,so it's not that .
i have tried with a external keyboard and it works great.will try your download geek 9pm. and let you know .any other ideas would be welcome.

[Linux711]

The link below has a general purpose CD that can test your PC's basic hardware. Everybody should have it, or some equivalent, in the panic chest.

Good point. You could also try a generic Linux boot CD to see if the problem still persists on a different OS.

[Geek-9pm]

Good point. You could also try a generic Linux boot CD to see if the problem still persists on a different OS.

Anything the boots from a CD helps eliminate Windows or HDD  as the problem. Even the Windows Install CD.

From PCworld web site.
Six Downloadable Boot Discs That Could Save Your PC

[patio]

I disagree on 1 small detail...using a bootable CD does nothing towards eliminating a HDD issue...but it does get you 1 stap further in the troubleshooting process...