Toshiba / Dynabook laptop keyboard test – press the keys to check every key

Toshiba / Dynabook laptop keyboard problems – how to use this test

This page is designed for owners of Toshiba and Dynabook laptops – including Satellite,
Satellite Pro, Tecra, Portege and Dynabook business series – who want to check whether their
built-in keyboard is still working correctly. Press every key on your Toshiba / Dynabook
keyboard and watch if the corresponding key on the layout above lights up.

1. Some keys on your Toshiba / Dynabook keyboard are not responding

If only one or two keys do not light up in this test, the most common causes are:

• A worn-out switch under the key after years of daily typing.
• Dust or small particles trapped under the keycap, especially on older Satellite models.
• A key that has been knocked or damaged during cleaning or transport.

Try gently cleaning around the key and repeat the test. If the key still does not register,
the internal keyboard assembly is likely defective and should be replaced.

2. An entire row or block of keys does not work

When a full row (for example Q–P) or a block of keys (such as the number pad) fails in this
test, this often indicates:

• A partially disconnected keyboard ribbon cable inside the Toshiba / Dynabook chassis.
• Damage to the keyboard matrix on the internal PCB.

Software updates or driver changes rarely fix this type of problem. In most cases, the complete
keyboard unit must be replaced to restore full function.

3. Wrong characters or “ghost typing” on Toshiba / Dynabook laptops

If you press one key and a different character appears, or your laptop starts typing on its own,
the keyboard circuitry may be damaged – very often after a liquid spill or long-term wear.
This behaviour is almost always a hardware fault and not a Windows issue.

4. Keys that repeat by themselves

Keys that repeat several times when you only press them once (for example “llll” instead of “l”)
are a classic sign of worn switches. You can try adjusting key repeat settings in the operating
system, but if the same problem appears in this online test, it confirms a hardware issue.

5. Backlit Toshiba / Dynabook keyboard problems

Some newer Toshiba and Dynabook models come with backlit keyboards. This tool only checks
whether the keys register – it does not test the backlight itself. If the keys work but the
backlight does not, then the LED backlight circuit, cable or backlight control may be faulty.
A replacement keyboard with a working backlight is often the simplest solution.

6. After liquid damage on Toshiba / Dynabook laptops

Spilled water, coffee or other drinks are a very common cause of keyboard failure. Symptoms
can appear immediately or weeks later: stuck keys, random characters, full rows no longer
responding, etc. If your keyboard behaves like this and fails this test on several keys,
replacing the complete keyboard assembly is strongly recommended.

If this Toshiba / Dynabook keyboard test shows that your keys are faulty, you can

order a compatible replacement laptop keyboard here
. We offer replacement keyboards for many Toshiba and Dynabook models, including Satellite,
Satellite Pro, Tecra and Portege series.