Member Avatar for stevenoliver26

My sony VAIO keyboard is not working properly. The keys that dont work are Esc, F1 - F12
NUMBERS 1-3 AND 5-7 AND 9 - + BACKSPACE AND THE HOME KEY.

q w o p caps lock a d f h j l @ \ z c and the space bar

Can anyone help. thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Freaktech

Dani AI

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Short practical guide for (and thanks to for the hardware pointer). The pattern you described — Esc, F1–F12 plus a block of number and navigation keys — often points to a physical keyboard/matrix problem, but confirm that first so you don't buy parts unnecessarily.

Quick checks (do these before disassembly)

  1. Try a USB keyboard. If the external keyboard works everywhere but the internal one fails, that narrows things to the laptop keyboard.
  2. Test keys outside Windows: press Esc/F-keys during POST or enter the BIOS/UEFI setup and try those keys there. If they fail in BIOS too, it’s almost certainly hardware.
  3. Boot from a Linux live USB (or a recovery environment). Persistent failure across OSs again points to hardware rather than drivers.
  4. In Windows, check Device Manager (remove/uninstall the keyboard device and reboot), confirm keyboard layout/region and accessibility settings (Sticky/Filter Keys), and verify any vendor hotkey drivers are present.

If hardware looks likely

  • Inspect for liquid or debris under affected keys. Carefully pop off a couple of non-working keycaps (small flat tool, gentle) and look for corrosion or crust. Clean with compressed air and isopropyl if needed.
  • Power safety: remove AC and battery (if removable) and press the power button for 10–30 seconds to discharge before touching internals.
  • If comfortable with basic laptop work, find the Vaio service manual or parts list for your exact model (model number is on the bottom) and order the matching keyboard/assembly and follow the manual. Photograph each step so you can reverse it. If unsure, a local shop is inexpensive and fast.

Cost/time note: replacement keyboards vary widely ($15–$120) and some models have the keyboard built into the top case, so confirm the exact part. Start with the external-keyboard and BIOS tests — they tell you whether replacement is really required.

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Member Avatar for Freaktech

Sounds like your ribbon cable has been damaged. You should replace the keyboard.

Member Avatar for stevenoliver26

thanks. is this a specialist job or can anyone change the keyboard

Member Avatar for Freaktech

Anyone can change one. There should be a few screws on the bottom with a keyboard picture next to them. There may be some tabs on the keyboard itself, not sure with sony. Then it's should just be a ribbon cable.

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