Toshiba Satellite A215-S818 keyboard problem

okay, my keyboard is beginning to make me so angry that i am close to the point of throwing my laptop off the roof of my house. at random times, the start menu pops open. when i push E, computer opens. when i push R, run opens. when i push T, it cycls thru the windows. when i push u, the eas of access center pops open. whenever i push a, s, or any combination of CTRL + any key, the start menu pops open. and when i push L, my laptop locks down. this is so frustrating, i really will kill my laptop.
Note: while typing this, 3 ease of access centers opened, 7 computers, and internet exporer??? thats new. oh and i locked this laptop about 7 times. HELP ME PLEASE.
EDIT: also, it's PS/2 keyboard if that helps at all.
I am using my sister's wireless keyboard right now and it seems to be doing fine. I think i can confirm that this laptop has a faulty keyboard that is pushing me to the brink of lighting on fire. I would still like to fix this problem instead of solving this by buying a keyboard to attach to my laptop. If i buy a new keyboard, then it defeats the purpose of having a laptop-something portable-i am not gona carry a wireless keyboard with a laptop. again, PLEASE HELP.
RE-EDIT: forget everything i said in the edit. the wireless keyboard is exhibiting the same problems as the PS/2 keyboard. great.

 

For starters, you can try pressing and holding the Fn key and pressing the Numlock key or hold alt and press the Numlock key.

Longer term, its pretty easy to replace a laptop keyboard and you're not going to go broke in the process.

 

it's not the keyboard anymore

i think the problem is within the laptop's hardware. i've already explained in my first message. i've tried using my sister's wireless keyboard and the problems were still there.

 

Particular models and specifically individual machines of IBM laptops I am working on startup with the NUMLOCK on, so it turns keys on the right-hand side of the keypad into numbers. It does not happen with other IBM models. I have only been able to work on it once. The fix was to go into the BIOS/Configuration settings at startup and use the Reset to Defaults. What I think the problem is that if the battery is allowed to go really flat, the BIOS settings can get scrambled.

I would look in Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs and uninstall any "utilities" for the keypad or touchpad. The keypad/touchpad should work without them, but if you need them they will be on the drivers disk that came with the laptop or look for updates at Toshiba. These are the downloads for a A215-S5818, there is no Satellite A215-S818:
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...BV_EngineID=cccgadeehmkkfdecgfkceghdgngdgnn.0

Check through the Control Panel -> Regional Settings for those related to the keyboard and that Control Panel -> Keyboard seems correct.

If a solution could not be found, I would consider doing a BIOS update. The BIOS update does mention some minor changes for the Fn key functions. You may need to investigate how to do an upgrade from a CD if you do not have a Floppy Disk Drive (maybe investigate getting the closest Toshiba laptop repairer to do it).

Matt
Edit: You can uninstall the keyboard and touchpad in Device Manager, they will be automatically reinstalled when you reboot.

 

Also, going to the search function at Toshiba (Ask Iris), there is information about function keys relating to word processing programs or web browser programs.

The User Guide talks about "unexpected characters" and software overlays for keyboard mapping.
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...BV_EngineID=cccgadeehmkkfdecgfkceghdgngdgnn.0

Matt