Pick up your keyboard (is this a desktop w/separate keyboard?)and give it a good shaking. I once had a laptop on which some of the keys stopped working. It was cookie crumbs under the keys. Vacuuming got them out and everything was fine. Just a thought, as things like this often cause these problems.

Sorry, I neglected to read the subject of your post. Yes, a laptop keyboard. Well, try a gentle vacuuming of the keyboard and see if that helps.

Hi marita40,

For the Caps key, the light may be turned on, but have you tried to use it? Does Cap letters type as you tap the keys when Caps in enabled?

Have you noticed that any of the other keys on your keyboard are doing things that they should not be doing? As a quick test, open the notepad program and press every key once and see if the correct letter/number/symbol appears as it should be. Let me know if you notice anything else that is not working as it should.

What operating system do you have and what Model is the HP Pavilion?

Sometimes if the shift keys are only non-functional for certain keys on the keyboard you may have to check and see if the language bar for English has been changed. I have cats! They have created some really strange issues for me when they walk across my keyboard when I accidentally leave it open.

Also try rebooting the computer. An external USB keyboard is always an option, too!

Donna

Thanks for your responses. I have cleaned the keyboard and under both shift keys. The cap key works just fine--it is how I am making caps in this message. I just tested all the other keys in a word document, and every other key is working just fine. I checked on language, too, and U.S. English is checked, so that is ok, too. My OP is Vista. Sure hate to haul this thing into Best Buy for work when there might be a home fix. Any other ideas--I've rebooted, too. Is there a way to restore the keyboard.

Might try hp support.. search it.. and also look for the driver for keyboard for your hp model.

How might I find the driver?

HP has a great chat support they are very helpful I would try them before taking it in.
Short of just blasting it mightily with some canned air I can not think of anything else since you mentioned checking sticky keys and the accessibility options.

i did see mentioned when I did a search that HP states this is a problem that is bios related not sure if that would be your case or not but talking to them might shed light on that.

So I take it that both shift keys are having the problem?

marita40,

Click on Start Orb in the lower left of your screen. In the Start Menu click on Control Panel. In the Control Panel double click on Device Manager. In the Device Manager look to see if any of the Devices are expanded. Specifically the Keyboard Device. Click on the + sign next to the Keyboard entry in the list. Then Right Click and choose Properties from the list in the little dialogue box that pops up. This will tell you if the Device is working properly or not. If it is not, give us the name of the Device that you right clicked. We can guide you to the manufacturer of the Device to get the Driver if needed.

You can do all that and still keep this window open. You can also place your cursor (mouse) at the very top of the Device Manager dialogue box, left click and move it around if you need to see all the instructions here as well as dragging the sides of the "box" smaller to give you more room on the screen to see what you are doing.

Donna

Thanks for the help Donna. I followed your directions. There are 2 devices listed under keyboard, and both say they are working properly. I did call HP but they wanted 49. (since my computer is no longer under warranty) and he couldn't tell me whether it was a software or hardware problem. Since no other keys are defective and it happened suddenly, I can't help but think it is a software issue. Also I turned on the on-screen keyboard and the shift function works fine on it.

Since no other keys are defective and it happened suddenly, I can't help but think it is a software issue.

A software issue because the shift key isn't working!

More likely the key it self is bad. It's just a basic switch and switches can go bad suddenly. Try pressing a little harder on it.

you have free support with HP CHAT just go to the HP site look up your model and select the CHAT and there you can talk/chat to them for absolutely free. You find the drivers the same way go to HP look up your model and there you find all the info for that product including drivers. You never replied with your model number or we could provide some links.

I'd like to second what raven has suggested. The free online chat is available even if your machine is out of warranty. I have used it several times. Go to the HP website and click on Support. There is a place to put in your model number and other information. Then you can type in your questions and someone will answer you. Remember this is online, not via telephone.

Zep as I stated it is BOTH shift keys that suddenly stopped working. It is not a matter of pressing harder on a key.
Thanks for the info. about the free chat. I'll do that and see what happens. My computer is a HP Pavillion Entertainment laptop dv6500.

I'm just saying if the switch mechanism has failed on one shift key it will effect them both.

Hey marita? do you use Skype? I found that if you're using Skype, turn off keyboard short cuts. They define by default that Shift I, Shift A, Shift V, and Shift H all do things with skype calls.

Just wondering...

Have you rebooted your computer recently...sometimes strange things happen and a reboot clears them up..you may also need to remove the keyboard and clean/blow out underneath it...dustbunnies etc...what model is it????

I haven't skyped on this computer. Just plugged in an external keyboard and the shift key works just fine. So do I understand, then, that it is a hardware problem? Thanks.

WHAT MODEL IS IT?????

At this stage, I'm voting that it's a mechanical problem...

Dear genes, I am trying my best here, so there is no need to shout. The sticker on the back of my computer says Pavillion Entertainment dv6500, as I stated above, and I assumed that was the model number. Please forgive my ignorance. Here are the other numbers on the label. Can you please tell me whether one of them is the model number you need and, if not, where I can find it. They are S/N CNF7391TQB and P/N GS664UAABA. Thanks.

Didnt mean to shout, just thought I should draw attention to the question as it was asked yesterday and today a couple of times by others and myself and thought it might have been lost in the shuffle...
There was a reason for asking for the model number as there are sometimes issues and notifications from the manufacturer as there was in this case
Your info
Brand Name HP
Product Line Pavilion
Product Series dv6600
Product Model GS664UA
Product Name Pavilion dv6636nr Notebook
I would suggest reading thru the foll article and see if your laptop qualifies for HP repair...

Here is a link that might be useful: HP DV6000 series problems

It was the keyboard! I replaced it myself (!)--piece of cake--and both shift keys are working again. I am patting myself on the back!

Good for you! Amazing what we can do when we set our minds to the task.

Good for you, knew you could do it

Kinda figured that was the issue after you mentioned that you tried the USB Keyboard and it worked fine. Those switches are delicate and wear out quickly. I've had to replace mine in the past as well.

Glad you got that sorted out marita40! Good job!

Donna