Grab another keyboard would be the first choice. Even borrow one for a few minutes to confirm the theory.

Thanks! She is using a laptop, should have told you that. I told her to try to clean under the keys, she did that and got it to work but can hear 'crunching' when she uses the key. So for now she is back in business!! Happy Holidays to all!!!

Far from being an expert at any thing let alone a laptop, but couldn't you if necessary remove the keyboard from the system's Device Manager and install an auxiliary keyboard via USB? Awkward? Yes. Convenient? No. A short term temporary fix? Perhaps.

DA

You don't need to remove the current one in Device Manager. In fact, if you do, it will reinstall next time you reboot. Many people use external keyboards with laptops because they don't like the layout or relatively cramped keyboards the laptops have.

She can attach a new external keyboard to fix it. If your friend travels and doesn't want to lug an external keyboard around, she can get a new keyboard for the laptop. That will be considerably more expensive and will also require the laptop to be taken apart to remove the keyboard and replace it. If it were mine, I'd probably live with the external keyboard unless I needed to replace something else, then kill two birds with one stone.

I got a keyboard at Staples for $10 that is made of silicone and rolls up in to a small tube and fits in a case about the size of a can of pop. It plugs into the usb port on the laptop and you just unroll it and use it then roll it up and take it with you. It is much easier than using some laptop keyboards.
In fact I think this is the same one I have but mine is blue
Full Size Flexible Keyboard,
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They are an excellent addition to your laptop accessories. But I also use it for my desktop on occasion.

When I read about the problem, my first thought was how about a virtual keyboard. I read about them recently. Here is a link to the "Click n Type" virtual keyboard, which can be downloaded free. There is a version for Win XP, and you can also download some software that helps it predict English words, thus saving on some clicking.

http://cnt.lakefolks.com/

Just in case someone has a similar problem in the future.

I had the same problem with an older Dell laptop. It was nothing more than crumbs under the keys where my DH had been eating cookies. I was able to vacuum them out (careful!) and all was well.

I use a external keyboard and mouse on my old DELL 2650.
works good, but of course this defeats the purpose of some laptops used by some people. Grady