Laptop keyboard only typing special characters (accented ones)

Do the following characters show up ^çàèé¨ÀÇ instead of []{}|"?

Fix for Special Character Lock / Altgr / Alt gr issue:

On my keyboard I was able to resolve the matter by pressing the left "shift + ctrl keys" at the same time. After I released them I tested and the special character lock was reversed.

Give it a shot! Hope it works for you.

My keyboard language is set to English (UK). The language doesn't appear to be the issue - the problem is that the only keys that 'work' are the vowels and the number 4 key, however they don't work as they should, instead typing 'a' gives 'á', 'e' gives 'é' etc. and 4 gives €, implying that the Alt Gr key is held down. However, the key is not held down, and holding it down and pressing a consonant key gives no response, and holding it down and pressing a vowel key gives the actual vowel. I can't find a similar problem reported anywhere and am at my wit's end, since the keyboard doesn't work during booting either.

It doesn't seem to think there's a problem with the hardware or the driver. The problem is that the only keys that 'work' are the vowels and the number 4 key, however they don't work as they should, instead typing 'a' gives 'á', 'e' gives 'é' etc. and 4 gives €, implying that the Alt Gr key is held down. However, the key is not held down, and holding it down and pressing a consonant key gives no response, and holding it down and pressing a vowel key gives the actual vowel. I can't find a similar problem reported anywhere and am at my wit's end, since the keyboard doesn't work during booting either. I have tried using both wired and wireless keyboards, which return the same issue, and the on-screen keyboard won't load.

Hello,

Try this Fix It from Microsoft:  http://support.microsoft.com/mats/hardware_device_problems/

Let me know if this fixes the issue for you.

Regards,

BearPup