If you own a dell notebook and suddenly the onboard Dell laptop keyboard is not working, it can be quite frustrating. Sometimes it stops working without any notice while other times it can be due to a fall, liquid spillage or rough handling. There can be many reasons like software settings or hardware issues and you need to verify it first before coming to a conclusion. Few steps are listed here that can be followed to know what is the cause and if there is a way you can fix it. Remember to have a rubber glove handy incase you are to remove the keyboard.

1. If the keyboard stopped working after you spilled liquid on it, check whether the laptop is starting up fine. You must make sure the keys are wiped with a lint free cloth and dried. Perform this with the laptop switched off. If the laptop is not starting up then this is not only related to the keyboard but might have some issue with other components as well.

2. When none of the keys are working, check if the caps lock and num lock lights are lit by pressing them one by one. If the lights come on, try connecting the laptop to an external keyboard. If the external works, the onboard keyboard has an issue. However, if the external do not respond too then there is a settings issue in the laptop itself.

3. Sometimes the keyboard might have connectivity issue with the motherboard. So it is good to try disassembling the keyboard and try reconnecting the cable once more however make sure you power the laptop down and remove the cord and battery first. For most Dell laptops, you have to get a flat- head screw driver and pry at the indentation located near the right side of the hinge cover. Then remove the keyboard screws and pull gently towards the screen. You will notice a cable connecting from the base of the keyboard to the motherboard. Gently unplug and reconnect the cable, assemble back and restart the computer to check. If it sill do not work, you might need to get the keyboard replaced.

4. If the keys seem to work but do not type the correct letters and numbers, chances are, the sticky keys might be activated. Press and hold the shift key for 15 seconds. In the pop-up window that appears, turn off the filter or sticky keys and check again. For those laptops with numbers and letters on one key, check the number lock key if it is on or off. You can also verify in safe mode by going through the advanced options in startup as even virus infection might cause this problem.
For those laptops that still have a warranty, you can always get a faulty keyboard replaced from Dell. If there is no warranty, you can take it to a repair shop or buy the keyboard online. If taking the keyboard apart is not comfortable for you, get help for someone so that you make sure other components are not damaged during the process.