FOUND! After a few hours of sleep and a stiff cup o' coffee, I discovered the
issue regarding the loss of key functions.
"STICKY KEYS" (go figure?) Although I did check this option in the control
panels, I didn't realize that if the options were in effectivley active -but
not selected in the ACCESSABILITY OPTIONS control panel(indicated with
checked box) they would automatically activate (or de-activate the keys) when
two keys are pressed simaltainiously, which happens to me often when typing
rapidly. I don't know why thisfunction would be considered helpful to
anyone, but that's the solution I found today.

p.s. there is no mention of it in the manual anywhere- considered a software
issue I guess. Good luck.

Good luck

"Soberscott" wrote:

> I also have lost functionality of the keys "q,w,e,r,u,i,o,p". This had
> happened a few weeks ago and I was trying many different key commands, which
> apparently worked. Unfortunately, I wasn't sure what I did, but it retured
> full function to the keys -until now.
> While typing an email, the same keys went dead. I have found that they are
> 'working' just not as they should.
> When I press both shift keys simultainiously and press the affected keys,
> the characters from the corosponding keys (on the bottom row)
> "z,x,c,v,m,<,>,?" so I conclude the keys are 'functioning, just not properly.
> I have n't found any 'custom keys' or key commands that re-set the layout.
>
> I have tried to restore the system, but it doesn't seem to effect these keys.
> note: an external keyboard works perfectly.The machine is an Hp Pavilion
> N5495 notebook running XP pro.
> Anyone have any ideas?
>