If you suspect that a laptop keyboard has a faulty, missing or intermittent key, KbdCheck provides a quick way to test every key without relying on Windows or another installed operating system.
KbdCheck is a free 47 MB bootable keyboard and mouse testing tool based on Arch Linux. It runs directly from a USB drive and does not install or change anything on the computer.
What You Will Need
You will need:
- A USB drive
- Another computer to prepare the USB drive
- KbdCheck
- Rufus, Balena Etcher, or another iso writing tool such as dd.
Writing KbdCheck to the USB drive will erase everything currently stored on it.
Download KbdCheck from kbdcheck.com
Create the Bootable USB Drive
Download the KbdCheck ISO and open Rufus.
Select the correct USB drive under Device, then click Select and choose the KbdCheck ISO.
Click Start and wait for the USB drive to be created.
You can also write the ISO using Balena Etcher or dd.
Boot KbdCheck
Insert the USB drive into the computer you want to test and restart it.
Open the computer's boot menu and select the USB drive. The key used to open the boot menu varies between manufacturers, but common options include F12, F9, Esc and F11.
KbdCheck will start automatically.
If the USB drive does not appear or will not boot, you may need to disable Secure Boot temporarily in the computer's BIOS or UEFI settings. Secure Boot can be enabled again after testing.
Testing the Keyboard
Press each key on the keyboard in turn.
Every detected key will be highlighted on screen. Work methodically across the keyboard so that function keys, modifier keys and the number pad are not missed.
If a key does not highlight when pressed, try it several times. A key that never registers may be faulty.
Because KbdCheck runs independently of Windows, it can also help determine whether a problem is caused by the keyboard itself or by the installed operating system.
Test the Mouse or Touchpad
KbdCheck also includes a mouse test.
Move the pointer, press each button and test the scroll wheel. A laptop touchpad can be checked in the same way.
Finishing the Test
When testing is complete, shut down the computer and remove the USB drive.
KbdCheck does not install anything, access the computer's files or make changes to its existing operating system.