Question Laptop is randomly locking keys after Windows 10 Update? -SOLVED

[CatCreature]

Hey, I hope it's okay to post this here...I didn't know where to go for help. and a friend suggested this spot. I'm not a particularly computer-smart person (as you'll see in a minute when trying to describe what I even have) but since the 15th of this month, when I installed a new Windows 10 update, I'm noticing a peculiar issue.

Uh first of all, my laptop is...I'm not sure. My brother got it for me after I lost my computer in a fire. I'm not positive what I have. It says Republic of Gamers on bootup, and it has stickers on it that say "AMD Ryzen 5000 Series 9" and "Nvidia Geforce RTX" aaand "FHD 144HZ 100% sRGB Pantone* Validated" on it. I don't know what any of these mean, if any of this information helps. I'm also running Windows 10. If more info is needed, and you can guide me how to get it, I can!

But as for the issue: I've had this laptop since February 2022, and it has NEVER done this until I installed the most recent Windows 10 updates on January 15th a few days ago. Ever since I installed that update, I'm having a weird incident where my W, E, U and I keys will suddenly stop working. And EVERY TIME I GOOGLE this issue, everyone says either the keys need to be cleaned, the keys must be dying, or it's a problem with a plug-in keyboard. (Of which I have none.) I'm going to say right now that those are not the problem!!!

I've had those issues in the past, and for those, the keys taper off and the issue is constant. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE THIS TIME. For the entire day, my keyboard functions flawlessly. There will be ONE OR TWO times a day where suddenly the W, E, U and I keys will absolutely stop. All keys work, except those, and it doesn't matter how hard you hit the keys or how many times, it doesn't even falter. It's like somebody shut them off entirely. There has been no fading/weakening of the keys up until this point. And it won't let me use them for a full minute or so. And then, the keys start working again for the rest of the night flawlessly. Never delaying or showing any sign of wear, they function perfectly.

I can't figure out for the life of me what is going on, and I hate it. It has killed me in games, it has delayed me when trying to respond to people...it's very few and far between when this happens, but it ALWAYS holds me up when it does happen and it's driving me crazy, and I don't know what to do! Can anybody help me?

I have no idea if these updates are the culprit, but considering I did nothing else on the 15th that should have triggered this kind of issue, I'm suspicious of them.

---

As for what I have tried.

I have tried uninstalling the recent Windows updates as I suspect them to be the issue. It seemed to fix the issue. However my laptop threatens to update during inactive hours anyway, and it's not good to have a laptop that isn't up to date, so I feel like I can't keep those uninstalled.

I have done a virus/malware scan and got no results.

I have gone under Device Manager to see if my keyboard driver needs updating. It doesn't. I tried uninstalling it and rebooting, and it was reinstalled, and the issue is still persisting.

I have tried the Windows troubleshooting scan, and it found nothing wrong with the keyboard.

I have none of these settings enabled:

At this point I'm kind of at a loss...I really hope someone can help me. And testing for this issue will take some time, since it happens VERY randomly and rarely...about once or twice a day.

I really appreciate any help...I truly don't know what else to do!

 

[KingLoki]

Firstly, just install the .Net Framework update to see if its that that's causing the issue. Leave the other one and re-schedule it if needed. Then check back in.

 

[CatCreature]

Firstly, just install the .Net Framework update to see if its that that's causing the issue. Leave the other one and re-schedule it if needed. Then check back in.

So I did what you said, and only installed the .Net Framework update. I also had to pause updates for seven days so my laptop wouldn't auto-install it anyway.

I waited an extra day, just to be sure nothing is going on, and there has been absolutely ZERO issue with my keys. Usually it happens a couple times a day, and once, it skipped a day, so I waited an extra day just to try and be as sure as I can be. I guess it's hard to be 100% sure with something so random...

But I'm fairly sure this has worked, and the key issue isn't occurring anymore. I've been doing a lot of typing over the past three days too, so there's been A LOT of chances for it, and just...nothing.

If this really is the case...what do I do now? Because I can pause updates longer, for about a month, and then it says after that point, my laptop will auto update anyway.

 

[KingLoki]

Thats a good start. 👍

The KB5049981 being a cumulative update, will eventually force to install through windows update. This update mainly contains security fixes released in Dec2024.

I would suggest now trying the manual installation method and see if it behaves by downloading it direct from microsoft update catalogue website and installing it seperately, now that the .net update has installed ok.
The link below will download the KB5049981 .MSU file. When finished downloading, it can be double-clicked like an .exe file to start the install process. Give it a try and if the problem returns then check back in and we can go from there.

https://catalog.s.download.windowsu..._bda073f7d8e14e65c2632b47278924b8a0f6b374.msu

 

[CatCreature]

Thats a good start. 👍

The KB5049981 being a cumulative update, will eventually force to install through windows update. This update mainly contains security fixes released in Dec2024.

I would suggest now trying the manual installation method and see if it behaves by downloading it direct from microsoft update catalogue website and installing it seperately, now that the .net update has installed ok.
The link below will download the KB5049981 .MSU file. When finished downloading, it can be double-clicked like an .exe file to start the install process. Give it a try and if the problem returns then check back in and we can go from there.

https://catalog.s.download.windowsu..._bda073f7d8e14e65c2632b47278924b8a0f6b374.msu

First thing I'm noticing since installing that, right away, is my laptop fan keeps turning on. When checking Task Manager, it says "Microsoft Windows Search Indexer"'s power usage is Very High, and it sits like that a lot, fans running hard every time it's at Very High. It occasionally goes back down and the laptop calms down, only for it to pump up again. I haven't seen it do this before.

EDIT: I don't think it did this when I installed this update the automatic way before, either.

Edit2: I'm HOPING it's just something that happened on startup and that it'll quit doing it that often, but I won't be able to test further until I'm here later.

 

[KingLoki]

Ok, so now you have installed it manually it shouldn't make any difference compared to windows update doing it. Windows Search may be re-building and indexing files etc. May calm down in a short time. If not try these methods on the web link below. The first thing to try would be to restart the 'Windows Search' service. Then their are other options to try. Nothing to be concerned with but can be annoying with the fan noise. Hope the keys still work fine going forward.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/searchindexer-exe-high-cpu-usage

 

[CatCreature]

Ok, so now you have installed it manually it shouldn't make any difference compared to windows update doing it. Windows Search may be re-building and indexing files etc. May calm down in a short time. If not try these methods on the web link below. The first thing to try would be to restart the 'Windows Search' service. Then their are other options to try. Nothing to be concerned with but can be annoying with the fan noise. Hope the keys still work fine going forward.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/searchindexer-exe-high-cpu-usage

Maybe it really was re-building and indexing files. Thankfully it did calm down!

It's been about two days now since I installed the update that way, and so far, I'm not noticing any issues with my keyboard! That's so weird...what difference does it make to install it manually??

Two questions now! If I unpause auto updates (since it'll do it tomorrow automatically anyway) it won't try to push that same update, right? It should be good now, since I do have it installed?

And on the off-chance the next update comes out, and whatever this issue is RETURNS...(please no!) is there a place I can look to find those manual updates? I don't even know where you go to find those things.

I'm HOPING this is the end of this issue, but I'll post here again if it suddenly returns. But I was busy with a lot of typing for the majority of my night last night, and not once did the issue arise then, or the night before...so it's looking hopeful!!
(And by the way, fixed or not, THANK YOU -SO MUCH- FOR THE HELP!!! I didn't know what I was going to do!!)

 

[KingLoki]

Hey, thats good news, glad to help. 🙂 The idea of installing the .net first to see if one was causing an issue may have possibly missed a conflict or mistiming of update files. It definately helped to install the cumulative update after the .net.

Every windows update, large or small, has a KB(then the number). These can be found at Microsofts catalogue web site and you can search for the KB......... update number. Just be sure as there could be multiple files with the same number, that relate to different OS's etc. (x32 for 32 bit or x64 for windows 10, 11
64bit etc.) Read the description before downloading. Make sure its the right update that you download. The site is...

https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/home.aspx

Windows update should detect that both updates are now installed, so it should ignore them and delete them of the pending updates queue.

Good luck with it, hope it doesn't return. 🤞
* Can you mark as solved * Cheers.👍

 

[CatCreature]

Hey, thats good news, glad to help. 🙂 The idea of installing the .net first to see if one was causing an issue may have possibly missed a conflict or mistiming of update files. It definately helped to install the cumulative update after the .net.

Every windows update, large or small, has a KB(then the number). These can be found at Microsofts catalogue web site and you can search for the KB......... update number. Just be sure as there could be multiple files with the same number, that relate to different OS's etc. (x32 for 32 bit or x64 for windows 10, 11
64bit etc.) Read the description before downloading. Make sure its the right update that you download. The site is...

https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/home.aspx

Windows update should detect that both updates are now installed, so it should ignore them and delete them of the pending updates queue.

Good luck with it, hope it doesn't return. 🤞
* Can you mark as solved * Cheers.👍

Mark as solved...just in the thread title, right? I'll go ahead and do that!

That's all really good information to know, thank you so much for the help!!

 

[KingLoki]

👍 Not sure about Solved. It has to be done by the original post starter asking the question. It should turn green with a solved sign. Anyways enjoy your day/night 🙂

 

[CatCreature]

It looks like I might have to change the Question marker, and I see where to do it under Edit post, or Edit thread, but I see no Solved selection in either spot! No obvious buttons anywhere else either. If I can figure out how to do it, I will, but I'm not seeing it. x'DD