have got ubunto and also windows boot cd,still same running off cd drive,have reinstalled again checked all settings and drivers,updated bios,could it be keyboard controller firmware? have looked at hp site and tried a couple but couldnt install,seems to be a number of different ones that say for listed notebooks but doesnt say which,cant seem to pin down the correct one,also since last reinstall when I use the at key on the onscreen keyboard the screen goes beserk and I have to end program so am sure there is a conflict somewhere,have run an hp diagnostic and it comes out all ok,must be soon time to bin it and buy another.

Geoff A

If same problem running linux live. Then you know it isn;t a windows or software problem. More likely hardware/keyboard related. I have one laptop where the enter key plus a few other keys on r/h side of keyboard don't work. Hooked up external keyboard and everything worked ok on external keyboard. My problem on mine is the ribbon cable for keyboard is not making good contact on the plugin for ribbon harness to motherboard. I have taken it apart numerous times to try to reseat ribbon cable, but no joy with it. Finally had to buy one of those silicone collapsible external keyboards to make it functional.