dell latitude and windows xp

I've got a customer-owned dell latitude cpi in for servivce.

This unit, in windows xp acts like the [fn] key is depressed. So when you type on the characters that normally are letters, they turn up as numbers. (this is normal when the key is actually pressed) When you actually press the [fn] key and type with these keys, they act like the key is NOT depressed.

Now I've tried three keyboards, and a motherboard swap. I've also tried looking for any bios, os, or any general trick to fix this, with no luck.

Note: this problem does not exist with windows 98se (i tried a seperate hard drive.) And it will not do it in dos either.

I've checked for a driver update, but there is none. Dell does not support windows xp on this unit.

To top i all off, the lady who owns this machine says it worked just fine until recently (?)

I'm stumpted. Anyone got a good idea?

Tell her straight up that the OS is not supported by the MFG and untill a time that they do, she may experience strange errors and operations with the unit, not much you can do about it.

I would recommend that the origional O/S get re-installed on the unit, as you both know it works and is supported by Dell.

There is no real way to win in a situation like this,but, if you really want to have some fun, ask her for her xp cd and product key so that you can try a re-install on the unit. Chances are its a pirated copy that her "friendwhoknowsalotaboutcomputers" installed for her. Then you can have a reason not to support the unit.

that's a good idea. She's a flake anyways. and there really isn't much i can do here :( just mad i wasted 4 hours on this unit. Ah well.

I've seen some white papers on this issue...

Some of the problems are similar to what you describe, i.e., stuck keys, keyboards repeating a single letter and so on.

I've seen it related to some Logitech mouse and Solaris sftwe., among others. The bad part is that the only suggested workaround that I've seen is to go to a USB keyboard...which is not really a viable plan if you're using a laptop!

I'd go back to an earlier OS...seems these laptops just don't like XP. [And you're correct, I've been told they're not supported for XP by Dell.]