Troubleshooting Keyboard Suddenly Not Working but Connection Light Indicator Still Turned on Ativ Smart PC Pro

If your keyboard suddenly stops working on your Ativ Smart PC Pro, but the connection light indicator is still turned on, it can be frustrating. However, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Check Physical Connections

Before diving into software-related solutions, it’s essential to ensure that there are no loose or damaged physical connections causing the problem. Follow these steps:

1. Detach and Reattach the Keyboard: If your device allows you to detach the keyboard, do so and then reattach it firmly.

2. Check the Cable: If your keyboard connects through a cable, examine it for any signs of damage or fraying. If you find any issues, consider replacing the cable.

3. Try a Different USB Port (if applicable): If you are using an external keyboard that connects via USB, try connecting it to a different USB port on your device.

Step 2: Restart Your Device

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches or conflicts. Reboot your Ativ Smart PC Pro and check if the keyboard starts working again.

Step 3: Check Device Manager

If the keyboard issue persists, there might be a problem with the driver or software settings. Follow these steps to check Device Manager:

1. Open Device Manager: Right-click on the “Start” button (Windows logo) and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.

2. Expand the “Keyboards” Section: In Device Manager, locate and expand the “Keyboards” category.

3. Check for Issues: Look for any yellow exclamation marks or error symbols next to your keyboard’s name. This indicates a problem with the keyboard driver.

4. Update or Roll Back Driver: Right-click on the keyboard name, and select “Update driver.” Follow the on-screen instructions to search for and install any available updates. If an update doesn’t fix the issue, you can also try rolling back the driver to a previous version.

Step 4: Scan for Hardware Changes

If updating or rolling back the driver didn’t help, you can try scanning for hardware changes. This action can prompt your computer to re-detect connected devices, potentially resolving the keyboard issue. Here’s how:

1. Open Device Manager: Right-click on the “Start” button (Windows logo) and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.

2. Scan for Hardware Changes: In Device Manager, click on the “Action” menu located at the top of the window. From the drop-down menu, select “Scan for hardware changes.”

3. Wait for the Process to Complete: The scan will begin, and your computer will search for any newly connected devices or detect any existing ones that weren’t recognized before.

4. Check the Keyboard: Once the scan is complete, check if your keyboard starts working again.

Step 5: Test the Keyboard on Another Device

If the keyboard still doesn’t work on your Ativ Smart PC Pro, it’s possible that the issue lies with the keyboard itself. To verify this, connect the keyboard to another compatible device (such as another computer or laptop) and see if it functions correctly. If it does, the problem likely lies with your Ativ Smart PC Pro.

Step 6: Check for System Updates

Ensure that your operating system and drivers are up-to-date. Outdated software can sometimes lead to compatibility issues, including problems with peripherals like keyboards.

Step 7: Consider a System Restore (Windows)

If the issue started recently and you suspect that a recent change might have caused it, you can try performing a system restore to revert your system settings to a previous state. This step will only work if you have previously created a system restore point. To perform a system restore:

1. Type “System Restore” into the Windows search bar and open the corresponding settings.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point from a date when the keyboard was working correctly.

3. Confirm the restore point and allow your system to reboot.

Conclusion

If your keyboard on the Ativ Smart PC Pro is suddenly not working, but the connection light indicator remains on, these troubleshooting steps should help you identify and potentially fix the issue.