Non-repeating multiple key press issues

Question

My g/f has a G4 Titanium Onyx and seemingly randomly, the keyboard has started acting up.
The bottom row of keys works, but anything above it gives out multiple characters on a single keypress. These are non-repetative. For example hitting 'l' doesn't cause 'llll' but '963.'
The same keypress gives the same array of incorrect characters every time, but they don't seem to follow a pattern, one key even seems to work like the volume key.
To the best of my knowledge it hasn't been dropped, had anything spilt on it, of been damaged in anyway since the last time it was working well.
Any ideas as to what's causing this? The missus is most upset.

Answer 1

Hi, Sam. Does "g/f" = "grandfather"?
The behavior you describe is a new one on me.
First check to make sure the Num Lock key isn't depressed (the light beside it should be lit if it is). With Num Lock depressed, the m, slash, j, k, l, semicolon, u, i, o, p, 7, 8, 9, and zero keys should produce numeric-keypad characters, and most of the others should produce nothing. That's not what you're seeing, but I suppose the Num Lock key might, if it's depressed, be modifying the way some other error or malfunction shows up. If it isn't depressed, try connecting an external USB keyboard and see whether that behaves the same way. If the external Kb works properly, the built-in keyboard is bad or not securely connected to the logic board. Release the keyboard latches and tip it back onto the palm rests, then disconnect and reconnect its ribbon cable connector. If there's no improvement, replace the keyboard or have Gramps use the external KB instead.
If the problem occurs with the external KB too, boot to your OS install CD and try to set up and name a new admin user account. If you find that you can't do that because you can't type normally with either KB, even when booted to the CD, you have some hardware problem that's not in the KBs, and it may be time to have a technician look at the PB.