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Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
bronskrat
Newbie
‎07-13-2010 03:41 PM
It seems that my screen now has a dead zone in the bottom-right part of the screen. When I go to type the letters p,l or DEL, i get the letters to the left of them (o,k,m). The odd thing is that I can click directly on o,k,m and it works fine. It's almost like the keys were remapped.

Anyone else experience this one? Defective phone? I've had it for quote a while -- no cracks in it, no bad falls. Help! :smileysad:

Oh, and a restart or a battery pull did not fix it. Nor did a keyboard app replacement.
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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
ChrisBuck
Enthusiast - Level 1
‎08-12-2011 01:06 PM

The factory reset suggestion is junk. That's the standard line any time there is a problem that they don't know how to fix.

 

This is widespread, just do a Google search. It's happening on my Droid 2 Global after factory resets, battery pulls.

 

Incidentally, the same glitch that causes the dead zone on the right side of the screen causes a dead zone around the status bar in landscape mode.

 

I have found that sometimes by simply pressing the power button phone off and on, I am able to regain functionality in that area. Other times, I have found that if I start to send a text message, and include the letter "p" in the message (typing in portrait mode), I am able to get the right side back to working (as further tested using the keyboard in gmail).

 

This is bizarre, and it doesn't look like a hardware failure, since it is possible to get working.

 

So assuming there is a software bug somewhere, I'm looking at the running services every time it happens, by going to Settings > Applications > Running.

 

The stock music app is always doing something. Other apps:

 

Google Messaging Service

Global Unplug Service

Battery Manager - Wakelock Monitor Service

Multitouch Keyboard

 

Tried disabling them one by one, and no change in result. Entire right side of the keyboard still not operational. Help anyone?

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
sHaY_j
Contributor - Level 3
‎07-15-2010 07:17 PM

Wow, this is a first! Have you ever dropped your phone or waste something on it? The keys may be sticking to the keypad. Try going into your nearest Verizon Wireless store to have a technical manager look at the device to see if the wiring in the keyboard is defective.  Let me know if this works!:smileywink:

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
Darthvodka
Newbie
‎07-19-2010 05:12 PM

I have almost same issue... This is my post on the htc support forums.

 

I just got my incredible in the mail. I was trying to enter a couple contacts. I found the letter "t" will not type. Switched to number mode. It is even worse, Can't type 5, %, ), all are in the same column. Contacts will not allow you to turn the droid on its side and use the horizontal keyboard. Tried calibrating the keyboard it makes it worse. I can touch the letter "Q" and drag my finger across the screen and every letter in that row will highlight as I drag over it except the letter "t". Same thing happens in number / symbols mode start at either the 1, !, _,  drag across everything will highlight as it is touched except the 5, %, ). I have 3 other coworkers with the incredible they do not have this issue on their phones. The issue occurs for them when they try on my phone so, it is not me fat fingering. They all got theirs at least a month before me. So I am wondering if it is an issue with the new screens or just a defect in my phone?

 

UPDATE

Called htc... No help suggested factory reset which I didn't mind as I have no data on the phone yet. Did not work. Next suggestion... Download a keyboard app... The free ones are crap. Why should I have to pay extra to make the device usable? I thought a working keyboard was apart of the initial $200.

 

 

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
ron45
Newbie
‎07-29-2010 05:01 PM
I'm having the exact same problems as the original poster. Just to clarify, the problem on mine is only on the vertical virtual keyboard. The horizontal virtual and mechanical qwerty keyboards work fine. My problem started around July 1st and I've just been dealing with it since. Was wondering if the last OS update had something to do with this?
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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
IgoreAbbyNormal
Newbie
‎09-13-2010 02:09 PM

I have found that I am also having the same problem with the virtual keyboard as the original poster.   Whenever I try to type 'P', 'l' or 'del' it always ends up typing the letter to the left of the key I pressed.    Did anyone find a solution this problem by chance?

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
nutznboltz2003
Newbie
‎09-13-2010 02:35 PM

I had the same issue.  I took it in to a VZW center and they told me it needed to be replaced.  It was never dropped, no damage, nothing.  It worked in landscape mode at first, but after awhile, almost the entire right third of the screen stopped responding.

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
Cobjones
Contributor - Level 1
‎09-13-2010 02:36 PM
It might be due to the fact you aren't typing far enough to the right.

The screens have a learning curve. Try typing as far over as you can.

I had never had an issue.
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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
nutznboltz2003
Newbie
‎09-14-2010 06:00 PM
Cobjones wrote:
It might be due to the fact you aren't typing far enough to the right.

The screens have a learning curve. Try typing as far over as you can.

I had never had an issue.

Now, that could be an issue, but if it is like my problem, it was an issue with the phone itself.  The nice rep I talked to on the phone told me I was her 8th caller that day with the issue.  I'm wondering if the issue was the touch input screen becoming disengaged from the front glass and no longer sensing input.

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
IgoreAbbyNormal
Newbie
‎09-15-2010 10:20 AM

Quick update, I discovered something interesting.   I installed one of the free drawing tools to see how far over to the right it would let me draw and sure enough while drawing on the screen the paint brush would stop at the same area along the right side of the screen where the p, l and del keys are on the virtual keypad.    

 

While testing this I accidentally pressed a little harder then normal (harder then you should)  and the paint brush went all the way to the right side of the screen.    To me that says that there could be a problem with the touch sensors on the right side.   I'm planing on taking it in today to have it looked at before it gets any worse.

 

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Re: Droid Virtual Keyboard Dead Zone - can't type p,l or DEL
IgoreAbbyNormal
Newbie
‎09-17-2010 02:15 PM

I've gotta say, I'm impressed.   I took my Droid to one of the Verizon stores and they took a quick look at it saw the problem and they quickly set it up so a new Droid would be FedEx to me within 2 days, to me that is good customer service.     With all of the negative comments that usually happen in forums I thought I should post a good experience.   :smileyvery-happy:

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