Laptop won't type letters.

I've got a dell Lat. CPx 650 J series laptop. My problem is that the #8 and letters i, k, and the < key do not work. Nothing appears when i push these keys. Even more unfortunate is that I cleaned the hard drive and re-installed win98 from scratch. The product key requires the #8.........I'm sure you can see where this is going. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated as I am for the most part, computer illiterate and hopelessly stuck in limbo.

 

Defective keyboard. Try plugging in an external keyboard into the back of the laptop.

 

Common problem for this computer. You need to reseat the keyboard cable and that usually fixes the problem (for a while) On the back remove the screws marked with a K then gently pry up the keyboard. Try not to bump any keys as if they fall off they are a real pain to replace. Follow the plastic cable to the system board and lift up on the latch (built into the connector) to release the cable. Put everything back and it should work. BOL