how come my sons advent laptop's keyboard is giving out the wrong keys? if he presses "p", a ~ comes up, ?

Answer 1

It sound like your son's keyboard has the wrong language settings with windows XP (other windows versions will be similar) open the control panel click on Regional and Language Options the click the language tab click the Details button you'll see the language the keyboard is set at if it isn't the right one click add when the new dialogue box appears pick your language from the drop down list and click ok restart the computer go back into the control panel and delete the language you don't want that should fix it

Answer 2

Do as other suggest to go into control panel and check the language setting for your computer... My opinion is that the grid in the keyboard is damaged. Did he spill anything on it? Did he hit it in rage?

The Keyboard has a grid that determines the key being struck based on the resistance created when the grid is activated and the assigned language layout. If liquid is spilled on the keyboard, even if you let it dry out, the resistance will be altered therefore confusing the machine as to which key was pressed.

I hope he played with the layout settings.

Answer 3

It's possible that the computer has been told to set the keys to a different layout. Go to the Control Panel, Date Time language and regional options. and click Language and regional options. In the new window click on the languages options tab and look in the box for the keyboard listing. There should be one listing under it for US. If there are more then highlight it/them and remove all but "US". This will take the keyboard back to it's original setup.

Answer 4

Maybe he changed the pc conf. or maybe he just took out the keys and placed them in the wrongs place, try comparing it to another pc
good luck!

Answer 5

Yeh this happens with most laptops you have to press shift and fn to stop this from happening.

Answer 6

Sounds suspiciously as though he has spilt something in it.

Answer 7

take it back