Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Not Working

For about a decade, I have been using Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard. I started off with the wireless desktop set, which cost about INR 7,000. It only lasted for a couple of years. I shifted back to a regular keyboard for a while, but found it very uncomfortable, after having used Microsoft's ergonomic keyboard.

• I had to get myself a new keyboard on February 5th, and I got a Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop Keyboard and Mouse. I haven't had any problems with it until today, and it's two things: 1) The main problem is that my keyboard will stop responding if I do not use it for a short period of time; I'm unable to type or use any other keyboard.
• Buttons aren't working? The solution to fixing a number key or the backspace or left delete button on the MS Sculpt Ergo Pro for Business 5KV-00001 and simil.
• Microsoft's Sculpt keyboard Sarah Tew/CNET. I've been waiting for years for Microsoft to come up with a worthy sequel to what once was my favorite keyboard, the company's swoopy ergonomic model.

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop Not Working

So, I bought the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 Wired USB keyboard in 2013. However, this one started acting up in the first year itself. I took it to the service center. They kept it for a few weeks and then handed over a refurbished keyboard. This worked for a few months, but the same issue cropped up again.

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Not Working Mac

The Ghost in the Keyboard

If your Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard not working or not connecting, it’s time to update its driver. Here in this article, we will be showing you how to update Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard driver step by step. Three safe and trustworthy ways are for you to choose. Please take a few minutes on it and choose the one you prefer.

The exact same issue plagues this particular keyboard model - from the wireless one to the two wired ones. All of a sudden, the keys stay pressed, even though none of the keys are depressed. Characters keep appearing on screen, without pressing any keys and random menus pop open.

You can use an online keyboard tester like en.key-test.ru or Passmark's KeyboardTest to check / confirm this keyboard issue.

Disconnecting the keyboard, and re-connecting; and even restarting the computer didn't help. I just had to shut down and come back after a few hours and the keyboard would work again for a few hours; or, if I was lucky - a few days. I needed a more permanent solution.

The Investigation

I couldn't keep purchasing these INR 4,000 keyboards every few months. So, I searched the internet for solutions, but with no luck. Either no one else has been having this issue, or not many people buy these keyboards.

I decided to open up the keyboard and figure out what was causing this issue. It had to be some sort of short-circuit; and, most probably, caused by moisture. It took a few attempts of disassembling everything and blow-drying each part. Then, check how soon the issue comes back. Repeat.

Finally, I found the root cause of my issue - a small rubber piece, that the transparent plastic contact layers rest on. For some reason, this little piece was either gathering moisture or emitting moisture.

I applied some powder on this piece (to absorb the moisture) and left it to air dry for a few minutes and then placed it back. The keyboard works for at least 2 - 3 months before acting up again. This is definitely much better than the issue recurring after a few days, but definitely not the quality one expects when paying INR 4,000 for a keyboard.

Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard Disassembly Guide

Since I've opened up the keyboard at least a dozen times to 'fix' this issue, here are some photos to help you, if you're facing a similar issue.

First of all, there are about 1 million screws - all of which needs to removed in order to open the keyboard. Actually 21 screws :)

Flip over the keyboard so the keys are facing you. Yes, this keyboard has been used a lot

Lift off the spacebar and the palm rests, to see a total of 4 more screws that need to be removed (not 6, as mentioned previously. 2 black screws under the spacebar do not need to be removed)

Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard Not Working

The area under the spacebar

Here's what it looks like under the keys (for anyone interested)

Remove the silicone membranes. There are 2 large pieces and 5 smaller pieces

The exposed transparent plastic contact layers

4 more screws. These are to remove the PCB, so we can get to the troublesome rubber

Lift off the metal piece

Lift off the PCB

Lift off the plastic sheets. They're joined in places, so be careful with this piece

Here is the culprit!

Remove this rectangular piece of rubber. Wipe it dry, apply some powder to absorb the moisture, etc. Dry it completely!

Here we have the order in which these pieces fit into place

Use a blow dryer to dry any moisture between the 3 plastic sheets

Put all these screws back; and you're set for a few months

Does anyone else have this issue with the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 keyboard? Have you tried any other solution that works? Let me know in the comments below.

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Buy a USB extension cable to keep your keyboard closer to the dongle. Solved my problem right away.

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Not Working Without

I absolutely love my Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard. The function keys are a bit flimsy for my taste, but in my opinion it’s still the best keyboard available in its price range. The only other options I’d consider viable alternatives are triple the cost. So it was especially disappointing a few weeks ago when I built a new PC and promptly discovered that my keyboard was constantly losing keystrokes, intermittently becoming completely unresponsive, and lagging upwards of several seconds in between key presses. Aggravating, to say the least. It was also confusing, because my new tower was no further away from my keyboard than my previous tower had been.

I tried updating drivers, reinstalling drivers, and ran the Windows 10 troubleshooter on the ‘Wireless Keyboard filter Device’ and ‘Microsoft Wireless Transceiver’. This got me nowhere. The drivers were all up-to-date, reinstalling didn’t help, and the troubleshooter kept telling me something along the lines of blah blah blah ‘microsoft wireless transceiver mouse and keyboard driver is an older usb device that doesn’t work with USB 3.0. Try using a USB 2.0 port.’ Except I was using a USB 2.0 port.

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Not Working On Mac

After more hours of research than I care to admit, I found a few comments here and there from folks who advised getting a USB extension cable to decrease the distance between the wireless dongle and the keyboard. I resisted giving this a shot because 1) I didn’t want to drive to BestBuy and 2) I never had this problem before and was convinced it was a software problem. Finally - exasperated that no amount of research revealed a better solution - I drove to BestBuy and picked up a extension cable. I was both surprised and relieved to find that all the lag immediately disappeared.

Originally, the dongle was about four feet away from my keyboard. With the extension cable, the gap is only about 18 inches. I cannot explain why this problem only existed on my new tower. All I can think of is that the case’s composition somehow interferes with the signal. At this point I don’t really care any longer. The problem is solved and I can finally enjoy my new PC in all its speedy glory.

Hopefully this post will save other folks the hours of frustration I experienced trying to resolve this problem.