Laptop keyboard issues. Or is it the motherboard?

Thanks Bob.
The only issue I can see with this is if the BIOS is not set to boot from CD as its first option. Due to the keyboard problems, I have only managed to actually get into the BIOS once before, as the F10 key doesn't work from the moment you put power on. As an aside, I have noticed that sometimes when I first push the on button, I get the usual COMPAQ screen with the options down the bottom left corner (ie: press F10 for Setup, F11 for recovery etc) and the "Award" logo on the right bottom corner. Other times, however, the COMPAQ logo still appears but all I get on the bottom left is words to the effect of "Press F2 for options" or something similar. This is written in a really squashed up, itallic sort of font, and it looks like a problem with the video output, but the COMPAQ logo looks fine and there are never any other video issues.
Apart from that, I have zero experience with Linux. I assume I can download a version of it that will boot from CD?
Thanks again.

There are dozens of versions out there. All free and no experience required as you read http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives2004/0401/2004-Jan-11.htm

If you want to try a test (ADVANCED SKILLS?) unplug the wide cable from the keyboard to the motherboard and see if the external keyboards work. If not we are back to back keyboard or board.

Let's be clear here. Laptops are not cheap to fix. But that keyboard is your cheap part at under 100 bucks so its why we replace that first then the motherboard. If the keyboard does it, the customer got lucky.
Bob

Well, I found a keyboard of the right part number on eBay for about $30, so I just bought it. Should be here in a few days hopefully. I'll plug that in and see. In the mean time, I'll get a Linux CD sorted and hopefully be a step closer to an answer. A new motherboard is about $300 so I'd have to think carefully if that needs to be replaced. It isn't the worlds highest spec machine. Might be better to part it out on eBay!
Cheers Bob.

I picked up the Acer Aspire One netbook with 160GB hard disk, 1GB RAM and XP. It's much faster than I expected.
Bob

It is now but they don't thread well and any daemon type program slows them down brutally, Not that I mind, I only run MSN as a back ground program, but most people end up with viruses, or have other utills in back ground like nortain and other poitless things

Let me share I write some applications for WinMo and more. This netbook has the hyperthread feature and is threading nicely thank you.

Are you an owner with code that you wrote or just a commenter?
Bob

In case anyone is interested and has the same issues, just thought I would post that I put a new keyboard in the machine and it's still the same. So I'm guessing it's the motherboard that needs to be replaced. However, I might just get lucky (first time for everything...) as the laptop has recently had an issue with the WiFi card disappearing from the device manager and the screen going blank. After some Googling I found that there is a sort of recall by H.P for these machines displaying these symptoms. I called H.P and they have arranged to have the machine repaired. According to some on the net, the fix for this is to replace the motherboard, so if I'm really, really lucky, I may get it fixed for nothing!
However it is more likely the repair mob will send it back with a note saying it's a piece of junk! To be honest I've been getting by with an external keyboard for now, but the WiFi thing is a bit of pain. Fingers crossed........

What I've been doing is to disable the onboard wifi and use a PC card for that function. If you can get the maker to correct it, that's good but I find it fails again in about the same number of years.
Bob

Just an update (if anyone's interested).
Got the laptop back from the repair shop. I think they installed some bits that may not have been totally necessary, but hey, I wasn't paying! All in, it's had a new keyboard (put in by them), new motherboard, new touchpad (?) and new screen (?!?), and funnily enough is working like a new machine now! I've just stuck 4Gb of RAM and a 320Gb HDD in it, and I'm very happy. Thanks go to H.P for paying to fix it up.
Result!