booting thinkpad t61 without a keyboard

[assafp]

I'm having the following problem with my Thinkpad T61.

Every few minutes the computer starts behaving as if a few keys on the keyboard are pressed. The keys are no physically stuck, the system just behaves as if they are. This happens sometimes for no apparent reason, but I can always make it happen by pressing any kye on the bottom right side of the keyboard.

I've concluded that the keyboard is faulty and ordered a new one. 

In the meanwhile, I'm trying to use my laptop with an external (USB) keyboard. This doesn't quite solve the problem, b/c the laptop still allows input from the internal keyboard, so it still messes up too frequently. I've tried disabling the keyboard, but the Device Manager doesn't seem to allow me to do that. I thought of physically removing the keyboard, but then I don't have a Power button!

Does anyone have an idea for me for how to use my laptop until the replacement keyboard arrives?

Is there a way to boot the computer without a keyboard connected?

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor · Accepted solution]

if you have wake on lan feature activated from bios, then you maybe able to get the machine to startup by sending a magic packet from another computer on the network.

Other than that you need a dock, which have an external switch.

[topmahof Community Moderator]

How about unhooking the keyboard cable and taping the end so it doesn't make contact with anything on the board and leave the keyboard on so you still have the power button.

Dave