Developer Builds 47 MB Bootable Tool to Test Laptop Keyboards Without an OS

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A laptop refurbisher and repair technician built KbdCheck, a minimal bootable Linux tool, after finding existing keyboard-testing solutions either required a working OS or were bloated with unnecessary features. Based on Arch Linux, the ISO weighs just 47 MB and runs directly from a USB drive without installing anything or modifying the host system. The interface displays a full keyboard layout and highlights each key as it is pressed, making it easy to identify faulty, stuck, or mis-mapped keys; a basic mouse test is also included. Because it operates independently of any installed operating system, it rules out software-level issues such as driver faults or accessibility settings that could otherwise mimic hardware failures. KbdCheck requires Secure Boot to be disabled and is available as a downloadable ISO with a SHA-256 checksum for integrity verification.

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