Help with my laptop? keyboard wont work DX?

Im generally good with computers but thats mostly software. I have an old toshiba notebook laptop and the keyboard wont work. If i can log on im going to undo the password and wipe it clean. My Asus A Series Keyboard only works half the time, everything except for A-Z...letters, control, alt, delete, the f #'s they all work. Any ideas? We think the keyboard is just ruined completely but im not so sure because it works from time to time. Also backspace creates a box kind of like [] but more square and connected...thanks

I just had it working, i hold control and tap the button really fast and eventually it will put a letter there...anyone know how to fix that?