Norman_38 :
keyboard suddenly stopped allowing me to type my password. Only a few letters can be typed.
Maybe the F8 key is included, so try that after the BIOS post, and run an online virus scan to delete the bug that's disabled the keyboard.
Trendmicro Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Bitdefender Quick Scan takes a few seconds.
http://www.bitdefender.com/scanner/online/free.html
Norman_38 :
I tried removing the battery but this did not succeed.
How long did you leave the battery off? you may have to leave it off for longer; 10-15 min and press & hold the Start button for a minute, or maybe you need a particular procedure to reset the BIOS. So search for your laptop user manual to know the exact procedure.