Even a quick fix to avoid having to close all my programs would be appreciated!

Sorry I doubt I can help you except to tell you to google ..How to Fix a Mac Keyboard". .....

I don't have enough info.....is it a laptop? Google is my saviour.

  You checked the plugs well, nothing is loose? 

I have a microsoft keyboard. I downloaded  a cd with all the controls. Its in My Computer, settings etc. if it requires fixing. I have a Dell processor. They said it interfered with my star t- up so they deleted some of the keyboard features. I haven't tried to restore them. It still works fine.

Good luck. I hope some savvy WC tech pops in to help you.

Yeah, it's a laptop so there's nothing external that's loose.  If something internally was loose, I don't think turning it off and on would fix it?

 Here's some support forums if they are of any help, perhaps they are too old. I googled  "MacBook keyboard not working" . It seems to be a very common problem. People did say they turned it on and off and it worked ....that's weird...I don't know enough tech. to fix anything, I'd make it worse.....:(

Mac quickly stops supporting old operating systems.  I'm not able to recieve (free) updates.

Depending on a job situation, I will probably switch back to PCs for my next purchase.