Laptop Keyboard

**irishmick** · 03-10-09, 02:16 AM

Alright...so I fixed an issue with my computer (I had to re-solder the charging docking thingy). In the process, you have to take the entire damn thing apart. Done and put back together. However. The plastic bracket/clip thingy that plugs the keyboard into the motherboard broke. I was able to get it all back together (broken bracket and all), but there are four keys on the keyboard that don't work now. (8, p, :, and /) Do you think this is the bracket issue (and if so, where the hell do you get just those little teeny tiny pieces), or an actual keyboard issue since the rest of the keyboard works just fine.

Help!

**pgg** · 03-10-09, 02:33 AM

how did you type those letters then? Maybe a USB external keyboard now?

**irishmick** · 03-10-09, 02:34 AM

Nah, right now I'm on my desktop.

**Odd** · 03-10-09, 05:18 AM

So here's what I reckon is going on. With the few misbehaving keys all in about the same area of the board, I doubt the interface plug is the faulty connection. Could be, but I'd expect more affected keys. Instead, I'm guessing the fault is more local to that area of the keyboard itself.

What I would do? Since the rest are working I wouldn't take it back apart just yet, instead I would cycle those keys (tap them like a gentle woodpecker on meth a few hundred times each) to displace any dust/grime moved during the repair. If that doesn't work, only then would I take the KB back off and make sure no trace got damaged on the bottom of the KB itself. The local nature of the problem suggests one of those to me. It could be one of the contact points on the ribbon isn't making contact...heck, I know, I'm saying it could be lots of things, just laying them out most to least likely as my personal experience suggests.

If you do take it back apart, pictures of the broken connector may come in handy. Is the connector one like this?

**mack** · 03-10-09, 06:16 AM

Aww, don't worry about it, just don't use those keys

**swaggon** · 03-10-09, 07:27 AM

Did you let any smoke out of any components? I used to be an electronic troubleshooter in the Navy and I have found electronic components (resistor, capacitor, IC chip, Mosfet, Jfet etc) all have a pre-packaged amount of smoke in them and once you let that smoke out the component will not work anymore.

**mtaylor** · 03-10-09, 10:46 AM

Since the affected keys are all within the same region I would lean more towards plug damage. Also if you end needing to replace the keyboard just go to google and type in your brand/model number and keyboard and you should have no problem finding a replacement.

**irishmick** · 03-10-09, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by swaggon

Did you let any smoke out of any components? I used to be an electronic troubleshooter in the Navy and I have found electronic components (resistor, capacitor, IC chip, Mosfet, Jfet etc) all have a pre-packaged amount of smoke in them and once you let that smoke out the component will not work anymore.

Nope...all the smoke is still in there. I've found the same thing and am very careful not to let any out lest I have to replace an entire expensive thing. hehehe

And that sounds good, Odd. I'll try that before I look for a replacement.

**Jks9199** · 11-17-10, 09:57 AM

Since it looks like basically a vertical row that's not working -- I kind of suspect plug damage, too. Might be worth using a LOT of canned air to really blow the dust out, though. And if you can pop the keys out (a lot can be removed fairly easily), you might pull 'em out and look for something stuck down in that row.

Another thought... can you unplug it, and check for bent or misaligned pins? That might be all it is...

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