laptop keys

[GRANDAD]

Just as a point of interest-I was talking to my daughter today-she lives away-and she was saying that her laptop had four or five keys which kept falling off. I now think that a couple have gone missing. The unit is about 20mths young.

She took it back to curry’s-yes I’m sorry, and they said it would be cheaper to buy a new laptop than have this repaired.

This cannot be correct!!

Does anyone know if it’s easy to replace these keys?

No doubt I will get the job on her next visit.

Thanks in anticipation

[Seth]

Hi Grandad.

 

The keys can only be replaced if the clips that are on the keyboard aren't broken.

With that being said, I doubt you'll find individual keys anywhere. Most laptop keyboards can be found on Ebay for relatively cheap.

[GRANDAD]

THANKS FOR THAT INFO-WE WILL GET ONTO THAT ASAP.

ITS A BIT OF A SO & SO WHEN YOU SPEND £600 ON A LAPTOP AND THEY SAY ITS CHEAPER TO REPLACE.--

 

MANY THANKS

Edited October 16, 2008 by GRANDAD

[Dalo Harkin]

Unfortunately this is true - they only want to sell, and they do not have people that actually know enough about the products to say anything else.

And the problem with that is you need to do your own research by people that 'actually' have the same laptops and know what they are talking about

[Seth]

As far as replacement of the keyboard goes, this is the general procedure for most laptops:

 

1) Remove the battery.

 

2) There will be a plastic bezel in between the LCD and the keyboard. It snaps into place and needs to be taken off to expose the keyboard screws. The bezel may also be held in by some screws on the underside of the laptop. Be careful of what screw goes where, as they are often different sizes. Also check for any bezel screws that are exposed in the battery compartment. After that, use a small flat head screwdriver or similar tool to pry off that bezel.

 

3) You'll now see two or three (if any) screws that hold down the top of the keyboard. Take those out and carefully lift the keyboard to expose its connector. There are two types of keyboard connectors. One type pulls straight up and out, the other slides in horizontally. For the latter, you will see two compression clips that need to be loosened before pulling out the ribbon type connector. make sure you lock those back into place once you attach the new connector.

 

4) Reverse the process and you're good to go.

[BeeCeeBee]

Hi Grandad

 

I dont know where you live but a few months ago I spilled coffee on my paltop and caught it quckly enough to avaid damage to anything but thye keyboard. I got a new one from ebay for less than €30.00. Unfortunately it came with a broken key. They of course agreed to a return but that would leave me without a keyboard. This place actually got me a new little hinge to replace the one broken in shipping. Also in most cases you can find directions on nline for replacing the keyboard. If you want the name I will PM you with it after I look. I don't know them from Adam so this is not a plug.

[GRANDAD]

THANKS TO BOTH SETH AND BEECEEBEE, THATS USEFULL INFO.

WOULD APPRECIATE THE EBAY CONTACT, I THINK I MAY WELL HAVE A GO AT THIS ALBEIT WE WILL PURCHASE A MINI KEYPAD AS A BACK UP.

 

THANKS AGAIN--PS I LIVE IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND-SOUTH TYNESIDE.

[BeeCeeBee]

I will send you a private message with the guys I used but I really just found them on ebay. I believe they have a website of their own. Also when you try to find specific directions you may have to look around a little bit to get specifics with pictures. For example I could not find how to replace a keyboard for my laptop but could find how to change a cd/dve drive. Of course to do that you have to remove the keyboard.

[Seth]

What is the make and model of the laptop?

[GRANDAD]

ITS A PACKARD BELL EASYNOTE :I AM TRYING TO GET THE MODEL NUMBER BUT ITS LIKE PULLING TEETH.

I WILL CHECK WITH SON IN LAW TONIGHT.

 

THANKS

Edited October 17, 2008 by GRANDAD

[Seth]

You're welcome.

 

You'll need the exact model number, but this gives you an idea of what is available:

 

packard bell easynote keyboard, Computing, Used, New items at low prices on eBay.co.uk

[GRANDAD]

THANKS SETH THIS LOOKS A GOOD BET--THERES LOADS OF BITS AND BOBS HERE.

 

WHAT A GREAT SITE THIS IS.

MANY THANKS

 

GRANDAD

[Seth]

You're welcome.

 

Just be sure that the keyboard is compatible for the laptop's exact model number.

[BeeCeeBee]

Something else to keep an eye out for.

 

When you look on ebay be sure to notice whether you are getting an American or a UK keyboard. Often the UKs are harder to find and may cost more because there are far fewer made. I settled for a US board but I am an Yank anyway. Slight difference in layout but the real difference is the absence of a £or a € key. But you can just set the keyboard input to US International and type the symbols using alternate and shift keys.

 

Even ebay in the UK seemed to have far more US keyboards then UK.

[BeeCeeBee]

If you decide on an American Keyboard or if that is all you can find then see

 

How To Use the United States-International Keyboard Layout in Windows XP That is for XP but there would be no differnce in layout or key usage for Vista but the way to set pc may be different.

[GRANDAD]

What is the make and model of the laptop?

 

 

HI,ITS A PACKARD BELL EASYNOTE R1938

[GRANDAD]

LAPTOP KEYS

 

THIS THREAD CAN NOW CLOSE AS 'THROUGH THIS SITE' I HAVE FOUND A SUPPLIER OF KEYS FOR THIS LAPTOP[ ON EBAY]--THE COST IS APPROX £2 PER KEY.

AS THE CLIPS ON THE BASE OF THE LAPTOP APPEAR TO BE A-OK THEN ONLY THE KEYS WERE REQUIRED PLUS THEIR FITTING BITS.

WE HAVE NOW GONE FROM CURRY'S SAYING ITS CHEAPER TO BUT A NEW LAPTOP TO A COST OF APPROX £12-£15 TO ENABLE US TO REPAIR THE LAPTOP.

 

THATS NOT BAD.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL INVOLVED

GRANDAD.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

We are glad we could be of service Grand dad, call back at any time. :)