Help: Laptop Keyboard Repair

Vigorous · 08-12-2002, 06:29 PM

I think a sping in my laptop broke. The spacebar feels soft, and it doesnt work, g and h doesnt either.

How can I fix it? Or do I have to send it to the store? I called some area places, and they want TONS of money for it. Any computer repair i-club technicians?

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jprutch · 08-12-2002, 06:30 PM

what is the make and model of your laptop

dazz1 · 08-12-2002, 06:42 PM

There are usally four clips and one spring on each keys.
Check and make sure the clips are not broken.

If needed, you can replace just the Keyboard.

Vigorous · 08-12-2002, 06:48 PM

Its a Compaq Presario...looking for its model number right now. Its like 2 years old. Got it from an ex-compaq employee. So the model number isnt on it.

How much would a replacement keyboard cost?

HellWagon · 08-12-2002, 08:18 PM

Yeah if you can find the model # I can order the part for you here at work (or at least find out what it costs).... they are a snap to put in.

undo a couple clips, a screw, and one ZIF socket cable.

Sam2 · 08-12-2002, 09:51 PM

Worth a try, hold the laptop open upside down, give it a good shake and palm back and forth across all they keys. You're working to dislodge whatever bit of dirt, paper, crumbs, etc, have lodged into the keyboard. Can also try a vacuum cleaner, being careful in case you've a keyboard with removable keycaps. Last resort is start keyboard disassembly from inside, they're quite tedious and hard to repair, but you might be lucky. Most usually, techs won't even try, component replacement is the usual way to fix.

Vigorous · 09-14-2002, 07:56 AM

Was lazy, and just started using a keyboard.

The model is Compaq Presario 1800 series.

Can anyone help me out.

pylorns · 09-14-2002, 02:41 PM

prob. cost 20-40 bucks are easy to change out.

Vigorous · 09-20-2002, 07:30 PM

Alright, I just bought the new keyboard.
I took out the old one, and I put the new one in, and stuck the ribbon back in. But its not working.
Do i just put the ribbon back in? or does it have a specific slot or something? or am i suppose to fold it in a certain way?

Help!

HellWagon · 09-20-2002, 07:43 PM

make sure you press in the ZIFF tabs on the the sides of the socket for the cable.

Vigorous · 09-20-2002, 07:59 PM

ZIFF tabs??

HellWagon · 09-20-2002, 08:15 PM

Zero Input Force. The whole idea is that since the cables are kink sensative you just move the two tabs out and slide the cable out. Or in reverse slide the cable in and push the two tabs in otherwise there is no friction holding the cable in.

Anyway this is how it is in all the compaq armadas and the Evo series.

Vigorous · 09-20-2002, 09:51 PM

Found the manual online. I took out the keyboard the wrong way. I just pull out the keyboard cable without using the ZIF tabs. Not a good thing eh?

Now, theres this ONE tiny screw that is pissing me off. Its star shaped, but its sooooo small. Heading to Ace Hardware for the tool. ARGH! One stinkin screw.

Kartoffel · 09-21-2002, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vigorous
Its a Compaq Presario...looking for its model number right now. Its like 2 years old. Got it from an ex-compaq employee. So the model number isnt on it.

How much would a replacement keyboard cost?

EDIT: ahh, you got a keyboard already. Good deal.

Call Compaq and ask if you don't have a replacement yet. There's a compaq factory store on the north side of town right next to Fry's.

I replaced the keyboard on my iBook once. Apple quoted me $75 and UPS'ed me a new one, but they forgot to bill me. It was kinda weird, but I'm not complainin'

HellWagon · 09-21-2002, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kartoffel

EDIT: ahh, you got a keyboard already. Good deal.

Call Compaq and ask if you don't have a replacement yet. There's a compaq factory store on the north side of town right next to Fry's.

I replaced the keyboard on my iBook once. Apple quoted me $75 and UPS'ed me a new one, but they forgot to bill me. It was kinda weird, but I'm not complainin'

That sounds quite Mac, they aren't very "organized"

08-12-2002, 06:29 PM	#1
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	Help: Laptop Keyboard Repair I think a sping in my laptop broke. The spacebar feels soft, and it doesnt work, g and h doesnt either. How can I fix it? Or do I have to send it to the store? I called some area places, and they want TONS of money for it. Any computer repair i-club technicians? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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08-12-2002, 06:30 PM	#2
jprutch Scooby Newbie Member#: 11495 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Denver, CO Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX Platinum Silver Metallic	what is the make and model of your laptop

08-12-2002, 06:42 PM	#3
dazz1 Scooby Specialist Member#: 10363 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: DFW, TX Vehicle: 5.9 Turbo Cummins	There are usally four clips and one spring on each keys. Check and make sure the clips are not broken. If needed, you can replace just the Keyboard.

08-12-2002, 06:48 PM	#4
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	Its a Compaq Presario...looking for its model number right now. Its like 2 years old. Got it from an ex-compaq employee. So the model number isnt on it. How much would a replacement keyboard cost?

08-12-2002, 08:18 PM	#5
HellWagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 16172 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago, IL	Yeah if you can find the model # I can order the part for you here at work (or at least find out what it costs).... they are a snap to put in. undo a couple clips, a screw, and one ZIF socket cable.

08-12-2002, 09:51 PM	#6
Sam2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 15265 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Austin Texas Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon WR Blue	Worth a try, hold the laptop open upside down, give it a good shake and palm back and forth across all they keys. You're working to dislodge whatever bit of dirt, paper, crumbs, etc, have lodged into the keyboard. Can also try a vacuum cleaner, being careful in case you've a keyboard with removable keycaps. Last resort is start keyboard disassembly from inside, they're quite tedious and hard to repair, but you might be lucky. Most usually, techs won't even try, component replacement is the usual way to fix.

09-14-2002, 07:56 AM	#7
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	Was lazy, and just started using a keyboard. The model is Compaq Presario 1800 series. Can anyone help me out.

09-14-2002, 02:41 PM	#8
pylorns Scooby Specialist Member#: 12753 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Austin, Tx. Vehicle: 02 06' VW Passat Silver	prob. cost 20-40 bucks are easy to change out.

09-20-2002, 07:30 PM	#9
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	Alright, I just bought the new keyboard. I took out the old one, and I put the new one in, and stuck the ribbon back in. But its not working. Do i just put the ribbon back in? or does it have a specific slot or something? or am i suppose to fold it in a certain way? Help!

09-20-2002, 07:43 PM	#10
HellWagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 16172 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago, IL	make sure you press in the ZIFF tabs on the the sides of the socket for the cable.

09-20-2002, 07:59 PM	#11
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	ZIFF tabs??

09-20-2002, 08:15 PM	#12
HellWagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 16172 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago, IL	Zero Input Force. The whole idea is that since the cables are kink sensative you just move the two tabs out and slide the cable out. Or in reverse slide the cable in and push the two tabs in otherwise there is no friction holding the cable in. Anyway this is how it is in all the compaq armadas and the Evo series.

09-20-2002, 09:51 PM	#13
Vigorous Scooby Specialist Member#: 7087 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Vehicle: 2002 2.5RS White	Found the manual online. I took out the keyboard the wrong way. I just pull out the keyboard cable without using the ZIF tabs. Not a good thing eh? Now, theres this ONE tiny screw that is pissing me off. Its star shaped, but its sooooo small. Heading to Ace Hardware for the tool. ARGH! One stinkin screw.