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General discussion

laptop keyboard question

by lrt73 Mar 12, 2005 6:48PM PST

If one key on my laptop isn't working, replacing the keyboard should work right? How would you know if this was a motherboard issue vs a keyboard issue? TIA

LT

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Re: laptop keyboard question

by Kees Bakker Mar 12, 2005 9:00PM PST

Most of the times this is a question of hardware repair. But that might be quite expensive for a laptop!

Kees

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CHEEEP!

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Mar 12, 2005 11:41PM PST

Compared to shipping and all the other charges that pile up when you let them fix your laptop, replacing the keyboard yourself will run about 100 bucks tops. I have been finding the price to be from 25 to 150 but have yet to had to replace one of those bigger keyboards you see on desktop replacements.

Here's my tip. The keyboard is usually attached with flat cable. At first you may not know how to properly remove and replace that connection. After you read this and see one, I bet you'll "get it."

Follow the flat cable to the laptop motherboard. Look very closely and you'll see that it has a retension slide lock. Slide the lock up and the cable comes out. Swap in the new keyboard (don't touch the conductive surfaces) and put the connector back in. Slide the retainer back down to hold the connection.

Best of luck,

Bob

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