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Question

Spilled water over my laptop's keyboard

Aug 10, 2018 10:48AM PDT

As the title says it, I've spilled water over my keyboard. After it happened, I turned the laptop upside down and let it sit there for not even a minute (big mistake). The laptop was still on and the keyboard worked. After watching a video, I wanted to research something and noticed the keys were garbled. As such: te3st he3llo9 ho9w2 ar4e3 yo9u7. I let it sit overnight and tried removing gunk, dust and crumbs the water may have spread using a vacuum. I think it worked, as some keys started working properly. I'm 100% sure that the keyboard is completely dry and that it started malfunctioning when the water dried.

https://gyazo.com/39f13772a6a680c2a75dfa6be978d059

These keys seem to be connected. When I press one of them, the rest appears (not always in the same order). Writing this message was a struggle.

Would a compressed air can do the job for the rest of the keys or is there corrosion or other non-removable by air gunk?

The keyboard's malfunction can sort of switch. Instead of the marked keys in the screenshot not working properly (excluding the numbers and special characters), the ones that are not marked do not function properly (t and y instead of q,w,e,r,u,i,o,p) when I lift the laptop at a 45° angle and tap its side. However, when I put it back on my desk, after some time it switches back to malfunctioning like before. I suppose that using the letters does something like spreading dust or gunk. Maybe a compressed air can will be my keyboard's saviour. Or should I give the vacuum another go before trying the compressed air can?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
If you are very lucky.
Aug 10, 2018 11:04AM PDT

A new keyboard will fix this. No shop I know will work on such a keyboard or advise other than a replacement. That said, try what you want.

Laptop keyboards run from 10 to 100 bucks and are about 2 light bulbs of effort on a 5 light bulb scale.

One other thing. TAP THE NUMLOCK KEY to see if this helps.

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Not very lucky...
Aug 10, 2018 11:45AM PDT

I tried tapping it and nothing changed.

This is a GIF of what exactly happens when I use the malfunctioning keys:

https://gyazo.com/84c026e792191e98fea0485a345417f1

Also, would the problem the keyboard itself or something that might have went in like dust?

Post was last edited on August 10, 2018 11:48 AM PDT

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Have you tried a new keyboard?
Aug 10, 2018 11:54AM PDT

As a test we try the usual USB keyboard then change the laptop keyboard. Once in a while a client will demand we "know" the new keyboard will fix it. For them we have to gauge if they can handle the truth that with water spills all bets are off. But in most cases, some 99+ out of 100 the new keyboard fixes keyboard problems.

Another type of client wants the keyboard repaired. You have to tell them we don't do that and to search the web for companies that will try.

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I haven't.
Aug 10, 2018 12:35PM PDT

Unfortunately, I do not own one. However, I tried using Windows 7's visual keyboard and it worked fine. I launched it using the "osk" command. Does that tell anything?

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Not much.
Aug 10, 2018 12:37PM PDT

This is why we test with the USB keyboard but given the story we write the unit up for a new keyboard since, well, 99 or more out of one hundred that's the fix. If the client wants the keyboard repaired or "tested" we have to bow out and send them to find a shop that does that.

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Seems like the keyboard itself is the issue.
Aug 10, 2018 1:01PM PDT

Aside from the keyboard itself what else could cause the malfunction? I just installed Dell's SupportAssist and none of the drivers that must be updated are keyboard related. I am also running a Diagnostic. Also, I'm in a computer program and my school usually contacts Dell to fix computers. However, my laptop is my complete property and not borrowed. Can I contact Dell myself (I have a warranty)? If not I'd have to wait 13 days to give it to my school and wait additional time before receiving it.

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You supplied why above.
Aug 10, 2018 1:57PM PDT