Isn’t it frustrating to have a stuck key or broken key on your laptop? Like for example, when you try to hit a stuck letter “S” you will get a line or two of Ss. Another thing that is frustrating about this is that when you try to replace a stuck key with a new one, it is quite expensive. For MacBooks for example, you can get individual stuck keys for $15 to $20 per key. So, most people with this kind of problem just buys a new keyboard because it costs a little more than buying pieces of keys plus it decreases the chance of having more stuck keys than they already have.

Instead of replacing individual stuck keys just replace your keyboard entirely.  You can find many types of keyboards on the net. Just type in the laptop model followed by the word “keyboard” on your favorite browser. You will find several online stores that offer brand new keyboards for the price of $ 15 to $100 and $5 to $20 for second hand keyboards.

If you have an old system, let’s say a 4 year laptop, you can get a used keyboard because getting a new one would just probably outlive the laptop you have. But be careful in buying used keyboards because they might also have bad keys. So, if you want to buy it second hand, it must have at least a 30 day warranty.

Before trying to open up your laptop to replace its keyboard, you might want to check if it is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty because if it still is and you opened the case you will lose its warranty. Another thing is try to refer to the system’s manual to guide you on this task. Remember, we don’t want to add anymore damage to the system.

Some laptops have a bar that locks the keyboard in place while others must be unscrewed from the bottom of the case before the keyboard can be removed. There are also those types that require you to open the case before you can get at the keyboard.

I have here the instructions on how to replace a Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 keyboard. If your device is a Satellite Pro 6100, you might want to follow these steps.

1. Turn off your laptop and close the display monitor.
2. Remove the power cable from the computer and turn it upside-down.
3. Take off the battery of your laptop.
4. Turn the laptop right side-up; open the display and find the thin rectangular strip or lock bar above the keyboard.
5. Once you have located the strip, gently lift it off.
6. Unscrew the keyboard from its place.
7. Gently lift the keyboard up and unplug the ribbon cable that connects the keyboard to the motherboard.
8. Set aside the old keyboard and plug in the new one.
9. Put the new keyboard into place and screw it in.
10. Finally, put the lock bar back to its place.

Before finishing off the task, make sure you check all the keys of your new keyboard. Good luck and Enjoy!

The post Dealing with Stuck Keys in Your Laptop Keyboard appeared first on Laptop Repair Service.

An unresponsive keyboard is a big hazard. Commonly, the usual solution would be replacement, but what most people don’t know is that there are other types of repairs which can be done by the owner themselves.

These repairs which can be done may originate from different factors. Such factors may be a damaged membrane, a broken printed wire, a loose keyboard connector or even simple dust build up.

The first thing you would want to do is to make sure that you have the proper repair guide handy because some of the solutions involve tinkering with your laptop keyboard.

Dust Build-up
Since dust is everywhere, we can’t avoid it from accumulating and since laptops are so handy, we tend to use it almost anywhere. This would result to not only dust build-up but may also cause for other types of dirt to get logged in between the keys. Luckily, we can clean the keys by using a mild brush, an air spray dust remover or even a USB vacuum cleaner, which can all be easily bought or found at home.

Loose Keyboard Connector
A loose keyboard connector can be quite tricky you don’t know how to open your laptop. Since the keyboard connector would be inside, a guide in opening the inside of the laptop would be useful to prevent any mishaps from occurring. But ultimately, if you are unsure of how to check for it, you should ask a technician to do it for you.

Damaged Membrane
The membrane is a white rubber mold under the keys. It could become damaged either by being worn-out due to long periods of use or by excessive pressure applied to it. To check if this is your problem, you may remove the key and press the membrane, if it stays down, then it is the cause of your problem. Don’t fret, when this happens a simple replacement of the membrane is the solution. The membranes can be purchased easily at a local computer store or even online.

Broken Printed Wire
The printed wire or what is also known as a “trace” is also damaged when the pressure exerted on it is excessive. To confirm whether the trace is broken or not, you will need to have a millimeter in order to trace the circuit. Using the millimeter, check whether or not there’s resistance; if there isn’t any resistance, the trace may well be broken. The options available would be to get it repaired or if the repairs are costly, purchase a replacement keyboard.

Knowing what causes the problem is a big help in repairing your keyboard. Keeping in mind that self repairs only go a long way but when it comes to extensive repairs you should always have a professional help you out.

If you need someone to help you in repairing your laptop keyboard, click here to contact us now!

The post Don’t Lose Your Keys! A Self-Help Guide on Fixing Your Laptop Keyboard appeared first on Laptop Repair Service.