I'm hoping someone who is computer savvy can help me on this:
I do most of my writing on a laptop. It makes it easier for me because I can take the laptop to work with me to edit and take it out back and write while getting some sun. However, after typing over a million words (in books alone) the keyboard is starting to give out. I notice that the N,C, and D keys are getting quite particular and sometimes don't register at all anymore. Is there a way I can fix the keyboard on a laptop or do I need to find something new? Thanks.
Comments
I have replaced laptop notebook keyboards before.
the first thing I would check is the model number of your notebook, and see if they sell a replacement keyboard from the manufacturer. that is always the first step I take. and it is hit and miss, I have noticed that business class machines from HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc... usually can get a replacement keyboard for between $80-$150 in the past. but the regular consumer models are hit or miss on replacement parts. the reason for this is they can be a real pain to take apart and replace parts for the consumer models, but the business class are designed to be sold with long warranties so they make then easy to service.
Ill look for you I just need to know what model your computer is and the manufacturer.
Look for Part Numbers (P/N) and Model Numbers. They are usually listed on the bottom of the machine, sometimes under the battery, it depends.
"Cortana is watching you!"
Before you replace the KB
Before you replace the keyboard, if your KB is of the type were stuff can get UNDER the keys, try sliding the edge of a Business/Credit/Debit card under the edges of the keys, using some air-duster, or just shaking the laptop while it's open (AND OFF) upside-down so that you dis-lodge what is possibly food particle or something similar that is keeping the key from making full contact all the time. This is usually the case if pressing the key HARD or repeatedly will usually make it work.
Sometimes,
a "nudge" can pop the key cap off the switch underneath. If this is the case here, pop several surrounding keys off, and use a stiff brush (like a fingernail brush) to clean up underneath. Some of the techies where I work used to play games and scramble the keys of their co-workers just to see how long it took them to notice. It stopped when they did it to a VP and he got mad. He was one of our many two-fingered typists.
Hugs
Carla Ann
You can also use...
The cleaning brush for an electric razor. I've found those are spectacular at cleaning underneath laptop keyboard keys. Small, stiff bristles and thin enough to get into just about everywhere.
~And so it goes...
Laptop Prob.
You can always plug in a cheap keyboard thru any USB port. Good Luck!
Richard
laptop repair
Here is what you need to do find out the model number and search on ebay for the keyboard part. Order it then bring it over to my house in riverview and I will fix it for free giving you a brand new keyboard. It should cost no more than about 50 or 70 dollars for the keyboard part. Depending on how it is assembled it may be quick or may take a couple of hours.
Hugs,
Jenna From FL
Moderator/Editor
TopShelf BigCloset
It is a long road ahead but I will finally become who I should be.
model
It's an Hp pavilion G-series. I'm not finding any serial numbers or anything on the computer to give me more info
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
the model number
The model number should be on the bottom of the computer. They are priced anywhere from fifteen to 70.00 dollars. But you need to know what the model number is to ensure you get the right part.
Hugs,
Jenna From FL
Moderator/Editor
TopShelf BigCloset
It is a long road ahead but I will finally become who I should be.
you need small ph1 or ph2 screwdriver and 5 minutes.
3 of them will be spent to find and watch YouTube instruction video :-)
For most models it is 2 screws to remove back cover (under it you will see memory modules and hard drive) and one screw under that cover.
Then using small flat screwdriver unclip latches on the upper side of keyboard. Takes 1 minute to disassemble and 1 minute to reassemble.
You just need to order correct model of keyboard.
All of the part numbers and serial numbers are located under battery. Don't forget to save your work before fiddling with battery.
HP keyboards are pretty
HP keyboards are pretty standard. They're replaced in one of two ways - and yes, on Youtube or other sites you can find instructions.
The best one is when you only have to remove the keyboard. That's a set of screws on the bottom, usually marked with a keyboard symbol. Then, when you turn the system over and open it, there's usually a set of clips or protrusions at the top of the keyboard. Gently pry them open, and the keyboard pops off - there's a single pressure clip holding the cable. Remove, insert the cable from the new keyboard, and shove it back in place. Then put the screws back in.
The one that's not as fun is when you have to pry off the power button assembly at the top, which then uncovers one to three screws holding the keyboard down. (there are still screws on the bottom to remove as well). With that one, the only difference is removing the assembly, then putting it back.
Keyboard should cost less than $20 for any reasonably common laptop. $70 sounds like a "Buy it directly from Dell price".
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
good advice in posts
They are correct that you need the longer model number ( sub model is part of this nunber).
Search for the replacement keyboard and even "how to replace keyboard on xxxxxxxx". It may be so easy that it will have rolling with laughter.
Don't forget to weigh your options of parts verrus replacement computer (new/used).
I pray you make the most educated and best decision for your needs.
Something I forgot to
Something I forgot to mention.
You can get the exact part number by removing the old keyboard (you don't have to unplug it).
On the bottom of the keyboard will be a sticker saying "HP Replacement Part Number" with a six to nine digit number, such as 654372-001
The first six digits are the part number, and the three digit extension is, I believe, a revision code.
If you go to Ebay or Amazon, and put in that number plus 'HP', you'll get the parts that are compatible.
As long as that part number matches, it doesn't matter what the laptop model might be.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
This -001 means it is made for USA.
-021 on most HP products means "worldwide" as in "not for USA".
Have no HP product bulletin on my home computer, can't look up what the rest of them mean. On some keyboards or laptops you can sometimes see something like #AAC instead as suffix to part number. This code means kind of keyboard layout.
Considering I've gotten -000,
Considering I've gotten -000, -002, -003, etc as replacement parts, I still think it's a revision code.
Yes, there might be a country code in there as well.
--------------------
Please, all the people busy telling how to remove _NON-HP_ keyboards, stop. The two that I posted cover the _three_ HP keyboards I've replaced or removed in the last week. One DV6000, one DV9500, and a Compaq CQ-56. I did not cover how the Mini's work, or anything similar to that.
Just because your Sony laptop has a bazillion screws(and yes, they do) doesn't make the HP laptop hard to replace the keyboard. (I HATE Sony laptops. I recommend against getting them, because they have a nasty habit of blowing motherboards after two years, and Sony has yet to stop and/or fix the problem. This is has been going on for over 15 years)
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Considering...
that people are just trying to be helpful, I think your wording comes across as being a little unnecessarily harsh.
I think that it's a good thing that the keyboard in question is on a HP unit. Most of my experience is with unibody Macbook Pros. You have to take everything out of the bottom half, including the motherboard to get to the keyboard.
~And so it goes...
It may seem harsh, but
It may seem harsh, but considering that 1) Katie's is an HP, and that's all she's said (no model number, etc), and 2) I work on HP's, and I have three of them within three feet of me right now, and another one about 30 feet away, I get quite annoyed with thrown out suggestions that do not apply.
Here's an example. I'm typing on an EEEpc (10") (1005HA). It has one of the easiest keyb oards to remove that I've ever worked with. There are four tiny clips at the top of the keyboard. Using something stiff and pointy (big, unfolded paper clip, or tiny flathead screwdriver, for example), you push back the clip near one end, and raise up the keyboard with a knife blade or similar. Then, while keeping pressure up on the corner of the keyboard, you release the other three in sequence. That's it. (there might be double sided tape on some keyboards).
Sony requires a ton of screws, and they don't make sense, and some aren't labeled. Then you can pull out the keyboard.
HP always has screws through the body of the laptop. Most have a clearly marked keyboard logo next to the screw hole. The problem is with the ones that require you to take off the speaker assembly, to get to the last two (or three) screws at the top of the keyboard. Others are held in with plastic clips, and you have to put a bit of force to pop it up past them (or to put it back down).
ASUS is similar to HP, but the holes on the bottom are clearly marked, and that's all you have to do. (on the bigger X series unit I have)
Lenovo/IBM is all over the map. I won't even try to describe them.
Acer Aspire (the old ones, at least) are reasonably marked, but some of the screws can be underneath the accessory panels (usually just the memory/CPU one, not the hard drive)
ZenBook? Let's not go there. I've opened one up. It's not pleasant.
HP Mini? two different kinds. Easy as pie, or pain in the butt.
What's my point? Simple. Non HP laptop keyboards (and how they are removed) are only vaguely similar to HP. Until/unless Katie gives more information, like the exact part number, the best any of us can do is give suggestions. Giving suggestions based on a different brand of laptop is like giving advice on rebuilding an engine to someone with a Ford Ferguson, when what you had was a John Deere. Some things may apply, but without specific questions, it's more likely to be a wild goose chase.
We're all whistling in the dark without that part number - with it, I can probably even find a video guide for her.
Katie - turn the laptop over. Most older HP/Compaq laptops have a sticker on the left hand side, just below the Windows XP/Vista license key. It will say something like "Product: HP Pavilion dv6000", then another line with a serial number, a part number line, and lastly, something like this "dv6436nr" (and a warranty line) - the dv6436nr is the model of this particular laptop.
That's not perfect, but that's what two of the three I have here have. Both are from the Vista/XP era. The Compaq from the Windows 7 era has the label screen printed right on the molded plastic in the battery compartment.
Look on the left hand side. There should be a Serial, a Product code, and a Model:. (In this case, a CQ56-115DX)
Also, look around the screen. On the DV series, they had a label in the upper right hand corner of the screen bezel. On the CQ series, it's on the bottom right hand of the bezel. I've even seen it where they put it on the speaker assembly above the keyboard. (At least they aren't as bad as Sony, who uses two totally separate model numbers, and the one you can read easily isn't actually the one they use on their web site)
And, to reassure you, in most cases, replacing a laptop keyboard is vastly easier than replacing a screen.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Serial/model numbers
On my HP laptop are under the battery. If you turn the laptop upside-down and take the battery out you should see it.
Hi , Keyboard replacement on
Hi ,
Keyboard replacement on a laptop is not usually difficult. Follow the route suggested by earlier responses. Ie web search for keyboard to fit your puter; then follow the instructions for your lap top as found on u tube. From experience ( I successfully did it myself with a Dell a few years ago at a cost of £15 for an OEM part) be careful fitting the surround back on as if not exactly in position it can interfere with the hinges for the screen.
Nightjar
Once
I once replaced a cracked monitor on a laptop. Is replacing the keyboard easier or harder. The lack of an N and a D without pounding the keyboard and breaking my finger is ruining my manicure.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
On HP it is usually very easy.
Three screws on the back, three tabs on the top of the keyboard.
I recently helped a friend with Sony... The screws holding keyboard are in some very improbable places and are not marked in any way... So you need to remove about 20 of them to be sure that you got them all. And then there are tabs on the back you have to disengage to be able to start unclipping latches around keyboard from the top...
Keyboards
As I recall it was a matter of removing (levering off) the surround trim. Removing 4 Small crosshead screws ( I used a jewlers X head screwdriver and disconnecting 1 large cable connector. The screws and the connector were easily accessed and obvious unce the trim was off. The connector was easily seen once the keyboard had been lifted. Replacement was simple ie the connector plug only fits one way in the socket. The screws were self apparrent and the only fiddly bit was getting the trims sprung back into position properly.
Nightjar
I'm surprised
that no one has stated the obvious, so I'll take the heat for it. HP parts (if this is an HP laptop) can be quite expensive. Often you can pick up a whole used HP laptop on eBay or Craigslist for less than a new part. The benefit is that later, when the cable for the screen gives way, you already have the replacement part.
Good luck, Katie! I have always enjoyed your work, and I hope this doesn't slow you down too much!
Hugs
Carla Ann
True, but...
It will be in the similar state to the original one. So keyboard will give up a ghost very soon. And it is impossible to repair laptop keyboard even if you have one for spares.
Part #'s
If you can't locate numbers on the chassis of your lappy... turn it on, then quick-hit Esc, or Tab.. depends on what Bios yours has... then quick hit "Pause" all the info on your system should be there in the "POST" pre-operating system test. That group-info... on HP site, will get you replacement numbers for individual parts to replace it.
;-)
The optional way to get your make & mod.. hit ESC or "F-*" it says what key at boot-up... go into the Bios itself, it usually says what the machine is in there.. on one page.