How to Replace a Dell Laptop Keyboard

Laptop keys are fragile and flimsy and if you use the laptop keys a lot, chances are, at least one will pop-off. If this happens, you can probably end up replacing it. Even if you have warranty coverage, Dell Computers will insist that you change the keyboard and will not pay a technician to replace the laptop keyboard for you. This article will tell you how to replace the keyboard on an Inspiron 1501 laptop.

Instructions

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  Order item number J617 from Dell computers. It will arrive with everything you need except the small Philip screwdriver. The package will contain the instruction manual, plastic scribe and of course the new keyboard.
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  First, turn the laptop off, disconnect power source and remove the battery. Then, lay the laptop flat (180º) on the table or desk where you plan to change the keyboard.

 

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  Using the plastic scribe, gently insert under the hinge cover's corner and lift the hinge cover off of the laptop. Be gentle. May require a little wiggling to ensure the little connectors pop out of their location.
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  Once the hinge cover is removed, lay it to the side.
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  Locate the two small M2.5 x 5mm screws that attach the keyboard to the laptop and use the small Phillips screwdriver to remove them. There is at least one on each side of the laptop. They were hidden by the hinge cover and should be visible once that cover is removed.
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  Use the plastic scribe, insert under keyboard and gently lift. Little nodules on the end of the key board and a keyboard cable in the center secure the keyboard to the laptop. Gently wiggle the keyboard until it is loose.
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  Pull up on the keyboard cable until it pops loose. Set the bad keyboard to the side.
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  Take the new keyboard and insert the cable into the cable slot on the laptop. Press the cable lift down on top of the cable and secure it. (It is imperative that you get this part right otherwise, the keyboard will not work when you put it back together!).
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  Insert the nodules on the end of the keyboard in their respective slots and replace the two M2.5 x 5mm screws.
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  Replace the Hinge Cover.
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  Turn the laptop on and - VOILA! You are back in business.

How to Remove an HP Laptop Keyboard

You may need to remove the HP Laptop Keyboard on your HP laptop if it needs repair or replacement, or if you need to reach something else within the computer. Removing HP laptop keyboard is simple once you know all the components that hold it. There are three places where the keyboard is connected to the laptop: the ribbon cables sending its commands to the motherboard, the tabs and latches holding it in place on the frame and the screws attaching it to the base. All of these need to be disconnected to remove the keyboard from the laptop.

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  Make sure the HP laptop is turned off and disconnected from its power supply. Remove the battery from the computer.
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  Remove the screws on the laptop's underside securing the keyboard. There are usually three of them, with one on each side and a third in the middle. They will all be directly under the keyboard. Remove them with the appropriate torx or flathead screwdriver.

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  Open the laptop and look for the locking latches on the keyboard. There are four of them among the Function keys at the top of the keyboard. Push these latches downward with your fingers and the keyboard will lift up and out of the computer towards you.
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  Pull the keyboard off of its tab slots on the bottom and flip it over.
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  Disconnect the ribbon cables attaching the keyboard to the motherboard. Move up the connectors' locking tabs with your fingers, making sure you don't damage the ribbons. Release the cables and pull them away from the connectors. The keyboard is now free of the laptop.

How to Clean Under Laptop Keyboard Keys

Laptops tend to become dirty more quickly than desktop computers, mainly because they are used in a variety of locations. Some laptops have removable keys, while others must be cleaned with the keys attached. If you are unsure as to whether or not your keys can be safely removed, contact the manufacturer for more information and cleaning instructions. While it is nearly impossible to keep a laptop keyboard completely clean, regular cleanings prevent damage and prolong the life of your laptop.

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  Unplug your laptop from any power sources and turn it off. Remove any detachable devices, including a mouse and any USB drives.
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  Remove the keys from your laptop keyboard by popping them off with a dull knife or other instrument.

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  Place the removed keys into a bowl of warm, soapy water. Dish detergent is effective at removing dirt and oil with minimal scrubbing. Leave the keys to soak.
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  Spray the keyboard with a can of compressed air. Hold the can at an angle, and be careful not to get too close to the keyboard or the pressurized air may damage the laptop.
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  Wipe down the touchpad and surrounding areas with a clean, lint-free cloth.
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  Dampen a cloth with a mixture of equal parts water and isopropyl rubbing alcohol and use this to clean the rest of the keyboard. If you cannot reach all the dirt in smaller areas, such as where the keyboard meets the monitor, use a cotton swab.
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  Rinse the keys in warm water and allow to dry completely before replacing them. Make sure all parts of the keyboard are fully dry before the keys are replaced.

Cleaning with Keys Attached

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  Leave your keys attached if the keys cannot be removed or you are worried you will damage the laptop.
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  Clean your attached keyboard by using a can of compressed air to blow out any dirt and debris from between and beneath the keys.
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  Hold the can of compressed air about 3 inches from the keyboard, at an angle, and slowly work your way from one side of the keyboard to the other.
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  Turn your laptop upside down over a trash can and gently shake it to remove any remaining debris.
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  Wipe down the touchpad and surrounding areas, using a lint-free, dry cloth or towel designed for use on electronics.

Cleaning Laptop Keyboard

After having searched the web for advise about fixing a sticky keyboard on my laptop, and finding nothing very helpful, I put together this HOWTO based on my own successful method. This will restore the keyboard to new, or better, performance.Laptop keyboards don't wear out, they foul out. Proper cleaning and lubrication as described here will restore your laptop keyboard to the snappy and smooth performance it had when new. There are several reasons why the keys will start to stick, spilled drinks, normal wearing off of the factory lubrication, weakening of the rubber pieces which give each key its snap action, and contamination by dust and hair. The following will completely solve these problems and return the keyboard to perfect operation.
This will require about 2 hours time once you have collected the proper cleaning materials.

• Cleaning materials:
• Cotton swabs
• Cosmetic foam rubber cleaning pads ( use only with naptha (lighter fluid), NOT alcohol)
• Paper towels
• Rubbing alcohol
• Water
• Lighter fluid (naptha)
• Fine tipped tweezers
• Scissors
• Kitchen strainer
• Household cleaner, Windex or equivalent
• Super Lube Dry Film spray (critical - DO NOT SUBSTUTUTE !) K-Mart automotive.
• This is a PTFE (teflon) based lubricant which dries perfectly DRY and is ideally suited for this application.

Proceed as follows:
DISASSEMBLE
IMPORTANT: Make a keyboard map so you know where each key goes.
Carefully pry each key loose with a small screwdriver and place in a container. They pop off. DO NOT use excessive force. There may be a small rubber piece for each key. Remove all of these and place in a separate container. CAREFUL, these are small and like to jump away.
CLEAN KEYBOARD ( do this well...... you will be wonderfully rewarded )
Clean the keyboard with cotton swabs SLIGHTLY DAMPENED with water. Replace these often and BE SURE they are only slightly damp. If they are too wet the excess water will contaminate the keyboard through capillary action. This will clean all water soluble contaminants like Coca-Cola, coffee, and sugar residue. For the very small places, cut the foam rubber into small pieces and use the tweezers, again SLIGHTLY DAMPENED, for cleaning. You must clean each and every key space, inside and out, this is critical since this is where the key touches and moves.
Repeat this procedure again using rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs but NOT the foam rubber as it disintegrates when used with alcohol.
Finally repeat this procedure using naptha (lighter fluid) and foam rubber. You can clean even the smallest key guides with small pieces of foam rubber and tweezers. This action will remove any petroleum based contaminants as well as the grease that is sometimes used on the wider keys which may have guide wires, for example, the SCACE BAR.
CLEAN KEYS
Some keys may have wires attached and some grease on them, clean these first with cotton swabs and naptha (lighter fluid). Remove all traces of the grease.
Place all keys in a kitchen strainer. Spray with household cleaner and let stand for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and place keys on paper towels to dry. Let dry completely.
CLEAN RUBBER COMPONENTS
Place all rubber components in a kitchen strainer. Spray with household cleaner and let stand for 5 minutes. Use stopper in the sink so that you don�t lose these if they jump out of the strainer. Rinse these thoroughly with hot water and place on paper towels. Fold the towels over and press to squeeze most of the water out of the pieces. Let dry completely.
LUBRICATE KEYS
Place all keys bottom-up on a paper bag. Lightly coat the keys, at a 45 degree angle with Super Lube Dry Film lubricant. Do this from all 4 sides to assure penetration and coverage into the small and critical guide spaces inside each key. Let dry ( this happens nearly instantly). DO NOT overdue this step as the carrier solvent may affect the plastic.
LUBRICATE KEYBOARD
Mask off the laptop with paper and scotch tape. Apply lubricant (as above in LUBRICATE KEYS) to the keyboard and let dry.
All right, you now have perfectly cleaned and lubricated keys, keyboard, and rubber components.
REASSEMBLE
Place all rubber components into the keyboard.
Install keys with wires. Make sure wire is secured in the key, usually snapped into place. Place ends of wire in the guide slots adjacent to the key location as you align the key. Firmly press down to snap the key into place.
Install the rest of the keys by aligning and firmly pressing down.

How to Remove Laptop Keyboard Keys

Every day your computer is exposed to dirt, hair, dead skin and other kinds of grime. This can drastically affect your laptop keyboard's performance. Removing your keys is a simple and effective way to clean the inside of your keyboard and improve keyboard response. This is a simple operation and should only take a few hours if done correctly. This is important to anyone who wants to know how to properly remove their laptop's keyboard keys.

1、Print out or draw a keyboard map of the location of your keyboard's keys. Turn off your computer.
2、 Position the laptop so that it is under a lamp or so there is sufficient light shining onto the keyboard. You want to be able to see all the dirt that is under your keyboard.

3、Take the end of a flat-head screw driver and carefully pry any of the letter or number keys off, preferably starting with the "Q" and working your way to the right. The letter and number keys are easier to remove than the command keys.

4、Collect the removed keys into a container so you do not lose them. Take special care when removing the tab, caps lock, shift, space bar, enter, forward slash and back space buttons. These buttons are attached to a small metal pin. It may take a little more effort to remove these, so be patient.

5、Feel free to clean the inside of your keyboard once all the keys are removed. Take a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of alcohol and wipe the areas around the keys to remove the grime and dirt. Use tweezers to remove any bigger bits and pieces of dirt or hair.

6、Refer back to your keyboard map and put your keys back into their right location. Position each key in the center of the plastic connector and press around the edges till it clicks. Feel around a little till it is tight and secure.

How to Clean a Laptop Keyboard

Cleaning a Laptop Keyboard

Before you start cleaning your laptop’s keyboard, make sure it is unplugged and powered off. (It is always better to have a dirty laptop than to shock yourself or ruin your machine during the cleaning process.) Also, remove the mouse, any discs or CDs, USB drives and anything else that is protruding from your machine.
The process you will use to clean your laptop has to do with how ambitious you are feeling at the time and how hardy your machine happens to be. For example, on some machines it is easy to pop the keys off and put them back on. But on others, it is about as simple as performing brain surgery. In other words, if you’re not confident that you can get the keys back on your laptop’s keyboard, do not take them off. You will still be able to clean your laptop pretty well. Not sure? Check the owner’s manual.

Cleaning your laptop with the keys intact

If you’ve elected to take the easy road and leave the keys o attached to your laptop, you can clean in between them by using a can of compressed air. Be aware that a can of compressed air does not simply contain air but contains a toxic chemical. So be careful when handling it and never hold the bottle upside down. Just tilt it at an angle two or three inches away from your key board as you direct the air between the keys. The good thing about having a laptop is that if it is too difficult to tilt the can of air you can always tilt your computer. Just be careful not to drop it.
If you feel comfortable doing it, you can also hold your laptop upside down over a trash can and tap on it lightly to dislodge any remaining debris that might be hiding in there once you’re done spraying.

Cleaning your laptop with the keys removed

If you’ve decided that you would like to take off the keys, use a knife or similar object to gently pop them off. Then store them in a safe place so that they don’t get lost. Even if you’re one of the confident ones, it’s still recommended that you leave the space bar and other larger keys in place. They are a real doozy to get back on due to their design.
Once you’ve pried all of the keys off of your laptop that you will be prying, place them in a small bowl, such as a cereal bowl, and add a couple drops of dish soap for hand washing to clean them with some light scrubbing. (Be sure to plug the drain if the bowl is in the sink.) Then follow the rest of the steps below while they soak.

Letting your keyboard dry

Leave your laptop out so that it can dry. Do not shut the lid. Hopefully, since you used the water or cleaning solution sparingly, it should not take very long. If you removed the keys from your keyboard, you can set them out on the counter or table or wipe them dry with your cloth (if it’s not dry, use a new one of course). Then pop them back on when you’re sure that your machine and the keys are both fully dry.
Never plug in and/or turn on your machine until you are positive that it has dried completely.

Keeping your laptop’s keyboard clean

Of course, there is no way your laptop will remain spotless with regular use, but you can attempt to keep it from harm by not eating or drinking in its presence. Also, try to find a non-dusty area in which to use it. Not only is this better for your computer, it’s also better for your lungs.

How to repair – replace laptop keyboard

1. If you spilled liquid – quickly turn off and unplug the computer.
2. Do not move it sideways or tilt it – you would just further distribute the liquid. Leave it as it is to evaporate.
3. If you want to use some kind of heating source to speed up the evaporation – OK, just don’t apply it too close to the computer, or else some parts would melt.
4. You might try to take out the keyboard and examine the main board – in this case read your computer seller warranty terms concerning the computer usage and disassembling restrictions.
5. If the liquid has disappeared and considerable amount of time has past – you can try to turn on the computer. Like I mentioned before, water doesn’t make much trouble, though other kinds of liquids do. If your computer works normally and just some keys do not respond – try to clean the keyboard thoroughly. Use little spirit to dissolve and clean off the material which stuck in the keyboard gaps.
6. If your keys are broken – try to replace them. Replacing the keys is not hard; it depends upon the computer manufacturer model and type. The keys can be bought in used computer parts store or on internet the prices vary from 1 to 5 dollars for one key. Removing the keys requires some gentle work; do not apply force in this situation. The keys are held by plastic mounting arms and clips, which often break. Try to gently pull out the key by using some thin tweezers or pliers, the thinner the better.
7. If the keyboard is seriously damaged – replace it. Used laptop keyboard costs approximately 15 – 20 US dollars, new one – 40 and more. You just have to identify and buy the right keyboard. After the purchase, remove the old one: in most cases you just have to pull out one or two screws from the base of the laptop and remove the power button cover. You have to know the exact computer model you are using, in order to properly remove the old keyboard. Youtube is of great help here, one will find almost everything here.