Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Laptop Key Help!

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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 01-29-2003, 12:42 AM:

I have a Dell Inspiron2600 Laptop, & this morning I spilled milk all over the upper right of the keyboard. I am using my computers on-screen keyboard to type this message. Most of my keys dont work, what should do? I tried too dry it & used compressed air, nothing seems to help. Can I get a new keyboard installed? Any ides?

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 01-29-2003, 01:54 AM:

New key board is not too bad to install.
Just get instructions/tips from the store that you buy it from.
Also check out before you do anything what your insurance may cover.
My laptop died & was replaced by insurance, I bought a similar model for $100.00 with a cracked screen, swapped the screen & hard drive & away I went.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-29-2003, 01:55 AM:

The Inspiron keyboard is held in by about 6 screws on the bottom of the unit, all marked by the letter "K".

Once the screws are out the keyboard lifts out and is connected by a flat printed cable connector.

If the unit is under warranty, make use of the warranty. You paid for it. Otherwise call Dell and see if they'll sell you a replacemennt keyboard for it. They will if they have them.

The cost of a replacement keyboard is definetely not worth claiming under insurance, especially if you have never had a claim before.

In the meantime, use a PS/2 keyboard plugged into the rear of the machine.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 01-29-2003, 03:27 AM:

Daryl-
Do you have any idea what a replacement would cost? Ballparked?

I am moving this weekend,everything is boxed, so I wont be able to locate any paperwork for this computer. I purchased the laptop 5 months ago, do you think it's wunder warranty for something like this or are they just going to say "It's your fault you spilled milk on your keyboard!"

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-29-2003, 03:52 AM:

If you have a CompleteCare warranty it will be covered for sure. Usually your have to pay extra for CompleteCare (which basically covers you kicking the machine down the stairs) but they often have specials where it is included as a 'standard option'.

If you have the regular warranty it may or may not be covered. I can't remember if the Inspiron series still includes 'I broke the keyboard' warranty or not. It used to.

Call Dell and give them your service tag (located on the bottom of the unit), they'll be able to tell you whether it's covered or not. If it's not it shouldn't cost you more than $50.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 01-29-2003, 03:57 AM:

Thanks Daryl [Big Grin]

I am very happy to hear an estimate that low.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-29-2003, 04:00 AM:

Hopefully I'm not wrong. Wouldn't want to wreck your day. [Smile]

I'll laugh if they bill you $99 for shipping, like everything else they sell. You know you can buy, according to their on-line store, 9999 units of a $225,000 server and they still charge you $99 to ship each unit. Hopefully they really do give you a discount and it's some 'never thought of that situation' programming error.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 01-29-2003, 04:27 AM:

Just checked my online account. Luckly I do have CompleteCare Coverage so I can get the replacement keyboard for free. But like you said, they will most likely bill 50 bucks to send the 1 pound box that will arrive in 1-4 weeks!

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-09-2003, 01:12 AM:

When you're done moving find your invoice... it doesn't make any sense that the website said you had CompleteCare coverage when you apparently don't.

BTW, do the keys not work at all, or will they work if you press them down and push them back and forth? If the latter, you may be able to 'wash' the keyboard to get it working again.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-09-2003, 01:41 AM:

Recent Activity:

: I got a follow up call saying that I actually don’t have the Complete Care coverage & that if I were to send the laptop in it would cost $700 plus S&H to repair because the motherboard would need replacing as well as the keyboard components. Well, you can guess what I told them! Also, now that they know I have a problem my original crappy warranty is void unless I have them fix it. Ye-yah!

The representative told me that my account information was incorrectly listed on the account & that “Dell apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

As to the keys themselves: The entire right side keys do not work at all. Basically from the letter M up & over, that’s all bad. I have removed all the keys and cleaned them the way the Troubleshooters guide told me & no help that did.

As to the motherboard, the representative basically assured me that the motherboard will be eventually “destroyed” because of the spill. Do you really think that’s gunna happen?

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-09-2003, 06:34 PM:

If it hasn't killed anything else yet, I seriously doubt that it will. Of course if something is now riding near an IC's breakdown voltage it could take quite awhile before something dies but I think that Dell's hardware is designed a little better than that.

Just incase (on another note), remove the keyboard and remove and reseat the keyboard ribbon cable to make sure it just isn't covered in milk preventing the keyboard from working.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-09-2003, 07:19 PM:

quote:
Just incase (on another note), remove the keyboard and remove and reseat the keyboard ribbon cable to make sure it just isn't covered in milk preventing the keyboard from working

Could you elaborate on that a little more? What exactly do I do Daryl? I haven't heard this suggestion yet......

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-09-2003, 08:22 PM:

Example:
A customer complains there is gum on the theater seat he is sitting in. You remove customer from the seat to make sure that there is no gum. You reseat customer (making sure he is properly fitting in the seat and in the correct position) and walk away.

In other words, remove the ribbon cable (this will be a cable that is shaped similar to, well, a ribbon is the bet way I can describe it). It should pull out easily (just like you do with a really loose woman). Put it back in (with care) and put the keyboard back on.

Dumbass.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 02-09-2003, 08:32 PM:

I'd hate to think I'm reading your message wrong Joe but the lack of smiley's makes it hard to tell. In any case, that was rather rude and uncalled for.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-09-2003, 08:57 PM:

Sorry Dustin I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else with my comment.

I meant to offend Nate. [Smile]

(Smilies or not, you said it was rude either way so I guess it doesn't make a difference, eh? Poor Nate.)

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-09-2003, 09:40 PM:

Joe -
I don't find your examples to useful to me. Maybe where you live that is acceptable to talk to people like that, but not here. You are very condescending towards woman & I look upon you with much less respect now. May God have mercy on your soul.

In any case, basically I should just take apart my computer until I find a ribbon looking item close to the keyboard?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-09-2003, 09:47 PM:

Keyboard should easily pop out, though I am not too familiar with your exact laptop.

So did the above comment (the one right above this very sentence) gain your respect back?

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-09-2003, 09:54 PM:

Joe, your approval rating has been raised to 48%. You will need to try a little harder to get my respect back. (like you really care)

I will certainly try that later. My biggest fear is that I will take apart the Laptop & not be able to put it back together again. Hopefully, I can remember how everything fits back together.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-09-2003, 09:59 PM:

I'd say if you are not comfortable with it, then don't try it. [Confused]

How's that for good advice?

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 02-09-2003, 11:20 PM:

I don't know Joe, I geuss if there had been a smiley it might have been an acceptable comment. There wasn't one though and that's why I read the post the way I did.

Make fun of me for over-reacting if you will, humor and sarcasm are an easy way out of an embarrassing situation. The fact remains that Nate asked a simple question and you responded with an unhelpful, sarcastic example and then a personal insult. I would think posters at Film-Tech could be a little bit more mature.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-09-2003, 11:28 PM:

Just remove the screws marked 'K' (and only 'K') on the bottom of the unit. There should be about 6 of them. The keyboard should basically fall out once all of the 'K' screws are removed. Becareful though not to let it fall out as you could damage the printed ribon cable (it's not too long).

Once you have the keyboard out of the chassis you'll be able to slide the ribbon cable out of the connector. The ribbon cable will be the only thing attatched to the keyboard.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 01:23 AM:

Dustin, just so you know, Joe & I give each other shit all the time; he really doesn't mean much by it. Joe is just naturally an ass hole, he cant help that he doesn't know how to properly place 'smileys'. He also cant defend himself very well...not worth the keystrokes anymore

[Smile]

Daryl: Just wanted to thank ya for all the info you've given me this post. I am going to do my keyboard removal in a couple hours, I am confident it will go well.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-10-2003, 01:46 AM:

I'll certainly second the reliability, build quality and service backup of Dells. Mine is an Inspiron 4100 and I have never yet had the slightest problem with it. It does get quite a bit of wear and tear, in particular spending quite a lot of time being used on clapped-out, rattling old British trains, and has so far been 100% reliable. Despite having had it since December 2001, the battery doesn't seem to have lost any significant charge capacity yet, either - it will still do at least two hours between charges.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 02-10-2003, 11:19 AM:

Well, there you go. I wasn't aware that that was normal discourse for you and Nate Joe.

My apologies for over-reacting.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-10-2003, 11:36 AM:

No prob Dustin. In fact that's probably the reason we are asses to each other on these boards... to see the reactions from other people. When I offered him a Zip Drive power supply for $0 and he thought I could do better than that I was hoping someone would reply, but nope. But maybe that's because Daryl pointed out that we work together. Foiled again by Daryl! [Smile]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-10-2003, 02:52 PM:

I do my best Joe. If I can't have some fun, I might as well spoil yours. [Smile]

Nate, no problem.

Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 02-10-2003, 03:41 PM:

I think you would need to use Q-tips or a small brush with alcohol or contact or circuit board cleaner. If your'e able to, clean the ribbon cable & connector. I f there is any liquid residue on the motherboard, you should be able to remove it.
Just make sure you have your own drawings of what goes where when you dismantle something.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 09:37 PM:

Okay, So I removed all the screws from the bottom of the laptop; 12 marked P & 2 marked D

I was able to get the front half tilted away from the rest. How much force should I use to seperate the two componets? Am I missing any screws do you think? It just seems that there is something holding the 'screenside' in place.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-10-2003, 09:53 PM:

The P & D screws aren't the right ones. The keyboard should literally fall out when turned upside down. Don't use ANY force.

You don't want to dismantle the whole system. The keyboard should come out without seperating anything else -- unless they used some other method for the 2600.

This should look somewhat like the bottom of your unit (this is a 2650). What are the lower screws (directly under the keyboard) labeled?

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 10:04 PM:

Mine:

??????????

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-10-2003, 10:10 PM:

OK here we go. Apparently this one was designed by the 'B team'.

Dell Inspiron 2600 & 2650 Keyboard Removal

Becareful when reassembling... there are two sizes of screws used.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 10:14 PM:

quote:
There aren't any screws inside the memory comparment (screw marked M) are there?

There is one screw labeled "O" besides the two screws holding the modem in place.

Cool, I'll try the process now.

Going offline.........

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 10:49 PM:

Well, I got the letter L to work now!

I have been checking Dell's site to buy a new keyboard. Never can get a match.

Are there any other options to order a keyboard online for the laptop?

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-10-2003, 11:11 PM:

Well if you have restored a keys functionality I would suspect that you haven't damaged the motherboard. If you've figured out how to get the keyboard out you could try washing the whole thing in warm soapy water (making sure that it is totally dry before reinstalling).

Or you could just buy a new one...

eBay: NEW DELL INSPIRON 2650 KEYBOARD

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 02-10-2003, 11:23 PM:

Saaweet!

Damn Daryl! Your like a private investigater, I write a question & within 5 minutes I have the answers, thats crazy! [Big Grin]

I will try the soapy water but I think that I will just bid on this Ebay item so we can close this thread!

I assume that the 2650 keyboard will work with the 2600. [Smile]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 02-10-2003, 11:34 PM:

Yeah it'll work -- well it's supposed to. Dell product series use the same parts for the last two digits of the model number, so the 26xx series uses the same parts.

Just remember to bid at the last minute (and not before then) the full amount you are willing to pay and you'll more than likely win. There's no point bidding now and driving up the price.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 04-08-2003, 01:16 AM:

Ok, here's another question:

I have the new keyboard in & it's seem to be having an issue with the 'Fn' key. Apparently the 'Fn' key is making my keys a numberpad:

ijklmopu
512306-4

I cant use the keyboard! Anyone know how to turn it off?

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 04-08-2003, 02:31 AM:

Num-lock has been turned on somehow. Try pressing Fn+F4 to shut it off. Don't know if you'll be able to... not really clear on what's wrong with the Fn key.

Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 04-08-2003, 02:46 AM:

Sweet! I just have so much luck with keyboards!

Once again, I am thanking Daryl.