Laptops "O" and "P" buttons not working.

[pkshima]

last night the o and p buttons of my laptops keypad stopped working. all of a sudden. I made a search for "arduino" that was the last time i typed an o.

Its a dell inspiron 640m and out of warranty and other covers.
I hate to see a mechanic do force fitting the screws etc.
Not sure if I should open the lappy myself.

 

[Space Varmint]

Man, you shouldn't have to open it. Just take a small screw driver and pop the key coved off. Look the switch over carefully, maybe take a little alcohol and drop it in there and work the switch while watching the screen. Then gently work the cap back on. Try not ot break it.

 

[bananasiong]

I've experienced even weirder, 2 or 3 buttons could not work for small letter but okay for capital. Then I restarted the notebook and everything went back to normal.

 

[jimmythefool]

If that doesn't work, and you have to replace the keyboard, they are not hard to get apart. I've replaced several power jacks on laptops, and always got them back together OK. Keyboards are one of the first parts to come out, so shouldn't take much. Although the cleaning is the best option to try first, as Space V said..

A foreign object under the keys is a common thing too
Jim

 

[davidbball13]

laptop keyboards are only 20 to 30 USD

 

[Space Varmint]

laptop keyboards are only 20 to 30 USD

Yeah but their probably hell to replace aren't they?

 

[pkshima]

Man, you shouldn't have to open it. Just take a small screw driver and pop the key coved off. Look the switch over carefully, maybe take a little alcohol and drop it in there and work the switch while watching the screen. Then gently work the cap back on. Try not ot break it.

You mean I need not take the whole keyboard out and that I can just pop the problem keys out, clean, and put back in ? wow that would be great. Guess i will go and search some relevant videos on youtube. that might help. Thanks for the adives Please keep more coming

 

[Space Varmint]

You mean I need not take the whole keyboard out and that I can just pop the problem keys out, clean, and put back in ? wow that would be great. Guess i will go and search some relevant videos on youtube. that might help. Thanks for the adives Please keep more coming

That's what I've always done. So far it always worked for me.

 

[davidbball13]

Yeah but their probably hell to replace aren't they?

no i replaced my T41 and T22 keyboard in like 10 min. it is just like three screws on the bottom of the laptop and you pry off the keyboard.

 

[Space Varmint]

no i replaced my T41 and T22 keyboard in like 10 min. it is just like three screws on the bottom of the laptop and you pry off the keyboard.

Hey, thanks for that! Man I'm going into the laptop business. Got to be more money there.

 

[mneary]

Dell has online service documentation, with step by step instructions and photos. Removing the keyboard on the 640M is covered in detail here.