Toddler removed key from keyboard

Although having a laptop is certainly convenient, the all-in-one peripheral scheme (mouse, keyboard and speakers) can make individual repairs difficult, and a non-working keyboard can ruin the value of the entire package. However, there are some practical steps you can take to fix a laptop keyboard.

1.Diagnose the problem. When you press a key on your laptop keyboard, does it get stuck? Does the computer respond to your inputs? In almost all of these cases, the solution will lie in opening up your notebook's keyboard. However, to prevent extra work, press every key (do this in a word-processing program) and see which keys are affected. If every single key on a keyboard does not respond, you might have a software issue, which may require specialized help.
2.Clean the area around the keys that are not working. A damp lint-free cloth should be used to clean the surface of the affected keys. If you have stuck keys, use a Q-tip to clean under them, but take care not to pry the keys up, as this could result in further damage to your keyboard.
3.Remove the keys that are not working. Do this by grabbing some fingernail clippers and pulling out the hook-like fingernail cleaner extension. Use the small hook to gently pull the key up , which will expose a collapsible plastic hinge (commonly known as a key retainer) as well as a small rubber circular piece. Gently lift both of these pieces out of the keyboard.
4.Wipe the keyboard sensors clean with a dry cloth. The sensors are the little silver foil-like strips you see after your key components have been removed. Be very careful wiping these down--if they are damaged, they are very expensive to replace. Just gently dab it with a dry lint-free cloth to remove any dust/crumbs/particles that are interfering with your keyboard's functionality. Do not moisten the cloth with water or cleaning solution, as this heightens the risk for damage.
5.Reassemble and replace the keys. Simply fit the key retainer as well the little rubber piece together in the way you found them and then firmly press the key cap back in place.
6.Test your keyboard. Open a word-processing program and then press the replaced keys. If they still don't work, try restarting your computer, or activating a system restore point (to ensure that the problem is not software-related). If the keyboard is still not working, then you may want to think about taking the computer to a repair shop or replacing it altogether. (Keyboard repairs are very expensive.)

Thanks.

Although having a laptop is certainly convenient, the all-in-one peripheral scheme (mouse, keyboard and speakers) can make individual repairs difficult, and a non-working keyboard can ruin the value of the entire package. However, there are some practical steps you can take to fix a laptop keyboard.

1.Diagnose the problem. When you press a key on your laptop keyboard, does it get stuck? Does the computer respond to your inputs? In almost all of these cases, the solution will lie in opening up your notebook's keyboard. However, to prevent extra work, press every key (do this in a word-processing program) and see which keys are affected. If every single key on a keyboard does not respond, you might have a software issue, which may require specialized help.
2.Clean the area around the keys that are not working. A damp lint-free cloth should be used to clean the surface of the affected keys. If you have stuck keys, use a Q-tip to clean under them, but take care not to pry the keys up, as this could result in further damage to your keyboard.
3.Remove the keys that are not working. Do this by grabbing some fingernail clippers and pulling out the hook-like fingernail cleaner extension. Use the small hook to gently pull the key up , which will expose a collapsible plastic hinge (commonly known as a key retainer) as well as a small rubber circular piece. Gently lift both of these pieces out of the keyboard.
4.Wipe the keyboard sensors clean with a dry cloth. The sensors are the little silver foil-like strips you see after your key components have been removed. Be very careful wiping these down--if they are damaged, they are very expensive to replace. Just gently dab it with a dry lint-free cloth to remove any dust/crumbs/particles that are interfering with your keyboard's functionality. Do not moisten the cloth with water or cleaning solution, as this heightens the risk for damage.
5.Reassemble and replace the keys. Simply fit the key retainer as well the little rubber piece together in the way you found them and then firmly press the key cap back in place.
6.Test your keyboard. Open a word-processing program and then press the replaced keys. If they still don't work, try restarting your computer, or activating a system restore point (to ensure that the problem is not software-related). If the keyboard is still not working, then you may want to think about taking the computer to a repair shop or replacing it altogether. (Keyboard repairs are very expensive.)

I hope you find it very helpful. Thanks.

Hello

To fix your problem please do the following;


Look for Fn function key on your keyboard- Most laptops have this special key next to the Ctrl key on the keyboard. It is easy to find

Look for F1 to F12 functions keys, they are on the top row of the keypad. Look for one has an icon that looks like the touchpad, which is to control the touchpad of your laptop.These function keys also control the brightness, sound, wireless etc.

Now hold down the Fn key and the key that looks like the mousepad to enable the touchpad, in Toshiba laptops. You press them again to disable it

If none of the above works, plug in an USB mouse, then check into the Control Panel -> touchpad or mouse and keyboard configurations. Also, check Device Manager if the touchpad driver is installed and working properly.

For the keyboard;

Diagnose the problem. When you press a key on your laptop keyboard, does it get stuck? Does the computer respond to your inputs? In almost all of these cases, the solution will lie in opening up your notebook's keyboard. However, to prevent extra work, press every key (do this in a word-processing program) and see which keys are affected. If every single key on a keyboard does not respond, you might have a software issue, which may require specialized help.

Clean the area around the keys that are not working. A damp lint-free cloth should be used to clean the surface of the affected keys. If you have stuck keys, use a Q-tip to clean under them, but take care not to pry the keys up, as this could result in further damage to your keyboard.

Remove the keys that are not working. Do this by grabbing some fingernail clippers and pulling out the hook-like fingernail cleaner extension. Use the small hook to gently pull the key up , which will expose a collapsible plastic hinge (commonly known as a key retainer) as well as a small rubber circular piece. Gently lift both of these pieces out of the keyboard.

Wipe the keyboard sensors clean with a dry cloth. The sensors are the little silver foil-like strips you see after your key components have been removed. Be very careful wiping these down--if they are damaged, they are very expensive to replace. Just gently dab it with a dry lint-free cloth to remove any dust/crumbs/particles that are interfering with your keyboard's functionality. Do not moisten the cloth with water or cleaning solution, as this heightens the risk for damage.

Reassemble and replace the keys. Simply fit the key retainer as well the little rubber piece together in the way you found them and then firmly press the key cap back in place.

Test your keyboard. Open a word-processing program and then press the replaced keys. If they still don't work, try restarting your computer, or activating a system restore point (to ensure that the problem is not software-related). If the keyboard is still not working, then you may want to think about taking the computer to a repair shop or replacing it altogether. (Keyboard repairs are very expensive.)

Just press it back on ...

Aser 4720 laptop computer the keys for letters q w a s z x do not work - all the other keys work - i change new one but same problem any ideas

With sticky keys, that means that something spilled into the keyboard or the keyboard has not been cleaned in a very long time. Below are instructions on removing and replacing the keyboard. Once you have removed the keyboard, clean each of the keys and replace in the appropriate places. Follow instructions below for removal and replacement:

There is nothing geeky in knowing how to remove a laptop keyboard. You can do the same by following some easy to do steps. Please remember that laptops from different manufacturers are very different from each other, and the difference between two models from the same manufacturer might be too much to say the least. The process showcased below is for a Dell laptop. Before undertaking this project all by yourself, it is recommended that you go through the manual provided by the manufacturer or do so once or twice in presense of an authorized technical person.

1 Remove the keyboard bezel. Take a screw driver and put it at the slot of the bezel and using it as a lever pull off the bezel. Once the bezel is displaced the screws that hold the keyboard and the system-board together are visible.

2 Loosen the screws that attach the keyboard and the system-board with a screwdriver of appropriate size. Pull-off the screws once they are sufficiently loosened.

3 Hold the keyboard in your left hand and try to move it at an angle of 45 degree. You will notice that the only other attachment the keyboard has is a cable with a pin at it's end that fits into a socket placed on the system board.

4 Holding the keyboard in your left hand at a comfortable distance, pull the cable pin out of the socket in vertical direction using your right hand. Once the pin is out you will find the keyboard removed.

I hope this was helpful.

Hi,

Yes, most of the keys will pop back on with a little pressure. Make sure you have them facing the correct way. If it doesn't pop on, then their might be a plastic connector that needs to be lined up. Those are a pain, but with careful attention to it, you'll see that a couple of numbs (for better words) stick out and need to be put into the wholes on the keypay. At the same time they need to be connected to the key. It doesn't leave you much room to play with, but with a little practice you'll get the hang of it, and practice is exactly what you'll get.

Good Luck.
Mark

you can order a replacement keyboard from ebay and replace the whole thing. its a couple of screws and when pulling apart the laptop you must be careful of the clips. Also they probably sell them by the key on there.

Hi there.
Many laptop keyboards tend to start doing this after prolonged use (including my own), there is no way of fixing them.
What you need to do is replace the keyboard, in the meantime, you can use a small usb keyboard or use the on-screen until you get the keyboard replaced.

Good luck and thanks for using Fixya!!

1. you need to remove the power cover (if you see the power button, that what i mean).
2. after you remove that cover, you will see 2 screw that hold the keyboard. Remove both screws.
3. Remove keyboard and replace it with new keyboard.