Keyboard broken i have a compaq presario f500 laptop and one of my keys has come off and when i tried to put it back on the flimsy plastic pieces broke that clip it back in, so my question is; can i buy the little plastic pieces anywhere?

Oh dear you have broken this and will need to send it off to be fixed.

Sometimes if you are lucky you can just put the key level where it goes and press firmly but not excessively and it may reseat itself. If this does not work, you should make sure that the plastic piece and the key are lined up appropriately and then secure them to the base. Make sure the rubber stopper is in the center of the key seat so it can press the key when the button is depressed.

Good Luck,

NOLA Tech

There are two tiny protuberances on the smaller of the clips under the key. These must be UNDER the larger clip as you push the key onto the board.

first remove the cable,
and reconect the all cable ELSE
the if fault of keyboard

There should be 3 Phillips screws on the bottom of the unit that secure the keyboard. Most HP laptops have a little keyboard symbol indicating the correct screw.

Here is a link to the service manual describing the process.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01602064.pdf

Try pressing hard until it clicks (better to do it with the computer off). If it still comes off a paper type glue like PritStick would be OK but don't use cyanoacrylate.

On most laptops there is a piece of plastic between the screen and the keyboard. If you get a small screw driver and are careful you can pop up the plastic. Underneath this plastic you will find the screws you need to remove in order to remove the keyboard. If you are worried about scratching the laptop you can buy the tool that professionals use called a spudger to pry the plastic piece up here. http://www.ifixit.com/Apple-Parts/Spudger/IF145-002

On a presario the keys are hinged with a small metal hinge at the top that fits into two plastic clips and lets the key sit over the membrane of the keyboard. If the plastic clips have snapped it will involve the fitting of a new keyboard which isnt a user serviceable thing.

If it's out of warranty (HP now own Compaq, so it's them you'll need to talk to, but they will tell you the warranty status from the serial number of the machine) you might consider a rubber "roll up keyboard" along the lines of http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/bendi-light-up-keyboard/index.html - these are rubber folding keyboards that can be transported easily in your laptop bag but are still full size.

They usually break off. Try supper glue.

Probably need a new keyboard altogether.
Some here.
http://www.priorityelectronics.com/laptop-keyboards/presario-keyboards.htm
http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/Compaq,Laptop,Keyboards.aspx
Refurbished ones here:
http://rogerhenson.com/parts.php?db=11