{"id":1624,"date":"2019-01-10T07:00:38","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T12:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1624"},"modified":"2019-01-09T12:14:58","modified_gmt":"2019-01-09T17:14:58","slug":"a-reader-asks-some-of-the-keys-of-my-laptop-wont-trigger-is-my-keyboard-broken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/01\/10\/a-reader-asks-some-of-the-keys-of-my-laptop-wont-trigger-is-my-keyboard-broken\/","title":{"rendered":"A reader asks: “Some of the keys of my laptop won\u2019t trigger. Is my keyboard broken?”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yes, by definition: It\u2019s not working, so it\u2019s broken! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think you\u2019re really asking if it can be repaired<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can remove the keyboard, it\u2019s quite possible that you can indeed correct what\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll have to poke around your laptop, carefully removing fasteners, to see how it\u2019s put together. Some laptop keyboards are hard to remove, requiring specialized equipment. Others come apart easily with standard small hand tools (e.g. ordinary screwdrivers). You didn’t say what model\/brand system you have; let’s hope it’s one of the easier-to-disassemble ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have the keyboard separated from the laptop, you can take steps to effect repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the keys started sticking or becoming non-responsive over time, or happened some time after a spill (e.g. liquid on the keyboard), the cause is likely that dirt or debris is under the keys, preventing the keys from making proper contact. Usually, you can clean this out without a lot of trouble. See, for example, these related questions\/answers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. I spilled yogurt on my keyboard. Now some keys are stuck. How do I fix it?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  2. My new keyboard keeps on typing the same letter. How can I fix it?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>
  3. Pressing a key or clicking a mouse button sends what type of signal to the CPU?\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, if the keys were damaged in a drop or other impact, then they could be mechanically broken. You probably won\u2019t be able to repair mechanical damage, but you likely can replace the keyboard outright: Search online for an exact-match replacement; you may also be able to buy an inexpensive, working, used keyboard from places like eBay and CraigsList.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Permalink: https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=1624<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Want to ask Fred a question? Have a comment? Click here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Want free notification of new content like this? Click here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Yes, by definition: It\u2019s not working, so it\u2019s broken! \ud83d\ude42 I think you\u2019re really asking if it can be repaired. If you can remove the keyboard, it\u2019s quite possible that you can indeed correct what\u2019s wrong. You\u2019ll have to poke around your laptop, carefully removing fasteners, to see how it\u2019s put together. Some laptop keyboards…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-misc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-qc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":431,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/20\/a-reader-asks-i-spilled-yogurt-on-my-keyboard-now-some-keys-are-stuck-how-do-i-fix-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":0},"title":"A reader asks: I spilled yogurt on my keyboard. Now some keys are stuck. How do I fix it?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-09-20","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: I spilled yogurt on my keyboard. Now some keys are stuck. How do I fix it? (via Quora) A: Wash it! Yes, you can wash almost any electronic device, provided the device is unpowered and you only use distilled water, which is almost totally nonconductive. There's no guarantee it'll\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2228,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/06\/a-reader-asks-will-my-water-spilled-laptop-be-ok\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":1},"title":"A reader asks: “Will my water-spilled laptop be OK?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-03-06","format":false,"excerpt":"Reader Emily Long sent in this urgent note --- from her smartphone, I presume! \"A couple of hours ago I spilled water on my laptop, I've turned it off, dried the keyboard and it is currently sitting keyboard down while I wait for any possible water to drain out. Will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1412,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/12\/19\/a-reader-asks-how-can-i-reduce-laptop-noise\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":2},"title":"A reader asks: “How can I reduce laptop noise?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-12-19","format":false,"excerpt":"Laptop noise usually comes from four components: the cooling fans; any spinning-media data-storage device (e.g. hard drive or DVD); the keyboard; and the speakers. We'll discuss those in reverse order, and immediately discount the speakers: I seriously doubt that's the kind of noise you were referring to! You can just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3480,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/26\/why-must-laptop-keyboards-be-replaced-why-cant-they-be-repaired\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":3},"title":"“Why must laptop keyboards be replaced? Why can’t they be repaired?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-09-26","format":false,"excerpt":"Keyboards are mechanically complex, with *lots* of little parts \u2014- usually its own multi-layer circuit board containing its own logic chips and firmware, plus wiring and connectors and over 100 separate electromechanical switches, each one itself a little multi-part precision subassembly with a spring, plunger, contact points, a base, stabilizers,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/scissor-switch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4074,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/15\/do-you-care-if-your-laptop-has-a-backlit-keyboard\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":4},"title":"“Do you care if your laptop has a backlit keyboard?”","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-01-15","format":false,"excerpt":"(Answer requested by Elynn Quirk) Personally? Nope. Not at all. I doubt I use my keyboard's backlight even 0.1% of the time. I\u2019d probably feel differently if I were regularly using the laptop in situations with poor lighting. But if there\u2019s enough light to work, there\u2019s usually enough light for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/37391673_s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/37391673_s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/37391673_s.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/37391673_s.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":427,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/19\/a-reader-asks-how-many-keyboard-keys-are-being-pressed-at-the-same-time-in-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":1624,"position":5},"title":"A reader asks: How many keyboard keys are being pressed at the same time, in the world?","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2018-09-19","format":false,"excerpt":"Q: How many keyboard keys are pressed at the same second in the world?\u00a0 (via Quora) A: A very rough guess: humans currently generate 416 million keystrokes per second. Here\u2019s the (admittedly shaky) logic --- feel free to adjust up or down as you wish: Assuming you mean physical keyboards\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "A reader asks..."","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1624"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1628,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1624\/revisions\/1628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}