Topic: Laptop keys not working

[Clive]

I purchased a PC Specialist 17.5" gaming laptop for my grandson back in 2016 which he uses for games (obviously) and homework.  Recently, the "L" key and the large enter key have stopped working.  My son has prised both keys off but still neither work.  The numeric pad enter key still works fine.  I've suggested he buys a can of compressed air from Amazon but he is adamant that won't fix it.  I've also suggested he connects a spare keyboard to see if that works but I'm still waiting to hear if he's tried that.  If anyone has any other ideas please let me know. 

[chorleydave]

My Esc key on my laptop doesn't work. I found a workaround using this.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/easily-remap-keys-windows-10-sharpkeys/

[chorleydave]

Just to add, I use my Scroll Lock key (which I have never found a use for) as Esc.

[sam]

I purchased a PC Specialist 17.5" gaming laptop for my grandson back in 2016 which he uses for games (obviously) and homework.  Recently, the "L" key and the large enter key have stopped working.  My son has prised both keys off but still neither work.  The numeric pad enter key still works fine.  I've suggested he buys a can of compressed air from Amazon but he is adamant that won't fix it.  I've also suggested he connects a spare keyboard to see if that works but I'm still waiting to hear if he's tried that.  If anyone has any other ideas please let me know.

Good shout on spare key - you can normally take the cover off. Might just  need a tap on the desk... bet he's been eating over it.

[Simon]

Good shout on spare key - you can normally take the cover off. Might just  need a tap on the desk... bet he's been eating over it.

... or something else...   

[Clive]

I'll e-mail the ideas over to my son.  Thank's Dave and Sam.   

[Clive]

At long last he's actually done something about this.  Several other keys also stopped working and he eventually plugged in an old keyboard which works fine.  I'm assuming that the PC Specialist keyboard is bespoke although looking at mine I'm not so sure.  Has anyone ever fitted a replacement keyboard to a laptop before?

[Simon]

Not me.  But I'm sure it can be done.

[GillE]

If push comes to shove you should be able to connect a conventional keyboard to the laptop's USB, shouldn't you?  (says, Gill, who knows nuffink about such matters).

[daveeb]

At long last he's actually done something about this.  Several other keys also stopped working and he eventually plugged in an old keyboard which works fine.  I'm assuming that the PC Specialist keyboard is bespoke although looking at mine I'm not so sure.  Has anyone ever fitted a replacement keyboard to a laptop before?

I've fitted a new hard drive into a laptop and that was a nightmare even with model specific instructions. I suppose in theory a keyboard should be easier unless of course it's built from the rear up in which case you'd need to totally dismantle it , but dismantling laptops is nothing like desktops. You could look on the PCS forum, it's quite good and you should be able to get advice either from pcs forum members or pcs themselves.
Personally I'd either send it in to them or go the usb k/b route.

[Clive]

He's connected a USB keyboard and that works just fine so he now concedes there is something wrong with the laptop keyboard as opposed to the system itself.  I've told him to get a canister of air to squirt into the keyboard but he hasn't done that yet.  I'll check on the PCS website to see how hard it is to change the keyboard. 

[chorleydave]

There are loads of videos on YouTube showing how to change a laptop keyboard. Not something I've ever done though.

[Clive]

Thanks very much Dave!