Anyone know how to fix a laptop keyboard?

[My Name Is Dave]

I bought a laptop about 4 months ago for school, and somehow the 7 key popped off this morning. Don't ask how, because I can't tell you the last time I even used that key, but regardless, it's off. Rather than dealing with sending it back or any other sorts of hoops I need to go through, does anyone know how I get this bastard back on? Thanks teens,

Sr. Cummings

[Onlypastrana199]

Geez dave don't you know Im your on board comp tech??? 


Call Dell they'll send you a new keyboard, keyboards are user serviceable! Yay! So all you need to do is call them. Done 

[trumpetguy]

I have repaired several old Presarios (including keyoard problems) and if the only problem is a key popping off, just snap it back on.

Even if you do have to replace the keyboard it is relatively simple.  But I'd try snapping it back on first.

[annguyen1981]

I believe that the keyboard problem will have to be sent back to Dell if you contact them.  It is a laptop after all.

+1 to trumpetguy.  Just snap it back on.

[My Name Is Dave]

OK, well I'd rather just snap it back on than call and deal with Dell, however it isn't that easy. What is left where the key was is a little rubber nub (which I can push to make the 7), and a "butterfly thing", for lack of a better explaination. There are two little plastic parts that lay flat but I can manipulate them to come up and they look like an X at their highest point (am I making any sense?). Like scissor jacks I suppose. Regardless, I cannot see how you would get the small-ass flat key on this deal. So...no dice on snapping it back on.

Dave 

[94suzuki500]

lay the number 7 key over its original place and then act like you are filling out a blank check online and quickly and repeatedly press the key as fast and hard as you can till you realize people are watching and wah lah, its back on.

[mjn12]

94 is pretty close.  The key just snaps in place.  each end of the "X" shaped mechanism you described just pops in place on the keyboard - it varies a little how it clips in even between different dell models but usualy you can just put it in its place and apply pressure till it snaps in.  Sometimes you have to hook it under some sort of hook on one side and snap the other but you should be able to tell just by looking at it.  If you break the key whats the worst case scenario - you don't have a 7 key and you're back where you started.  If that doesn't work and the notebook is under warranty you can just have them send out a new keyboard, Most keyboards just clip in place and have a little ribbon cable that gets plugged in. It takes maybe 20 minutes on the phone and thats all.

I'm a part time pc tech for the company thats contracted by the college I go to.  We deal almost exclusively with Dell laptops (the Apples don't get sent to us cuz they never break).  If you do break something trying to put the key back on don't tell Dell that, Their keyboards break all the time, almost as often as their hard drives.

[Onlypastrana199]

I'm a Dell tech and I'm telling ya...keyboards are user serviceable..

ditto on the keyboards/harddrives 

I had one girl buy a dell laptop and then her spacebar just stopped working..for no reason...POS keyboards..but my compaq keyboard isnt much better...but I prolly over use it....

[My Name Is Dave]

I did some sliding/slamming, and it's back on. For now...