broken keys on laptop

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

ok before i give myself a heart attack from stress, i will clearly state the problem. the g and h keys do not work right on my laptop and the rubber piece under the g broke off completely and now i have lost it. is there a way to hook up another keyboard or will i have to replace the laptop?

also can a laptop keyboard (or 2 keys) be replaced? and do any of you know how to do that?
thank you.
merilyn

[John Prohodsky]

Hi Merilyn,

Fry's and maybe Best Buy sells a USB cable that connects a wired keyboard and mouse to a laptop. Alternatively, you can buy a wireless keyboard and mouse. I don't know what OS you're running, so you might want to check compatibility.

Repair alternatives include cleaning the keyboard - the keys can be removed. A quick look at the keyboard - compare working with non-working keys - might discover a simple problem, Sometimes just disassembling and reassembling the keyboard might fix the problem.

Laptop keyboards can be replaced. Buying a new laptop is a last resort.

You could threaten to install Window 8 and see if the laptop shapes up ;-).

Regards,
John

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

thank you. these 2 keys are beyond removing and putting back on properly myself. I have been doing that for a while now til it got to this point. good to know i don't need money i don't have for a new laptop. i threatened it...if that works i will start believing in miracles : ) merilyn

[Deen Sethanandha]

Hi Merilyn,

  What brand and model of your laptop?  You can likely find the replacement on eBay.  It shouldn't be more than $20.

  You could also remove other key on your keyboard and put it in place or g and h.  It happen to me too.  Key with identical size sjhhpuld fit just fine.  If you touch type it shouldn't confuse you too much.

Deen

[Kevin Vilbig]

Yes. You can get replacements online relatively easily for most models, and it's a really simple process to replace all of the laptop keyboards that I've run into.

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

dell vostro 1000 is the make and model

is it dangerous until I get it fixed to touch metal as I removed the g key.
is that an electrocution risk if computer is plugged in? it doesn't seem to be but i wanted to make sure as no one replied to that post thanks!

merilyn

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

more specifically i removed the g key and 1 of the 2 plastic pieces under it. and the rubber dome broke off.so now i am touching the metal (silver colored) under the plastic to type the letter g. the black coating also wore off. is that dangerous?

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

thanks deen but i can't put another key there as the parts under it are also broken.

dell vostro 1000

[Merilyn Gottlieb]

it also says standard 101/102-key or microsoft natural ps/2 keyboard (under device manager)

dell vostro 1000