Inspiron keys unresponsive

On my recently acquired Dell Inspiron 5000, I have intermittent failures with some keys -- sometimes they all work, sometimes several will not respond at all no matter how often pressed, then a day later they work. (The problem seems confined to a half-dozen keys so far.)

Is there any kind of maintenance, short of replacing the entire keyboard, that could help? I've brushed dust and such from the gaps, with no obvious improvement.

 

Keyboard replacements are generally pretty easy

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pblan/removing.htm#keyboard

 

If you can get one, and I'm not in the USA, so EBay isn't an option. Otherwise they look to cost more than the whole laptop is worth.

I will look locally, but I was hoping for a less drastic option.

 

They run about $30 US, they arent very expensive, if you want to try and keep the old one, remove it as you would if you were replacing it, and clean it throughly again. Good luck!

I'm sure you can find a better deal with some searching, this place tends to be a little high on most things, but they do ship to the UK and canada, where are you located?

http://impactcomputers.com/8676u-rb.html

 

I'm in Hong Kong, shipping from the US is generally extortionate, if they accept the order at all.

I will shop around here if necessary.

But I would like to try to clean it -- exactly how? Air? Alcohol? Water ?

 

Have you tried contacting Dell about a replacement?

 

I really would like to try cleaning/fixing it before I resort to replacement.

Have you or anyone go any hints in that direction -- I can work out how to take it out, then what?

 

Ya know, I really think we need to have a class here about using search engines, I typed the magic word "google", added ".com" and this wonderful page opened up, then I typed "cleaning a laptop keyboard, and this popped up at the top of the list http://www.computing.net/howto/simple/keyboard/ , followed by many other similar pages, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one with a search engine.

 

I ask here because I hope to get advice from people who have actually faced the same problems with the same hardware.

So far you've said 1) replace it 2) use Google.

I asked how to FIX it. If you don't know, or don't want to help, fine.

The page you linked is about fixing "sticky" keyboards.
I have keys that don't work. The reason I asked here is that I did try Googling, and found thousands of irrelevant hits like the one you so graciously gave me.

I've been using the Internet since Gopher search was state-of-the-art, so I'll skip your search engine lesson, if you don't mind.

 

No one was replying to you, so I attempted to help you the best I could, no need to get uppity about it. The link I posted, (assuming you have a similar type of keyboard) is all about thoroughly CLEANING a keyboard, which is what you asked for, you dont have sticky keys, so logically you can omit the lubrication steps if you want, and you dont have to follow the guide to the letter, I personally have never done it, I use canned air on mine, and in the event of a non functioning/partially functioning keyboard, I simply replace it, you could probably get one directly through dell for a reasonable price.