broken keys

my ahole friend recently broke two keys off my pavilion dv8000t keyboard (W and C). What's the cheapest way to get them fixed?

 

you cant get them fixed, only replace. Check ebay , should only cost $20 or so

 

Well the problem is that I don't know how to put the keys onto the little latches...

 

Entire keyboard must be replaced. Individual keys can not be replaced as far as I know.

 

replace the entire keyboard.

if you still have the W and C keys, just push them into place.

 

I have the W and C keys, but the small white plastic things that allow keys to snap onto the board are broken. Is there any electronics store that can repair HP keyboards?

 

Nope, keyboards always get replaced and never fixed

 

If you bring it to a repair center, they will replace the keyboard.

You can also get a whole new (or used) keyboard from ebay. The instructions for replacing it are available from HP's website if you look up your computer's service manual.

If you're willing to try fixing your existing keyboard yourself, its not that difficult. There are sellers who will sell you the plastic clips (usually with a replacement keycap for $3 or so). Check your keyboard part number and make sure you buy the exact replacement. The seller should be able to give you the exact assembly procedure for your keyboard.

 

You can find a video here of how to replace the keyboard... among other things:

HP Services Media Library

Just find your notebook, and click on FRU Remove/Replace. From there you can select keyboard and it will provide step by step instructions, both written and with video.

 

Thanks for the link, but all i really need to know is how to clip on the plastic thing... it seems so simple but I just can't manage to get it on.

 

if the plastic things are broken, you will have to get a new keyboard

 

Here's what I did with my Omnibook XE3 and DV1000 keyboards when keys came off. You should see metal hooks on the board. If you're lucky they will only fit the clips one way, otherwise you'll have to figure out how the clips attach to the hooks. If you can't figure it out, you could pull another key off and see how it attaches (be gentle, you've seen how small the clips are). Go ahead and put the clip onto the hooks. Now look at the underside of the keycap. One side will have vertical slots to fit into the clip, the other side will have horizontal slots. Slide a small screwdriver under the side of the clip which corresponds to the horizontal slots on the keycap. While holding the clip up, slide the horizontal slots onto the clip. Remove the screwdriver and let the assembly down, then gently press the keycap down until the vertical slots snap into the clip.

As I mentioned earlier, if your clip is broken, you can find a replacement on ebay (I just searched "dv8000 key", several sellers currently offer them for sale).

Edit: I just found the Powerpoint file sent to me when I bought a replacement clip for my DV1000 on ebay. If you want I can e-mail it to you, the file is about 400K in size and has photos illustrating the replacement procedure. Might be less scary than pulling another key off .