CF-28mk3 - Intro and is my keyboard broken?

Hi y'all.
Newbie here, been lurking a couple months, appreciating all the tips and advice found here.

Recently got my mk3 with GPS, installed XP and all the drivers (not the GPS though) and have the touchscreen working.
Swapped out the keyboard for the rubber illuminated two lead one (no chicklet) because a key was broken off on the original plastic keyboard.

Now...
Only 1 hotkey works, the speaker volume up, no others.
The CTRL key does nothing at all.
The PAGE UP key does nothing at all.

Now I'm wondering if I bought a bum keyboard despite it being "like new" and clean as a whistle, or simply have not connected it properly.
As far as the hotkey driver, I executed it, but not sure if it worked, but one hotkey does seem to work.
In Device Manager, I do have an unknown device, but not sure if that is the GPS or that which I should be loading the hotkey drivers properly from.

Would still have the CTRL and PAGE UP key problems anyway is my guess.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Amukcanuk

 

I'd try putting the old KB back in & try it; this would eliminate software changes and damaged mainboard connectors. Be very careful when installing the ribbon connectors to mainboard; there are very delicate latches in those connectors which it is very easy to damage or get the cable on the wrong side of. Be sure to push the cable in all the way, but don't force it - it takes little force to seat the cable properly if the latch is postioned properly. When the cable is seated, flip the latch gently as well; it should take very little force for it to click into place if everything is aligned properly. The entire connector is made of hard plastic which can be brittle, be very careful. Oh - and don't get the two connectors reversed - I believe you can do it if you force them, but it will damage the cable end.

mnem

 

In device manager, did you try right click the unknown device and update driver....point to the folder you extracted the hkey driver to, and see if it loads it?

 

*Takes his own advice & re-reads the post*

Hmmm... If NOTHING worked, I'd be concerned about damaged connectors or careless install. If only a few keys do not seem to respond under any conditions, then yes, you probably do have a defective KB. We had a thread going that mentioned that; one of our members got 2 or 3 bad membrane (rubber) keyboards in a row, so evidently they may be a bit of an issue. As for the hotkey poller, the functions should be the same no matter which KB you have installed, except of course for the KB illumination function.

mnem
Why is the mouse when it spins?

 

Thanks y'all.

While I did not fully test the old KB, I was able to use both speaker volume function buttons rather than just the one I can now. I was also able to cut, copy and paste in documents as the CTRL button worked, unlike now.

I was more wondering if the issue was how I connected the new KB, or the KB buttons themselves. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, but it seems that the buttons are NFG, as a faulty ribbon cable connection should result in far more wrong than what I am experiencing now.

Too bad I bought the KB from E-bay months ago, no chance of a warranty.
One of the bigger Toughbook dealer out there too.
Anyone want to buy a "like new" rubber illuminated keyboard? LOL - I AM joking, I would not be so unscrupulous as to pass off something I knew was broken, as "like new".

Still worth a shot to reinstall the old KB and fully test it though.

Cheers,
Amukcanuk

 

Did you try re-seating the ribbons in the connectors?

I hate those things, I'm just never sure I have them *just right*

That large one...with the brown lock...you do have the ribbon on *top* of the lock piece, right?

 

If it makes you feel better, I learned my lesson twice about buying "AS-IS" keyboards from shady people near Seattle.

Both were junk-on-arrival.

 

Depending on how many keys you have that are NOT working, it most likely is the seating of the ribbon cable. I had the same problem when I replaced my chicklet keyboard with the rubber back lit. Took me 3 times reseating the cable and precariously holding/negotiating the rubber keyboard in place to get all the keys working properly. And I never was able to put ALL the screws back in the cover plate, just could not get the angle. If you just have a few keys out, then you have a bad keyboard. Just my 2 cents.

 

Doobi is EXACTLY RIGHT! Try reseating the connector CAREFULLY! Then fire up the latop and try it out BEFORE you put the stainless cover back on.

What happens a lot of the time is that when screwing the cover back on it pulls the ribbon cable out of the connector just barely... Just enough to kill a few keys. Reseat it and try before buttoning it up.