Key got "sticky". Can I remove it and clean it separately? (P370EM)

Hi,

on my P370EM, the TAB key got "sticky" for some reason. I.e. you need way more pressure to actually cause the computer to recognize that you've pressed the TAB key. Ive tried dust-cleaning it with pressured air and it didnt work, thus I assume that somehow something got in the key that made it sticky. It also sounds a bit differently than the other keys.

I've seen on youtube that some laptops allow you to remove keys separately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXP1_WjtBP0

Can this be done on the P370EM as well?
It's an illuminated keyboard, so I'm not sure.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

Yes, you can remove the keys from pretty much any keyboard regardless if it is illuminated or not. The illuminated layer sits below the layer that registers the key strokes. It is however potentially dangerous, since the keys are held by small plastic retainers, which can be easily broken (if not removed in correct manner). To complicate matters further, not all keyboard have the same key retainers, which results in different removing procedures. You have to be very careful when doing so in order not to damage the key retainers.

 

It could be the clip is loose already or damaged.

 

It worked fine with this small youtube tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkcDMUtyG8

However, I cant really see any obvious problems, nothing is broken. It seems that the rubber has to be pushed down to the very bottom to cause a keypress. Any ideas on how to fix this or what could cause it? Ive removed all the dirt, dust and hairs visible :/

EDIT: Tried to fix it like this now:

Doesn't really fix it but makes everything a little better at least.

The image isnt really the best (bad webcam xD) but it's a cut-out round piece of duct tape (multiple layers).

 

It could be the metal dome that registers the press is damaged. That would require a new keyboard.

 

I think that thats the reason. It was really clean although I didnt remove the clip beneath the button itself. Ive even managed to get a paper beneath the rubber thing in case there was something that my compressed air spray didnt get out, but there was nothing :/

Well since its just the TAB key, Ill leave it like this for now. If another key gets damaged in the future, Ill probably buy a new keyboard. The "fix" I made using duct tape partially fixed it though or at least improved it a bit.

 

Yeah its likely dented so adding some material helps press it down.