Spilled liquid on top of keys... now one key dead, what to do?

hi there

I spilled some liquid on my keyboard the other day and the "d" and the "f" keys stopped working. After drying it out or a day the "f" key came back but the "d" key remains unresponsive. What can I do for something like this? It doesn't seem as if the "d" is going to come back on its own. Can I change the keypad for a new one myself? If I take it to a shop will it be very expensive?

I own a Toshiba Portege M800.

Thanks!

 

You should be able to pick up a keyboard off Ebay for about $30, give or take. It should be a simple enough procedure - taking it to a repair shop will most likely end up costing you a fair bit more money.

You could try getting the keyboard out, sticking it in a bucket of soapy water for a day or so, then take it out, leave it to dry for a week or so, somewhere where it will be able to dry properly. A bag of rice could work, as it will soak up the moisture. Just make sure it can't get in under the keys or something.

 

Hi there, thanks for your reply. Are there online procedures of how to do this because I am a complete amateur with computer repair... do I have to open the laptop up? What do you mean make sure the "it cant get in under the keys or something"? The water cant get in under the keys?

 

Make sure the rice can't get in under the keys, if the keys have a space far enough, then the rice will get in.

You will just have to take the keyboard out. On most notebooks, that is not a difficult procedure, all you should have to do is remove a bezel, which will have screws underneath, which will then allow you to just lift the keyboard out. That's what it is like on my model anyway.

There are guides on the internet, also, take a look at the sticky in this subsection, it will probably have your model.

EDIT: I can see that from pictures off the internet, the M800 is a lot my A300 in terms of design. There should be a removable bezel part from around the keyboard, whether it's at the top or bottom, just get a screwdriver or tweezers under that and peel it out. Then when you have that out, there will most likely be some screws there, where the bezel was. Unscrew them. You should be able to now just lift the keyboard out, being mindful of the small tabs that hold the bottom in.

 

Well does the whole keyboard have to be replaced or could I just replace the "d" key?

 

I looked up what "bezel" means and the only thing resembling it on my keyboard is this little strip of plastic running alongside the top of my keyboard and it doesn't seem to be popping off readily.

 

You can not just replace the "D" key, as it would most likely mess up the socket for the key when you pull it out.

Yes, that's the one. You'll need to get a screwdriver under it, in between the keyboard itself.

Here's an example:

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/lapto...05/disassembly-big/disassembly-process-02.jpg

I know that the laptop featured in that photo in not yours, but I am assuming they are roughly the same design, correct?

If you can't get that keyboard off, then you won't have a working "D", period.

 

Get a new Keybd. water spill on keybd will couse the key to stuck or mulfuction. No point of replacing the key. it wont work. its the contacts under the rubber nipple that are bad. you wont able to do much to clean that. the keybd plastic sheet contact are sealed.

 

A bought a keyboard off ebay once. Someone had spilled coffee on it. I washed with water then I left it to day overnight. Result it was like new working without any problem.

You won't lose anything since you're already planning to buy another keyboard.