how to change keyboard on a toshiba z830?

hi

i have atoshiba z830-10f with a french keyboard.
i would like to kknow if i can put a us, uk keyboard and how to do it?

thanks

 

Should be "doable"

As for disassembly guides and where to buy the keyboard, I think the "internets" is still lacking is that department; ie you will be one of the first to attempt this. You could try US based parts dealers [sparepartswarehouse, Nationpartsdepot, or ebay]. If you do attempt it, please take lots of pictures and post back with your results.


Good luck

 

I am looking to do the same thing and I have searched high and low on the internet to find some instructions. I have a replacement keyboard arriving tomorrow and I will assess the situation then and see if I want to try it. For me, the reason for the replacement is that 3 or 4 keys have the paint scratched off and they look scruffy. (I bought a used Z830 for a good price, but the keyboard is not pristine.) I am wondering if I might be better off just trying to remove the damaged keys and replacing them with keys from the new keyboard. I know it's easy to damage keys when trying to pry them off, but they are damaged already, right?

If I do go for the full keyboard replacement route, I will take lots of pics and post the whole process here. Wish me luck! ;-)

 

Well, my replacement keyboard arrived today and there is good news and bad news.

The good news is, the keyboard had no lugs around the edges and no screw holes anywhere to be seen. So it is clearly not installed by attaching it from the inside of the laptop, behind the motherboard. It simply drops in from the top (outside) of the laptop.

But, there are no attachments of any sort. It is pretty clear that the existing keyboard is simply glued in. So how difficult it will be to remove, and put the new keyboard in and get it flat and stuck down properly, I don't know.

Also, the ribbon connectors are quite simply the thinnest, flimsiest, most fragile things I have ever seen on an electronic device. A butterfly's wing is more robust. There is no supporting plastic around the connectors, they are just a few smears of copper on a piece of cellophane. In all seriousness, less than 0.1mm thick.

How on earth I can fit this wisp into any connector on the laptop without squashing, folding or breaking it, goodness knows.

Here's what we are dealing with: (Note the ballpoint pen and ordinary piece of string circa 1mm diameter!)

 

I think it is going to be straightforward (I am not trying it yet because I am waiting for a new mSATA SSD and an 8GB memory stick and I want to do the whole job in one go.)

But here's the inside of the Z830:



You can see the back of the keyboard through the hexagonal grid which is the frame of the laptop. So it should be a simple matter of pushing the old keyboard out, replace it with the new keyboard (running the ribbon cables through the hexagonal holes), turng the laptop over and push the ribbon cables into place. Doesn't look too difficult at all.

I'll let you know how I get on, probably early next week.

 

Awesome work Chip!!!
I do agree, those keyboard ribbons do appear to be thin, but hopefully that won't be too much of a complication.

Thank you for the photos and the valuable contribution! Looking forward to your update.

 

how did this go?

I want to replace the US board in mine for a UK one and I think I've found the part on eBay but want to make sure its not too much of a job, talk of glue etc makes me a bit apprehensive

cheers

Ben

 

Hi Chippy_boy,

have you been successful? Can you give me some hints for changing the keyboard!? Do I need special tools and/or a special gluten?
Thanks!

Best Regards severb

 

I signed up so I could add this - if you look at the manual ( RTFM) you'll see that the previous user was nearly there. The next bit, which I'll admit scared me at first, is to peel the keyboard off from the front. It doesn't really 'just push out', you're trying to unstick it and have to apply a little force. I used a flat blade to get it to lift in the corner but it will come out - the unpleasant sound you'll hear is the glue coming unstuck. Detach the cables first of course. I took a picture so you can see what you're trying to do.



I had get my tool under the edge of the keyboard and literally peel it out. It bends but you can bend it back. The official advice is not to reuse the old keyboard, that's up to you. They probably say that because it's hard to get the keyboard out without spoiling the sticky tape which runs all round the edge and holds the keyboard in. With a little careful straightening and preparation I got the keyboard back in and looking OK.

(Tip: Remember to put the cables back before you put it all back together.)