Help fixing my VGN-Z -- keyboard not responding

I have an old VGN-Z590 that has started having problems lately. After investigating, I determined that they keyboard ribbon (FPC-130) needed replacing. In the process of doing this, I think I damaged the palm/keyboard interface (SWX-284)...so now only a few keys work.

My questions:

• Any idea where I can find these parts on the cheap?
• This thing is 4 years old...should I just bail and sink my $$ into a new unit?

On a related note...this problem has me looking at the new Z's...and the TP X230. The Vaio's are beautiful...but I'm concerned about the inability to easily upgrade memory, SSD, etc...as I've heard that they are proprietary.

 

If after replacing the ribbon cable only a few keys work, the number one suspect is that you didn't plug in the cable properly. Wipe the end of the cable with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry, then give it another go, trying to align the conductive stripes of the ribbon to the contacts of the connector. If possible, get someone with good eyesight and slim fingers to help you.

 

Thanks for the info...I think I might have damaged the connector, though. Some of the keys work if I press down on the connector...so that tells me that it isn't seated correctly. I think I may have to find this part as well...which could start getting expensive.

 

Take a sheet of plastic similar to an overhead projector transparency. Cut off a strip to the exact width of the connector portion of the ribbon, then place this strip behind the ribbon (on the side where there are no conductive stripes), and insert both the ribbon and the plastic strip into the connector. The idea is that the plastic strip will give more 'body' to the ribbon and make a better contact.