removing keys from sz keyboard?

Just curious if anyone knows, is it easy to just 'pop' off specific keys from the keyboard? (I have a sz110 if it matters) I remember it was really easy to do that in Dell laptops. I keep thinking that if I could pop off the spacebar, reinforce it a little underneath, maybe it would minimize the lack of response at the edges. I like the keyboard a lot actually, just that stupid spacebar.

 

I was in Fry's last night testing out their SZ's. I noticed that one of the SZ's was a little more temperamental in regards to the space bar. I just pulled up on the space bar and the key popped off. I flexed the key to put a slight "U" shape in key. In other words the left and right sides were slightly bowed upwards in relation to the center. I snapped the key back in and it seemed to work a little better. This is not the first time I've seen this problem. Bending the key helps a little, but from experience shimming up the key works better. You do that by removing the key and placing a few layers of shim material (tape works well) in-between the key and the rubber nub (sensor). This takes up the slack in-between the key and the sensor. You have to be careful and not put in too much shim material or you'll make the key too sensitive and/or the sensor will be made all the time.

 

So the spacebar doesn't have some sort of metal clip holding it down like regular keyboards do? It seemed pretty stuck on when I tried to pop it off. I was afraid to put any more pressure in yanking it out. I don't want to accidentally break it.

 

There are four sets of plastic clips and a metal bar that runs the length of the key (which you do find on most space bars and sometimes on the shift keys).

 

Hm. Will I be able to just pull it straight out or would I have to worry about the metal bar?

 

The ends of the metal bar just slide into an open ended slot. I used both hands and slide my nails under the top (facing the C,V,B,N, etc. keys) edge and pulled straight up. It took quite a bit of force before the clips released.

FYI, you may be able to pry the spacebar up high enough to slide a shim into place. I don't have access to a SZ (mine is being delivered today) so I can't say you can or can't.

 

Thanks, I'll give this a go and see how it turns out.

 

Well, I put some tape on the sensor area. It seems to have fixed the right side totally. The left, not so much. At least the space bar works from the center all the way to the right now.

 

I did the same thing tonight and it made a WORLD of difference for me... at least on the right side as well... I pretty much only use my right thumb to press the space bar...

I used a small square of ducting tape (you know the sticky "metal" tape they use to install a/c ducting) and then finished that off with a small square of electrical tape over that... It has taken out all of the slack and now the thing works as I expect... The space bar is not overly sensitive...

That issue (insensitive space bar) was my only complaint with my SZ120P and now I was able to "Mod" it with the help of you folks... Rates this thing a 10 out of 10... Fortunately I don't have that electrical charge in the palm rest (another post) so I can be happy... Thanks.

Don

 

so if I understand well, its possible to put off the keys of the keyboard one by one and thus It could be possible to replace them in a different order? ( I'm thinking to change 3 keys to have back aazerty belgium keyboard and not a azerty french keyboard..) Should that be possible?

 

nobody knows?

 

not possible. If you change them for example you put change A and S, everytime you type S you would get A...and there is no way to change what you type with which key.

 

you'd have to remap the keys in windows xp in addition to just swapping out the physical keys on the keyboard. i'm not quite sure how to remap it, but after a quick googling, it seems like it could be a complicated process. something about scancodes in the registry.

 

yeah but the remap is just like changing the setup ( it is in the control panel no? like you say in the control panel that you have a azerty instead of a qwerty? is that correct? then its not too difficult and then the physical swapping becomes the most difficult part?

 

er dude why would you want to do that, learn to adapt ... my sister's IBM is all weird european too keys in different places, but deal .

Dont mess with the keyboard on a SZ good notebook and you dont want anything happening with the warranty.

 

So why not try changing whatever you have now from QWERTY to AZERTY in Windows and see what happens? If it works, then the reverse should work as well.

 

Hm, yeah, on further googling, there's something about going to the control panel - regional and language - language tab - details - and add the keyboard. sounds easy enough. if it works, then yeah you're probably right, physically switching the keys is the more difficult part.

 

Not that I ever wanted to do this, but today my roomate's dog jumped on my bed not knowing my laptop was there and her paw caught the num lock/scr lock key (I have an sz120). I started to freak out because I have never had to fix the keys on a keyboard before. I read this thread and decided to try to fix it. And low and behold, I snapped the key off (gently), and snapped it back in! It was so easy and it is back to normal! So if anyone was wondering if it is possible to just "snap" a key back in, it can be done without much tinkering. All you need to do is snap it off (gently) and then make sure the connectors are flat on the keyboard and then snap it back in. Voila, it's fixed! Now everything's a-ok in the world!!! whew!

 

We all have had our share of experience . Mines came off when I banged the keyboard because the notebook was being lame, not the Sony, my HP .