MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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my 3 year old acer laptop is playing up, the 'g' won't work and odd things keep clicking/scrolling - i suspect children may have had something to do with it and maybe a spilled drink as well.
not sure what more to do to narrow down what could be the cause but if i need to change the keyboard is it hard?
Depends on the laptop, but not usually - there's usually two pillars on the back of the keyboard which go all the way through to two screws on the back, undo those and the keyboard will lift up - pull the ribbon cable and you're done.
The screws are often marked with arrows - or just get the new keyboard first and see where they are.
Or, if it's just sticky, take the keyboard off, apply loads of GT85, leave for a bit and play with the keys to free them up, then try again once the GT85 has dried.
Before you embark on that, simply try (with laptop switched off), opening the screen and turn the laptop 90°s so that the keyboard is vertically on it's side. Now gently hit(tap) the back of the laptop (or shake it) to try and shift all the toast crumbs from under the keys. You can try a vaccum, but I've always found this way to be best.
Surprising how many keyboards can be 'fixed' by this method.
Also might be easier with the keyboard of
(just beware the crumbs may move to behind another key.. keep going till they've all come out)
Or, if it's just sticky, take the keyboard off, apply loads of GT85, leave for a bit and play with the keys to free them up, then try again once the GT85 has dried.
I'd spring for a can of Servisol myself, it's made for this sort of application.
Try zippy's hint first - though I do also like to set a Dyson on it to removed the more stubborn bits of cake..
Changing a keyboard is usually pretty easy - identify the screws to release it, and wiggle out the ribbon cable to the main board - there's usually a clamp holding it in place. Bound to be a FixYa guide around t'internet.
Assembly is the reverse of disassembly as Haynes used to say 🙂
Put a towel under the lappy to stop imoving around and scratching, and a line of double sided tape to stick screws to as you work.
and a line of double sided tape to stick screws to as you work
great tip, would'nt have thought of that.
Depends on the laptop
This. Some are a piece of cake, some are a right frig.
Generally speaking, it's usually pretty simple so long as you're not heavy handed. You've got two issues, first is how to get it out and second is not to destroy fragile ribbon cables in ZIF sockets.
What's the laptop? Last Acer I did required a goodly amount of prising.