How to fix damaged keyboard?

julianzolo · 15 Jul 2016

some liquid spilled on it, and even though it is dry now, it is still worthless, probably a short circuit, is it fixable or do I have to sent it to professionals?

Mellon Head · 15 Jul 2016

If it's a laptop, you'll probably have to replace the keyboard. It's difficult. You might want to have it done by a professional.

ICIT2LOL · 16 Jul 2016

As Mellon Head has said mate but some can be pulled apart and the contacts cleaned. It is a matter of prising off the key pads and underneath there are rubberised electrical contacts that in your case have become contaminated by say sugar if the liquid was coffee or what.

Now depending on how much grief you want to go to - do as Mellon Head has said and just replace it and you can disassemble it for an exercise afterwards if you want to and you will see what I mean.

Edit: The pic is actually in reveerse you need to see that as the other way round

Digerati · 17 Jul 2016

You need to tell us about this keyboard. If a notebook keyboard, and you have not disassembled notebooks before, I would take the notebook to a professional. They take apart notebooks all the time, have the necessary tools, know how to strategically place their tongue right, and how to put it back together again.

If a PC, you can just replace the keyboard or try to clean it and if not successful, replace it anyway. Some keyboards can be soaked in a sink of warm soapy water, rinsed VERY thoroughly, then dried with compressed air (or prop up the keyboard on its edge in front of a desk fan on high for MANY hours - turning the keyboard frequently). Other keyboards will be totally ruined if you dunk them water. Electrical contact cleaner can some times be used without disassembling the keyboard.

The worry is, if a notebook, that some of the liquid made it past the keyboard and into the interior of notebook's case. This is particularly bad with a notebook because even if unplugged, the battery is still supplying voltages to several points inside, and permanent damage may result.

If a notebook and you are 200% certain it is totally dry inside, you could test the notebook itself by connecting an external USB keyboard to the notebook and see if it works okay.

ICIT2LOL · 17 Jul 2016

If a notebook keyboard,

Yep mate in his specs it is a laptop (post#1 specs) and in my experience especially with the older ones the keyboard "sits" in an aluminium tray for want of a better description. Now taking that apart is not that hard unless it is a sealed unit.
It does depend as I think mentioned how much was spilled what was spilled ie plain water or soem sugary or even and acidic solution most Coke drinks are slightly acidic.

Having said that keyboards for laptops on EBay are usually quite cheap and to save the expense of a shop only takes a few minutes to replace given one has a disassembly guide for that brand of laptop.

Which by the way Julian is it?? Let us know and we can track something down for you.

Digerati · 18 Jul 2016

ICIT2LOL said:

Yep mate in his specs it is a laptop (post#1 specs)

True, but I don't assume the computer listed in a poster's specs is the same computer with the problem. I have 5 computers in this house, all different. And many come here seeking help for a friends or relatives computer. So those System Specs lists are really worthless and potentially misleading, unless the OP specifies in his opening post that is the computer in question. Assuming can get one in trouble, and worse, lead to bad advice being given.

And since the OP has yet to return to verify what we are dealing with, we still cannot assume one way or the other.

ICIT2LOL · 18 Jul 2016

Yep mate I was just going on what was in the OP's specs (an Asus laptop) as usually if the machine is down they are usually sending from a desktop or someone else's laptop. As so often is the case we are left with little to no system specs or such a brief description of the problem machine and I for one am alwasy asking for specs to be sent in. I sometimes wish I was a mind reader.

Digerati · 19 Jul 2016

I sometimes wish I was a mind reader.

lol Actually it would be better if all posters were mind readers and know what information we need before posting.

That would certainly be to the OPs' advantage too because it would avoid delays caused by unnecessary exchanges of posts just to gather information about the hardware and problem before a solution can be determined and offered.

Sadly, we are still waiting for the OP to return. Fortunately, after 20+ years in the military, I am a expert at "Hurry up and wait!"

oscer1 · 19 Jul 2016

julianzolo said:

some liquid spilled on it, and even though it is dry now, it is still worthless, probably a short circuit, is it fixable or do I have to sent it to professionals?

Depending on what type of liquid was spilt on laptop keyboard. It could have gotten down to the motherboard and it would need to be taken apart to clean off the board as it could cause corrosion. And short the board out.

ICIT2LOL · 20 Jul 2016

oscer1 said:

julianzolo said:

some liquid spilled on it, and even though it is dry now, it is still worthless, probably a short circuit, is it fixable or do I have to sent it to professionals?

Depending on what type of liquid was spilt on laptop keyboard. It could have gotten down to the motherboard and it would need to be taken apart to clean off the board as it could cause corrosion. And short the board out.

Yep you are right Oscer especially a sugary liquid or coffee which can be quite acidic and may have even chewed through some of the copper tracks already.