Right… so, after many years of use, my tab key broke off. I tried to reattach it, but no avail. So for a few days, I’ve just been tapping the rubber padding that used to be under the key, but is now exposed.
Earlier, the caps lock key suffered the same fate. Figures.
Since laptops are, from what I understand, just one big part, is there a way to (cheaply) replace a keyboard? I have an HP Pavilion ze5170, for reference.
I assume that labor charges for replacing a keyboard would be the most outrageous aspect, so perhaps I could buy a replacement keyboard and install it myself? I’ve got an advanced to expert knowledge of the inside of a normal desktop computer, if that helps.
Cheap places to buy replacement keyboards? I know I could just hook up an external keyboard and use that, but that’s so… short term… and doesn’t help me when I actually want to use my laptop as a portable machine.
I know nothing of an HP Pavilion, but I’m well into my second keyboard on my “WallStreet” G3 PowerBook. I’d imagine it detaches somehow, unless they have no intention of selling any of them to countries with different keyboard layouts — so they can pop a German keyboard into the ones bound for Germany, and so on, ja?
Some combo of mechanical and electrical connections you have to detach and then do a swapout.
You’ve proven yourself to be quite knowledgable in this area around here before… is the price right? Or do you think I could find cheaper if I looked around a bit?
If I get it, and you’re available to install it, I’m going to have to think of something really awesome to repay you with.
I work on a similar model to laptop all the time (Omnibook XE4100) and the keyboard is fairly easy to replace.
The manual has instructions on how to take the laptop apart. The hardest part (in my experience) is figuring out which screws to remove. On that particular model, I believe there are some little rubber pieces that cover the screws, so it can be hard to find them all. After that, it’s a piece of cake to replace a keyboard.
I looked around in the hp parts store and it looks like a replacement keyboard for that model runs about $36
On preview, you’ve already found the replacement part. Cool!
Trust me, it’s pretty easy to replace the keyboard yourself…or take Q.E.D. up on his offer.
Anyway, the price doesn’t seem terribly out of line for that sort of thing to me. You might be able to shave a few bucks off the price if you look around; maybe try eBay. But for my money, getting the OEM part is the best way to be sure it’s going to fit and work properly.
Gotcha. Good call. As far as the bottle of Bailey’s… I would have to offer you the option to wait until I turn 21 (13 months), or to take the cash equivalent.
One last thing before I order… is it possible to upgrade the (current) CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive I have to a DVD+R/W drive, by ordering a ‘replacement’ of the specs I want and the size of my current one (if that’s even an option)? Or am I just stuck with what I have as far as that goes?
You can upgrade if the module is available, but be aware that you will have to obtain DVD player software to play DVD movies as this does not come free with windows XP, and you will also need DVD burning software as XP only does CD burning.
