# Spacebar not working **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427 "2010-02-10T15:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/1 "2010-02-10T15:35:28Z")
My contractor just e-mailed me with a time to meet regarding his bid, and it appears his spacebar isn’t working. he added a little p.s. at the bottom of his e-mail to explain why his message was so weird - either the computer doesn’t add a space when he hits the spacebar, or it adds three or four spaces. I’d love to be able to get the ever-so-elusive “you fixed my computer” discount. Any ideas? My first guess was that his keyboard is dirty under the spacebar, but more suggestions would be great. ---
**Author:** ![powerjacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@powerjacob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/powerjacob)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/2 "2010-02-10T15:43:18Z")
Sounds to me that it is dirty and needs to be cleaned, or it’s just a cheap keyboard and is finally going out. Replacement of the keyboard might be the best thing and depending on what type of keyboard is purchased the cost might be minimal. If you’re like me, I have a couple of spare keyboards from previous computers. You might offer one of your spares for free to see if it earns you any brownie points with your contractor. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/3 "2010-02-10T15:48:45Z")
What if it’s a laptop? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/4 "2010-02-10T16:00:24Z")
For emergency, hold down the ALT key and type in 032 from the numeric keypage. Lift the Alt key and the space will display. For a laptop, you’ll need to turn on the Num lock first. It’s crude, but does the job. ---
**Author:** ![AHarris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bcef8e/32.png) [@AHarris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHarris)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/5 "2010-02-10T16:28:00Z")
If it’s a laptop, the keyboard can still be replaced (though it’s more difficult). You would need to get the correct keyboard for that laptop model. ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/6 "2010-02-11T03:57:43Z")
A quick work-around, for what it’s worth. He can copy a space from somewhere, then just hit control-C when he needs to space. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacebar-not-working/528427/7 "2010-02-11T04:06:42Z")
> [@Postariti](#): > > A quick work-around, for what it’s worth. He can copy a space from somewhere, then just hit control-C when he needs to space. That should be control-V. FTR.