HP 14-bk Keyboard Hell - LFC

I needed to replace the keyboard on this HP 14-bk series, and I knew it was going to be a nasty heat-staked job, but this one was a real griefer. Got it done though. I wouldn't say this video is a walk-through, but perhaps more of a warning on how heat-staked keyboards can be such a nightmare.
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[@Adamant_IT]

I forgot to show a shot of it, but yes - the backlight did work!

[@craigcooper1967]

Was the backlight adjustable from keyboard?

[@em0_tion]

It's not a firmware locked feature yet - small R2R win! 😀

[@drthmonkey42]

Lockpicking Lawyer reference FTW!

[@unscripted7553]

i heard that and burst out laughing.. that reference was at the most correct moment lmao

[@rjblitz5871]

Time Stamp?

[@miguelfontenele221]

@@rjblitz5871 5:33

[@rjblitz5871]

@@miguelfontenele221 thanks!

[@hiphopanonymous9859]

Damnit thought I was gonna be the only one who noticed, I'm not special!

[@Xorat]

I like that LPL reference when opening it up! haha

[@SPEXWISE]

Wawyer?

[@Xorat]

@@SPEXWISE thanks

[@jeffwalker7185]

Me too.

[@nzjacob]

I had a similar model HP to fix 2 weeks ago. The complete cover, trackpad and KB was only NZ$10 more than KB only. Very glad I convinved client to get the easier option after watching this. Patience of a saint.

[@Syntax.error.]

We did not see the backlight :(

[@miguelfontenele221]

So satisfying to see the end result of jobs like these, especially when you put the back cover on with no parts left on the table :P The LPL reference made me giggle. Nice work.

[@mitchyk]

I love the fact you leave your mistakes in. It helps others look out for pitfalls. I have built up a collection of pitfall memories over the years. From "Keep track of your screws" to "Never throw iron filings into a power supply"! lol

[@CoMmAnDrX]

I quote the client a palmrest assembly with keyboard. Not worth the aggravation and possible return of the device if the keyboard does not hold in place due to the plastic rivets being cut. Note to novice, use a thin guitar pick to pry the base from the top. Once it's started you can slowly pop the clips while sliding the pick along the edge without breaking the clips. I should do a video.

[@franknicastri9201]

Love the guitar pick idea

[@godfreyugochuku9864]

Yes please, I would love a video for that technique.

[@newCrysis]

thanks for the thermal paste. massive amount of time and you still took care of the customer. nice.

[@SPEXWISE]

You're rocking the same hair style as one of my guinea pigs. Awesome.

[@devonoved7]

Tried this once. Never again. Full top cover with keyboard always quoted.

[@lisandro3614]

Same down here. I even try to outsource the job if I can. Some laptops are just not worth the hassle. I admire his patience, though.

[@Sargentwhitey]

Definitely this, only thing to look out for is sub-par touchpads. Seems to mostly affect HP, but have had to do a couple touchpad transplants when doing this.

[@carlosgarciaoropeza5480]

Construction Material = HIPS Plastic Temperature = Does NOT melt at temperatures below 160 degrees Celsius (12:45). I share this data because removing plastic covers from TVs 65 inches or larger that do NOT use screws is a worse nightmare than what I saw here. Another way of saying it, I do this kind of work until my coworkers have gone home so they don't hear the "nice words" that I use taking advantage of the abundant "wealth" of the lexicon of my native language. Although my opinion is in hindsight and after reading all the comments ... it is easy to make a decision . On the other hand, you did an excellent job and I mean that with absolute sincerity. Thank you very much young Graham for your time and sharing this mark with us. All the best.

[@keithmatthews1673]

I've done a couple of fixed in lid keyboards for friends and never want to see another. I'm not in business thank goodness. On the second one I found that I could cut all the tabs flush with the metal using a scalpel. Then the new keyboard went in easily and I used a soldering iron to 'swish' on the plastic stems which just pushed enough melted material around the edge of the holes to hold the thing in place. It was a lot easier that the first one I did when I melted all the tabs to take it out. If you have to do one of these a month for the next ten years, I do not think your fine head of hair will last that long!!

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Spot on, exactly the same approach I used on my MSI Apache keyboard.

[@bill6693]

I still find it funny people continue to cover the web cam's on their laptops, but never on their mobile phones.

[@tigrafrog]

..and microphones. You can easily block camera, but you cannot block microphone so easily.

[@johnbos4637]

a web cam on a laptop is always there 'in your face'. A phone is entirely different because it's only visible after you swipe/unlock it then use your phone. Most of the time a phone is in your pocket or inside a cover/case, so the camera and microphone can't record anything.

[@bill6693]

@@johnbos4637 a phone has more tracking telemetry then a computer these days. Mobile devices have Gps tracking, listening device etc. People moved from computers to their mobile devices for almost everything these days. Pictures, chat, banking, always carrying on them etc. More security risk with mobile devices. I see computers with bad stuff here and there. But mobile devices are up there, while doing repairs or fixes for mobile devices I've noticed tracking software. tracking the device, audio and visual recording, checking messages etc. The possibilities are great what you can obtain from someone's mobile device. Mostly from parents keeping eye on children and some from insecure partners.

[@johnbos4637]

@@bill6693 There is no risk at all. Just turn all that crap off. I use my phone as a phone, not as a computer. People are forgetting that and just leaving everything on. Not only does that make it less secure it drains the battery because GPS/wifi/NFC etc uses power. Wake up people! Use your phone like a phone. You don't need to be playing with your phone 24/7, get a life instead LOL!

[@bill6693]

@@johnbos4637 I wish you all the best, Good luck.

[@marcellipovsky8222]

For noobs - use plastic prying tools, not metal ones. You will lower the chance of scratching the plastic parts of the laptop. Graham has some experience already.

[@bitelaserkhalif]

I'm using dead credit card to pry them off

[@earumamaadu]

Always use plastic on plastic

[@DaleDix]

That goes for anything not just computers. Ask a mechanic.

[@em0_tion]

@@earumamaadu Sharpened ice cream stick also does the trick. 😁

[@IshimaruKeiji]

Graham Let's refurbish/ let's repair computer videos are therapeutic to watch after a long working day

[@DevilbyMoonlight]

when I used to repair awkward machines or laptops 20+ years ago, a trick I used to do to make sure the screws went in the right place so you didnt end up doing somethng like longscrew damage was get an A4 sheet and poke holes small enough to grip the screws in it with a test probe , and put the screws through in the sheet corresponding to locations where you removed them so creating a map of where they belong, because its paper it was handy to put notes on them, so if you get interrupted you dont forget anything or any details that were contained on micro fisc back in the day

[@dimitrismaster]

Wouldn't bother unless I had all the time in the world. Full keyboard assembly replacement for the honored customer. Unless I couldn't find one anywhere. Graham you are a hero.

[@hiphopanonymous9859]

For anyone who doesn't know, the lock picking lawyer reference was the line: "Little click on 1, nothing on 2"

[@WallaceBeneway]

As I was watching your video, I could totally relate to the frustration that you were feeling while doing this repair... With that being said, whenever one of those HP's comes into my shop (with a bad keyboard) I always replace the entire palm rest assembly... I have found that it’s just not worth the time nor the aggravation trying to replace just the keyboard itself...

[@Adamant_IT]

I tend to see if there's a palm rest available, and how much it costs. If it's reasonably priced, I'll just go for that. If it's going to bust the budget, I'll go for keyboard-only. I've got another one to do tonight though, so if that goes rough as well, I might change my mind ;)

[@WallaceBeneway]

@@Adamant_IT Good luck on the one your changing tonight... Hopefully it will be frustration free... :-)

[@SoulOnTopJB]

@@Adamant_IT Too much patience, I would have scrap it and told the customers not worth repearing. Time, Labour, Parts vs Cost of a new laptop, features, performance!!!

[@zx8401ztv]

For re-assembly you might want to see if you have an old fashoned soldering iron. Fit a metal tube where the copper tip would go inside the iron. With the tube over the heatsteak, the heat will be very local. Just a silly thought :-)

[@EKOrTT]

HP actually have really good service manuals on their support website with full dissasembly instructions, the locations of all the screws, and part numbers for ordering replacements of every part.

[@azuararuiz]

@@TheSpotify95 So is. Completely agree. Same case for Motherboard (they sell you a new one). Their Service Technicians do not repair keyboards or Motherboards at the component level. It is easy to deduce that they only replace complete assemblies and if you go with any device for service they put stickers on the screws to invalidate the guarantee in the event that any of the covers are removed. All the best.

[@touati84]

Hi, thank you very much for this video and it will be even better to see the keyboard working after the replacement.

[@markteeee]

Another excellent video full of tips. It's good to see any tech hardware being refurbished these days, so much is deemed unrepairable and sadly ends up in landfill.

[@dskim5848]

You have some serious skills and patience. Totally impressed! I like that slidy cover for the webcam.

[@SymonDavis]

Lovin the LPL reference.

[@jasonjazzz5]

nice little lockpickinglawyer nod

[@pibitomusic]

Amazing work as always!

[@customcutters]

love the lockpicking lawyer reference , little click on one, nothing on two..

[@tarek3006]

I have tried your method man and wow... It made my life much easier 👍👍👍 much appreciated

[@MrMagnat007]

Great work ! Love the slidey webcam cover.

[@GregMurch]

Loved the video. bought some webcam covers from your link just because :)

[@TheGameBench]

I could tell from the thumbnail what sweet hell was coming. Had to replace a keyboard in my brother-in-law's Alienware laptop just like this. Such anti-consumer BS to do this with a wear item. Having worked as a field engineer for HP, I've come to believe that the engineers that design these have some unrelenting hatred for the people that have to fix them.

[@williamjones4483]

Or just maybe those engineers have some stupidly cheap bosses that try to save money at any cost.

[@TheGameBench]

Sure, in some cases, and perhaps this one. In others, such as putting a large printer power supply in the middle of the unit requiring hours of disassembly... well that's just sadistic.

[@williamjones4483]

@@TheGameBench I also noticed the apparent lack of a CMOS cell for keeping the BIOS alive.

[@ickipoo]

@@williamjones4483 Doesn't buy you much when the LiPo is "non-removable"

[@bunnylove273]

Hi bud great repair and webcam cover looks professional well done

[@katrinaireland8898]

Great Vid Graham

[@KrissBartlett]

very good i like that fix and the camera cover very nice and looks alot better thank you for showing very interesting stuff the other day you did something with the laptops to i liked that as well

[@jimthannum7151]

Having the more troublesome keyboard made for a great learning experience....great job!

[@mojoblues66]

So the BK in HP 14-BK stands for broken keyboard?

[@dimitrismaster]

A word of caution. Using glass cleaner longterm on lcd panels will remove the coating, and blurrs and smudges will appear. Been there, done that, plus all the donts of the repair business.

[@Adamant_IT]

I've been using it for 15 years on my own stuff, never had an issue. I know that some glass cleaners have more aggressive formulas though, apparently Windex is a very different animal to most store-brand stuff.

[@dimitrismaster]

@@Adamant_IT never used it,not available in many countries.Most glass cleaner agents have amonia based cleaning agents,that may be the culprit.However i find that the safest bet for lcd panels is either distiled water for minor stuff or special lcd cleaners for the filthy ones. :P

[@josephking6515]

3:36 The _The Clippicking Technician._

[@juhaaavalaakso455]

Who ever designed that should never design anything anymore.

[@tigrafrog]

All "consumer-grade" HP hardware designed to work only during warranty period, no more. So why to bother to include cable for secondary drive and why to spend whole whooping $0.25 for screws? Everyone trying to copy macbook, but only most worse parts and worse apple practices.

[@dimitrismaster]

Boss demands revenue and profits,his humble slave obeys,and creates "unfixable" stuff.

[@pbarnfield]

Like many I try to replace entire section, but also had a HP 17-BY to do this week, bloody nightmare!! Many of the lugs busted. I used to use a soldering iron and a knackered black spudger to get additional melted plastic. Now tend to use some Zhanlida B7000/B8000 on the top of the stakes and set it in place. Works a dream, plus no heat to cause issues. I might be wrong here, but I think you melted the F3 key a tad.... we've all been there!! Good work on the tutorial, you deffo have more patience than many of us :D

[@Allen-R]

37:05 yeah, that melted key's kinda getting to me.

[@pbarnfield]

@@TheSpotify95 Deffo if you can get a full top assembly. Too much like hard work faffing about, and as you say it's a factory fit and saves no end of time.

[@richardoverfield]

When the plastic pillars holding the keyboard in do not hold we use tiny amounts of q-bond to hold the keyboard in. Sets in seconds and works really well. Much safer than risking too much heat.

[@john.84]

Hi mate I enjoy watching your videos Keep going GOD bless you

[@jockwasher]

Respect for doing it the long way, Jesus christ HP why are you doing this? I always buy palm rests, slightly more expensive part but your loosing chargable time flapping with these heat stakes.

[@stephanc7192]

Great LPL reference! Love it

[@vics_media]

I learned yet more from you Sir !

[@armunro]

Have one of those laptops. Very happy with it. They make them cheaper and cheaper so they put less screws in them and then are reliant on better plastic clips to hold the thing together. For those that try this its worth noting that plastic can be melted and bonded with other plastic of the same type (there is always something molded into the plastic to tell you what type of plastic it is). Thus if you don't have enough plastic to make the rivet, you can add more. Alot of patience is required with this and as always there is a trade off between the time/effort vs cost of a replacement palm rest; it depends on what you can find on ebay! If you have a 3d printer and a reel of abs knocking around, this ideal for adding more plastic (alot of the plastic in laptops is abs).

[@tlgeorge59]

GREAT VIDEO!

[@JessicaFEREM]

I've always used Guitar Pics to open devices, because you can get different thicknesses of them, and if you need something to hold it unclipped, you can get the thin ones, and the thicker ones can be used to pop snaps. You can buy them in bulk pretty easily and cheaply. it also doesn't scratch because it's a soft nylon. they're also pretty heat resistant because they have to deal with a lot of friction.

[@molloyvader]

The lockpicking board repair lawyer.

[@michaelthompson9798]

You deserve a medal🏅for that repair job 🎉🥳👍 I got one of the webcam covers from Amazon as they’re a great solution for privacy 🤯👍

[@kdawg3484]

Meanwhile, my Sager NP8658-S/Clevo P650RG: Remove one screw in middle of back cover, push screwdriver through nearby hole, keyboard pops out, unplug ribbon cable, plug in new keyboard, push keyboard back in place, tighten screw, done. Less time time than it took me to write this comment.

[@BrettWms]

Sorry - trying to catch up. The reference to Lock Picking Lawyer was FUNNY AF!!!

[@dennissmithjr.5370]

Well darn, was going to buy some of those covers and shows currently out of stock, great video btw.

[@nian60]

Great video, thank you. I feel proud that I am already using electrical tape for my webcams. :D I know you say in the comments that the backlight worked. Would have been nice with a quick shot showing the backlight working in the video though. I don't mean that as a negative criticism, the video is awesome as it is.

[@brommeltje]

Love the LPL reference!!

[@suneththarinda1111]

good work 👍👍👍

[@adamgrant1787]

Watching this video makes me so glad I have the ThinkPad T480 upgrading that laptop to a backlit keyboard was super easy and also it has the webcam shutter/slider already built in to the webcam, it's a win win for anyone who owns this laptop cause it's also very easy to upgrade.

[@TheTony111111]

A job well done.👌👍

[@caltexpa2535]

Good video. Definately would be installing the keyboard with the palmrest preassembeled.

[@chrisverhulst5476]

Like always, keep up the good work dude. I like your style.

[@maximilianoferretto3779]

Nice Video! Looks like F3 key melted a little bit! Thx for everything!

[@MR308W]

I did it on my own laptop a month or 2 ago, actually my first time working on a laptop . I just cutted the plastic tops off and disassemble. To attach it back i used PLA+ for a 3D printer, melt the piece of pin left and add the pla like you solder with it. Than use a pencil with a gum on the back and press it flat, works like a charm 😋 Maybe a tip for next time or just for the short pins.

[@sickie1961]

5:36 LPL reference FTW

[@capturedevice62]

I was working on one of these at my volunteer job, thanks for saving me time from doing this cuz I’m not dealing with it

[@dp9550]

Love that shirt Graham!!

[@DanielsGameVault]

I use a soldering iron to melt the posts back into the holes - no risk of damaging other stuff around :)

[@frankmathieson3029]

Lock Picking Lawyer reference!!!

[@retrogamer33]

That bottom cover is a pain in the arse

[@kam_mil]

I have 2 questions: Did the backlight work and does the laptop close properly with the slidey webcam cover?

[@izigswe]

I cant answer for this model, but i had a laptop that could not close as it was intended to, but it was a small gap.

[@r8tedgr8]

I did this on a 14CD same setup. I just took a razor blade and cut all those plastic rivet heads off flush and the metal cover and keyboard came out cleanly and went back in cleanly. I used hot glue on top of the plastic rivets I cut off and that worked well for me.

[@tonyhawthorne3222]

get some plastic off an old case and melt it on top.as long as its the same plastic you can add as much as you like.plastic welding basics.Hope this is helpful in the future.keep up the good work.cheers...

[@deminybs]

Can't go wrong with a "quick easy" repair job 😂😂😂😂 You just had to say something lmao . Good show chap

[@petermumo3567]

I have done this kind of keyboard replacement, and i dont think its actually worth it. It worked though.

[@revertivecloud741]

lol quoting lockpickinglawyer LOL good one

[@thomaskyalo7753]

"Coz I want a nice simple job this afternoon"... Yeah, No!

[@retrotech11]

Great patient work! I would have gone with a quick slice off the head of the plastic welded dots using a scalpel, then use a glue gun to tac on new heads onto the dots where the old ones were. It holds just as well as the original, and there is no risk of melting the keys, plus it is a quicker and cleaner job. But yes they could have easily used screw holes instead of plastic welded tacs. Or a better design like a ThinkPad like keyboard assembly. But some manufacturers are only after the bottom line, how much money they can save during manufacture and how much more they can charge for a new laptop. It's just business they would say!

[@allenlong1445]

another top video keep it up. how is the corsair battery swop holding up? im planning on doing the same as my headset battery is dead it only lasts 30min if unplugged

[@DarkGT]

I wonder how this backlight looks after the repair/upgrade?

[@lm_dccxl4078]

did the backlight work? maybe cuz the lights but i didnt see any led light showing when the laptop turn on.

[@JessicaFEREM]

I know those mini webcam covers exist, but I didn't know that they were so cheap, I'll have to order some sometime.

[@attilahajnal765]

I just wonder what if you just use a dremel tool, or some high RPM tool with a round head and just carefully grind the top of the plastic heatstackes. that is a bit slower to disassemble but the reassemble will be much faster. For securing down the keyboard you can use some glue. hot glue or other type. I didn't changed these types of keybord before but I think I will be doing it that way. BTW good video as always, I learned a lot from your videos, keep up the good work! :)

[@comicsanz97]

I wouldn't put those webcam covers on MacBooks because when it's closed, the clearance is too tight and it might crack the screen. Yeah, Apple.

[@jackburton8352]

A latch cover should be built into the bezel on all laptops.

[@comicsanz97]

@@jackburton8352 bbbb-but don't you trust our green little light that tells you if your webcam has been hijacked?

[@darrena2625]

Was that a reference to the Lockpicking Lawyer I heard in there ? "Little click on 1, nothing on 2".....

[@Wub892]

6:00 I lol'd after rewatching.

[@radio-ged4626]

In my ignorance I have always cut the heat stakes with a razor blade. Then re-melt them with a soldering iron. I find there is just about enough heat stake left to do that. I do have a temperature controlled heat gun which I may now use on scrapped palm rests with heat stake keyboards in to practice on. BTW this may annoy you - I always pull those camera plastic slidey Amazon-bought things off laptops I repair at work. (But this is because we are required to return the laptops back to factory default in the repair contract).

[@samadtube]

I wish I had watch this before, I had to change my keyboard on Acer Nitro, and it was real hard job to do, good job

[@mp3seeker]

That is my therapy

[@colinnish8602]

Does anyone have a link to buy the keyboard ? Tried everywhere and I can't find stock. Was funny this popping up in my feed and me having the exact same laptop/fault for repair. Thanks

[@ahinson]

Did the backlight work in the end? I couldn't tell.

[@ChasLarge]

Did the keyboard backlight upgrade work?

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Where the heat stake ends up too short would it be possible to use 3D printer filament a bit like solder to melt into the hole and bond to the rest of the heat stake. Typical 200 degree melting temp plastic (pla,abs or petg)?

[@justinspiredfallout]

Yep, I use a 3D print pen for this exact thing.

[@mikeschleising8828]

hahaaa, the laptoppickinglawyer 👍😁

[@mkrleza]

I haven't actually noticed. Does the backlight work?

[@philippenormandeau2676]

nice work on that pc

[@rjblitz5871]

I like it

[@Retroornew]

Did the backlight work as i couldnt tell from the video?

[@rasungod0]

Someone's been watching the Lockpicking Lawyer.

[@ehsanbajwah9737]

hello bro how are you bro i have asus ux51vz laptop how i can keybord back light enable and disable many tim i can try but i dint have any solution