Inside the Laptop Keyboard

[@iankrasnow5383]

I spent a lot of time trying to find a video that actually explained how the contacts on a keyboard are put together, because every video I found so far for troubleshooting only talked about software issues or broken plastic components on the key. I just had an "L" key stop working on my laptop and then randomly start depressing the key and not stopping. I even got a replacement USB keyboard. The specific model of keyboard for my laptop is very hard to find and even my local computer repair place couldn't find it without shipping from overseas for hundreds of dollars. However, thanks to this video, I actually did figure out how to fix the key! John Ward says if any contamination gets between the pieces of plastic and damages the trace, there's nothing you can do. In my case at least, I managed to take a very sharp sewing needle and wedge it between the two laminated pieces of plastic and scraped some crud off the electronic trace. I don't know if it's a permanent solution, but for now it seems to be working! This laptop model has a really cheap and fragile keyboard that seems to break after about two years, and unfortunately, it's a really uncommon model that's hard to replace, so it doesn't hurt to try some minor surgery as a last resort.

[@JohnGotts]

I fix laptops for myself and for my employer and fortunately these membrane keyboards are cheap to find and easy to replace. It's not the end of the world to lose a laptop keyboard. In my experience you can pour 0.5 L of soda or beer into a laptop and the only component you will likely lose is the keyboard. Every other part can be cleaned off or not. Touchpad buttons may never be the same after a spill but they will mostly still work and you can always use a mouse as an alternative. My colleague yesterday said he's replaced his laptop's keyboard 6 times. I spilled nearly one can of orange soda into my laptop when it was about 3 months old. It's fine after two years.

[@TwinbeeUK]

Unfortunately, the brand I have LG Gram 17Z90P isn't so easy. Can't find the membrane/keyboard anywhere, despite being a modern laptop. Acid in the form of oranges etc. is brutal to laptop keyboards.

[@RybekRybs]

Old video but still very helpul. Thanks to you, I've been able to isolate one broken contact from the bottom trace, so it won't be stuck activated. I didn't even knew that would be possible, but here we are, cheers mate!

[@Flapjackbatter]

I had a keyboard (for a stationary pc) using that concept, that I spilled 1/2 liter yoghurt into. (Onto and into.) It was a Logutech gaming keyboard with a bunch of extra functionality. Expencive too. So i took it apart separated those 2 plastic sheets and rinsed it off. And it worked again. It was ALOT of work. Eating 1/2 liter yoghurt every day I soon did the same thing again. Did the same fix again, but with warm water and dishwashing-liquid. But it didn't work after that 2.nd repair.

[@Graham_Langley]

A few years back I was asked to look at a centre control panel from a Volvo that had been properly doused in something sugary. Seems the cupholders were mounted above it in a brilliant piece of design so it was bound to happen sooner or later. Almost every via near the bottom of the PCB that I could get to was o/c and there were dozens more under big ICs so repair wasn't really on. IIRC a new panel was more than the car was worth so I suggested looking for a second-had one and heard no more.

[@buckrogers5331]

Frustratingly, my Surface 3 keyboard down arrow key is not working. I suspect a trace leading to it is broken. Am thinking of melting the plastic membrane with a soldering iron and making it connect again somehow.

[@themightyjagrafess8596]

Thank you so much, first I’ve seen that actually explains the mechanics of how it works

[@mariastoianova1765]

I got asus N56 so my motherboard is basically attached to the keyboard on the inside and covers it completetly. I sprayed some glass cleaning liquid on the screen and some of it got onto the keys. wiped it out, turned it on and each time i was pressing "q" it was typing "qmnv" automatically. turned it off for a few hours, turned it on again and now I got like 10 keys not working at all, in different parts of the keyboard. do you think i have fried them or maybe some of the liquid is still trapped inside ?

[@geosugaraj2905]

Sir what is that rubber thing under those key caps like the sofa thing

[@jasejj]

The old Sinclair Spectrum in the 1980s had a membrane just like this one, and was derided for the cheap technology. Now they're all like that, expensive laptops included. Funny old world!

[@Graham_Langley]

Jason james Even the IBM Model M 'clicky' keyboard used a membrane, but with the famous buckling spring key mechanism and a top plate design such that it could probably survive a dousing in Coke. I'm typing this on one - it gets stripped and cleaned once a year, and will probably outlast me.

[@Doazic]

Graham Langley I've salvaged a membrane after a dousing by separating both membrane layers, rinsing them and letting them dry. What makes it fail is the liquid can short out the traces, or rust out the metal traces. You could get lucky and clean the rust off the little trace lines and get a keyboard back to functioning in some cases.

[@DogsBAwesome]

I took apart a Microsoft keyboard that had the same plastic matrix system as that was held together with screws I was able to remove to goop and it's worked since.

[@vatsk]

So my d key is waaaay to sensitive, I recon too much pressure was applied to the two little plastic layers and now they are connected much too harshly. Will try to keep the sheet up on one end and use a heat gun to slightly melt and let gravity do it's work. Which me luck. Also, you got any good sites for EU where you can buy replacements for this?

[@MMaheshThakur]

Does it has round black coal chip or any kind of ic.

[@RoxannLarson]

Sir, someone on another KZbin channel suggested that I pop off the keys from my laptop. In doing so it ruined one of the keys. I finally had to replace the entire keyboard. There are certain keyboards that you cannot pop off the keys. I would be careful trying to do that.

[@narayaniyer7363]

thank you dear friend to open up the underneath.

[@dusknews9939]

Thanks man that was helpful

[@pesshau6508]

I managed to spill liquid into my Asus laptop keyboard a few years ago. I searched online for a replacement Norwegian layout keyboard, and all I could find was a local distributor selling them for the equivalent of 90GBP! (before VAT!!!) Even worse, they would only sell them to dealers and repair shops, which would have added even more to the price to make a profit. Ridiculous! So instead, I found a German layout keyboard on Ebay for 12GBP, shipping included. The keys are practically the same. Thank god for Germans!

[@terrypanayiotou3485]

I want to know what type of metal it is. If it's silver ide like to collect it as I collect precious and semi precious metals

[@ishanfernando7521]

Thank you

[@happy543210]

i would submerge the keyboard in distilled water for a few days, then thoroughly dry it for another few days.

[@DogsBAwesome]

happy543210 hardly worth it you can pick up most replacement keyboards for less than £20 sometimes down as low as £7.

[@happy543210]

brian whittle but consider the satisfaction of actually fixing something rather taking the easy way out and replacing it.

[@DogsBAwesome]

happy543210 If you can't separate the membranes to clean them without damaging the keyboard housing it will never work 100% again.

[@gochoboti]

Great video thanks

[@lestersmug11]

thanks!

[@GetGood5]

thank