Pop a Key Back Onto a Dell Laptop Keyboard

It's all too easy to pop the keys off a laptop, and almost impossible to get them back on without losing or destroying the nearly microscopic parts. If you're careful and proceed with caution, then you can pop a key back onto your Dell keyboard and make it work as good as new. All you need is a careful eye and some very stable hands.

Steps

  1. Start with all the pieces. Examine them carefully. Note where the tiny tabs are on them. Arrange them correctly according to the diagram.
  2. Note the orientations of the tabs on the U-shaped piece. Slip the tabs under the metal loops on the laptop as shown.
  3. Slip the second O-shaped piece through the centre of the U-piece.
  4. Hook the tabs on the O-piece under the hooks on the laptop.
  5. Click the tabs in the O-piece into the notches in the U-piece.
  6. Make sure the tabs are raised. At this point, the two pieces are gently locked together. If done correctly, they will not sit flat. They will be raised slightly above the laptop surface.
  7. Place the key right-side up over the U and O pieces. So first click the right side (you'll hear it click!), and then push down the left side of the key.
  8. Click it into place.
  9. Voila! The key is replaced.



Tips

  • You might want to turn your computer off while doing this to avoid causing errors in your open applications.
  • These steps work with HP Pavilion notebooks as well.
  • Make sure you ground your self by placing one hand on the metal part of the notebook
  • It may be easier to remove the base U-shaped piece from the keyboard in order to attach the O-shaped piece (or attach the pieces together before replacing to keyboard)
  • If you are trying to put the spacebar on your dell laptop, there is also a long U shaped metal wire. Two ends of the wire go into their slots, and then you can pop back the spacebar key on top of the frames (i.e. the two set of frames for the spacebar).
  • If you break any of the plastic parts on an often used key, you can harvest spare parts from a seldom used key. Just be very careful when taking the key's plastic parts off
  • For a Latitude D800, this works slightly different. Best tip is to carefully remove another key as well and peek how to do it.

Warnings

  • Make sure that you don't scratch the board underneath the key on some models.
  • Doing this might void your warranty.

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