My buttons are broken . . . .

[vereybowring]

Yeah laptop keyboards are a pain the the arse to replace individual keys on, better just replacing the whole unit.

Most of their keyboards are pretty simple to replace too as they are amongst the first bits you take off on a laptop when taking it apart so you don't have to delve very deep in.

However as was said a normal USB keyboard can easily replace the onboard one or even wireless (2.4GHz or bluetooth) ones are also a very good option and none of them cost very much these days.

Personally I'm a keyboard snob (just the right key pressure, not too much click etc.) and my desktop has a rather nice mechanical keyboard these days which should last a very long time.

For weird and wonderful replacements there's always going retro. . .

[joeten]

You would either need cloud storage or an external usb hard drive as it only has 32gb of drive space, it could be good for something like Kodi or Free Telly and browsing the web.

[Perpetua]

Aug 29, 2016 20:38:55 GMT Chrissie said:

It does indeed sound like your keyboard is on the way out Mandy.

Just in case you or anyone else is looking for a new laptop/notebook this is a good deal -

www.aldi.co.uk/medion%C2%AE-akoya%C2%AE-s2218-notebook-11-6/p/093805067770600

OK, a tad on the small size, but the 3 year free (no quibble) warranty makes it a brilliant deal

I do like a big screen must be honest Chrissie, given my eyesight thesedays - the larger area I have to look at, the better!

This laptop owes me nothing as I must have had it going on 5years or so now and it's been really heavily used in that time. I do have back ups as like many of us, my life is very much focused around an internet connection, so if it went completely phut I could manage.

So I'll get myself a cheap USB keyboard today, our local Argos have plenty to choose from and jog on with that for a while . . . . though got to say this Windows keyboard is ever so easy to use.

[decoy]

I don't do pc stuff on hear as I get carried away but

best way to fix a usb key board is to leave it in a bath over night full off water
take it out the next day and flick as much of the water out as you can using same method as you do with gurgling tank
leave it in a warm room to totally dry can be as short as a few days in a airing cupboard or as long as a week in living room
get all gunk(vodka and coke)out and like new(I have 2 keyboards for some reason lol)

laptops are a bit more of a pain
broken keys can de fixed but tis not that easy (buy 2 kits because you lose bits )
it could be gunk in the membrane stopping it (can be washed)
worst case is a broken track were a new/replacement keyboard has to be fitted

if you were to get it fixed by a friend who knew how idd also ask them to fit a solid state drive as they can put a copy of your drive on it so you would not see any diff except a much much zippier lappy for extra £40
www.scan.co.uk/products/120gb-sandisk-z410-25-ssd-sata-iii-6gb-s-slc-tlc-read-540mb-s-write-405mb-s-35k-55k-iops
I would recommend this to any one with an older laptop before buying a new one as the difference is huge

[Perpetua]

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

[gill2009]

Aug 30, 2016 18:34:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

                                            

[Perpetua]

Aug 30, 2016 18:56:21 GMT gill2009 said:

Aug 30, 2016 18:34:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

                                            

Think ' back up ' Gillybeans . . . . . it sort of justifies the mental aberration then!

[vereybowring]

Aug 30, 2016 19:00:44 GMT Perpetua said:

Aug 30, 2016 18:56:21 GMT gill2009 said:

                                            

Think ' back up ' Gillybeans . . . . . it sort of justifies the mental aberration then!

But what about the backup's backup ?

Then the backup's, backup may need a backup. . .

[Perpetua]

Aug 30, 2016 19:05:59 GMT vereybowring said:

Aug 30, 2016 19:00:44 GMT Perpetua said:

Think ' back up ' Gillybeans . . . . . it sort of justifies the mental aberration then!

But what about the backup's backup ?

Then the backup's, backup may need a backup. . .

Don't get me started Verey . . . . I've enough back up compulsions as it is!

[vereybowring]

Aug 30, 2016 19:19:51 GMT Perpetua said:

Aug 30, 2016 19:05:59 GMT vereybowring said:

But what about the backup's backup ?

Then the backup's, backup may need a backup. . .

Don't get me started Verey . . . . I've enough back up compulsions as it is!

Do you have backup compulsions for your compulsions though ?

[joeten]

Of course she does it's compulsory.

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2016 18:34:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

Perpetua are you secretly blonde by any chance lol.
Maybe time to get all that data backed up as it sounds
as though you might not get much longer out your laptop.

[Chrissie]

Aug 30, 2016 20:13:32 GMT @tmfkatubthumper said:

Aug 30, 2016 18:34:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

Perpetua are you secretly blonde by any chance lol.
Maybe time to get all that data backed up as it sounds
as though you might not get much longer out your laptop.

Excellent suggestion @tmfkatubthumper

[Perpetua]

Aug 30, 2016 20:13:32 GMT @tmfkatubthumper said:

Aug 30, 2016 18:34:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Well I got myself a cheap keyboard today . . . .
Then remembered once I'd set it up, I've got a perfectly good Microsoft one sat unused with the desk top. 

Divvy.

Perpetua are you secretly blonde by any chance lol.
Maybe time to get all that data backed up as it sounds
as though you might not get much longer out your laptop.

Naturally grey @tmfkatubthumper . . . . the new blonde.

As it happens, I do have a separate memory thingamee or whatever it's called, as I also think that's a jolly good idea!

A) I need to find it.
B) I need to suss out how to use it.

Neither of which will probably be much of a surprise.

[Perpetua]

Well . . . . stand by your beds, but I have this afternoon managed to successfully change the complete keyboard on my laptop!

Then had to go to bed for a few hours to get over the shock.

The USB keyboard worked absolutely fine, but it was a little awkward I was finding to manage . . . . . so for £13.00 decided it was worth a punt on a new keyboard, before investing in a new laptop.

Purchased from one of the links you gents kindly provided, ordered Sunday/dispatched Monday/delivered Tuesday - shipping was free.

So thank you everyone for all the advice given.


However long this fix lasts for - at least I've the comfort of the technical achievement.