OT- Lap Top Dilemma

Good thing you'll be in Phoenix

Joanne Adler in Pt. Pleasant, PA

>No "l's" in that city, unlike "Oakville". ;-)

Sorry, Jim, but usually laptop keyboards do NOT have keys that can be popped back on. If one comes off, it means something broke and you have to replace the entire keyboard. Now, Mark may come along with some helpful info (he works with more Dells than I have), but I think you'll be in heaven and not "l".

76 and 108

Chad Pearson

>I chuckled when I read your post. My 4 year old boy was kind enough to remove the L key from my Sony Vaio when he was almost 2. I am currently typing this from a plug in USB keyboard attached to the Sony. If I need to take the computer somewhere I can use ALT76 and ALT108 to get the l's. On my computer I can't use the top line numbers. I have to use the number lock keys.

I get tempted to buy a new computer but this one just keeps plugging along too well.

Regards,

Chad

Re: Good thing you'll be in Phoenix

Jim Shaver Oakville, Ont.

>Thanks Joanne,

I was wondering the same thing myself. I am sure that it happens all the time, I have had good reliability with my Dell's so far over the last 6 years, so this is just a fluke I hope.

Phoenix should be nice, we had snow and ice here to wake up to today. I am hoping to get to a hockey game in Phoenix, take the boss out and teach hime something new..

Take care,

Jim

hunting for my L's

Epoxy, if doesn't work, HAMMER..!

HC Sakman

>

You going to have time to get down to Tucson?

John in New Mexico

>Lots of minerals available right about now.

John

Call Dell

Dustmaker Mike

>if your work has a contract like my work does then they will come to you and repair it.

Re: OT- Lap Top Dilemma

ScottS

>I had a similar problem with my last Dell laptop. The good news is that the keyboard is cheap ($15-20) and very easy to replace. If you have a set of small Philips screwdrivers, you could easily do the job yourself. If the repair is critical, you could probably get Dell to send you a new keyboard via overnight delivery...

Do you have both of the pieces to the key? If so, it may be possible to repair it yourself. You'll need the keycap and the plastic "spring" that sits underneath it. If the "spring" is completely detached, it will probably be lying flat. You should be able to fold it up so that the sides form an 'X' shape. The bottoms of the 'X' should attach to tiny hooks on the keyboard, while the tops attach to tiny hooks in the keycap. If there are extra bars or plastic, it belongs at the top of the 'X'. Attach the spring to the keyboard first. Once attached, you can press it with your finger to make sure the key is working. when that's done, put the keycap on top of it and press gently until it snaps into place.

The most difficult part is figuring out how to get the spring aligned. I hate to suggest it, but the easiest way might be to pry the top off another key and take a look at it. I could pry a key off an old Sony laptop that's about to be recycled and send you some pics of what it looks like, if that would help.

Yes, that's right

Mark Goodall - ATL - tooljunkie

>It's a Dell Latitude (business grade) which I'm guessing it is since you mentioned work PC, than Dell will send out a repair tech the next buinsess day anywhere in North America. Dell offers 1-yr warranty and mail-in/bring in repairs, but the Latitudes comes with at least 3-yr and next business-day onsite repair, might be even better since it was negotiated between Honeywell and Dell. Well on second thought, we go for the 4hr response on servers and such and leave it with the next business-day for PC's and laptops since they are less mission critical. Best thing to do is call and ask your own tech support and they'll likely contact Dell for you and arrage it all. Hopefully.

Other than that, all I can tell you is they are VERY fiddly and that one of the reasons I really don't do much hardware work. Too darn fiddly. I've had lucky wiggling keys back into place, but it's usually rather frustrating and fiddly.... did I mention it's fiddly? ;)

Happy Woodworking!

Re: OT- Lap Top Dilemma

Paul D. May

>Hi Jimmy,

My oldest daughter has a Dell and the return key popped off. It was under a year old so we called Dell. They sent a box for us to send the laptop and we had it back in ~ one week.

Paul

Re: 76 and 108

Ernie Miller

>explain a little more? I have to use the # lock keys? I like to use hot keys for some things and my new lap top doesent allow that now I hear you say somthing about # lock keys what is that? Press the caps lock and then use the # keys? or somthing else?