HP laptop - backspace & scroll keys not working

Hezzawithkids

I have a fairly old HP laptop (Elitebook 2560p) and the backspace and scroll keys (arrow keys) have suddenly stopped working in any application (word, excel, ppt etc).

I've tried googling a remedy but there's nothing around, even on the HP Support forum (and lots of people seem to have the same problem). Although I can get around it by using the mouse I'd still like to have a fully functioning keyboard and the lack of backspace and scroll keys does slow me down.

Can anyone help? thanks....

jeallen01

Keys on keyboards do wear out or get damaged by "over-use" (just replaced that on my wife's Dell - because the cat kept sitting on it!), and spares can be found on eBay for a few quid (it was less than £7 for a new one for the Dell) - generally very easy/quick to replace and you can find instructions how to do it the web. Generally, all you need is a small posidrive screwdriver, and some care and patience in actually doing it.

[Deleted User]

Do he functions work on an external keyboard?

jeallen01

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Do he functions work on an external keyboard?

Worth a try because an external keyboard (OK, not a particularly good one) costs less than a tenner. if it does, that would be the simplest solution, but - longterm - then the OP should get a decent keyboard that feels very comfortable to use as, overall, that might well be a lot better than the laptop's own.


FWIW, both my wife and myself use external keyboards on our own main laptops - her because she uses an external monitor raised much higher than the comfortable keyboard height, and myself because the keyboard on my Samsung is actually abysmally uncomfortable to use, with very little key travel!

Hezzawithkids

Thanks for the replies. The fault is an intermittent one as sometimes the keys work and sometimes they don't which is equally frustrating :mad: I'm finding that putting the lid down and back up again sometimes cures it..... Good idea ref an external keyboard (though I usually stay away from them as they can be a bit noisy/rattly, especially the cheaper ones and I don't have a lot of desk space), will investigate.

jeallen01

[QUOTE=Hezzawithkids;68492705_I'm_finding_that_putting_the_lid_down_and_back_up_again_sometimes_cures_it....._.[/QUOTE]

That might just mean a loose connection of the cable which connects the keyboard module to the motherboard, and reseating it might cure the problem.

Removing a keyboard module is usually quite easy as there are generally several screws in recesses on the underside of the laptop, near the hinge (and do remove the battery for safey reasons, and because some of the screws might actually be behind it!), which secure the panel just below the hinge on the keyboard side.

NB: do a Google (etc.) search for your laptop model number and words "new keyboard" or "replace keyboard" and you should find instructions on how to do the job and which screws to remove.

Remove those screws and then gently lever up one end (where there may well be a small recess into which you can insert a flat blade or screwdriver) of the panel on the keyboard side. That will expose the edge of the keyboard module and the 2 or 3 very small screws which actually hold the module in place.

Remove the keyboard module securing screws (preferably with a magnetised screwdriver to avoid losing them!) and gently lift the edge of the module and pull it towards the screen. That should expose the ribbon cable and the connector on the end of it which connects it to the motherboard.

Then, VERY GENTLY, ease the connector pair apart towards the screen by inserting a small flat screwdriver into the small gap you will see between the two parts - best to start at one end, lever that out slightly and do the same at the other end and finally disconnect the two parts completely.

That is generally all it takes to completely remove the keyboard module!

Then either refit the connector on the ribbon cable to the connector on the motherboard - easy it in very gently but firmly - if you just want to reseat the connector. Otherwise, you do exactly the same to fit a new keyboard module.

Then, before you go any further, refit the battery, boot up the machine and check if the fault is fixed.

If it is, then shut the machine down again, remove the battery again, secure the keyboard in place, reseat the panel between it and the screen, secure the panel with the screws from the underside, refit the battery - all done and good to go the restart the machine!

However, if the keyboard still does not work, then either you should have fitted a new keyboard module but did not, or else you have a more serious motherboard-related fault, which on an old machine, will cost far more to fix than to buy a new machine - unless of course you can live with the external keyboard approach.

[Deleted User]

jeallen01 wrote: »

Worth a try because an external keyboard (OK, not a particularly good one) costs less than a tenner. if it does, that would be the simplest solution, but - longterm - then the OP should get a decent keyboard that feels very comfortable to use as, overall, that might well be a lot better than the laptop's own.

Hezzawithkids wrote: »

Good idea ref an external keyboard (though I usually stay away from them as they can be a bit noisy/rattly, especially the cheaper ones and I don't have a lot of desk space), will investigate.

Actually, I was just suggesting an external keyboard, to help diagnose the fault.

jeallen01

Done a very quick search and the official HP replacement instructions for the keyboard on this machine are here http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c02932812

Fairly close to the generic procedure that I outlined, but there are several significant differences:
- The location of the screws on the underside that secure the small panel below the screen
- there are no screws holding the keyboard to the motherboard
- the type of connector that connects the keyboard ribbon cable to the mother board - that means the procedure for disconnection /reconnection of the cable is slightly more complex
Also, before all that, there is a link for you to select the correct region-specific P/Ns for the keyboards for these units as the key layouts obviously do vary.

Overall though, not really any different to the process that I outlined!


Also means that almost anyone can change a faulty keyboard on a normal laptop - although you might have to remove the whole keyboard surround on some small machines (like the ASUS 1225 11.6" screen netbook-type machine that I'm typing this post), and that could be rather more complex.

jeallen01

And the UK keyboards are here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=elitebook+2560p+keyboard&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1


Bit more expensive than those for my wife's Dell - but that is an old machine, and parts get cheaper as the laptops get older (less demand!)