Malfunctioning Backspace key in 6 years old laptop

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roy
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R

Roy

Hello guys, I would like to know how can we rectify a malfunctioning
backspace key. What do you recommend?
The space bar is gradually following suit due to its low response.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Thank You!

Regards
 
Hello guys, I would like to know how can we rectify a malfunctioning
backspace key. What do you recommend?
The space bar is gradually following suit due to its low response.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Thank You!

Regards
Click to expand...

If you cannot clean or replace then it should be possible to re-map a
malfunctioning key. This is something I could probably live with for
backspace but I don't think it would be practical for the space bar -- the
thumb instincts are probably too ingrained. Of course you could probably
find a replacement keyboard and try to do a transplant or have a repair
shop do it. Or you might get along with an external keyboard but that would
be pretty inconvenient if you actually use your laptop on the go.

Or you might consider just buying a replacement laptop -- current machines
available quite cheaply are far faster and more advanced than even a
state-of-the-art unit from six years back.
 
If you cannot clean or replace then it should be possible to re-map a
malfunctioning key. This is something I could probably live with for
backspace but I don't think it would be practical for the space bar -- the
thumb instincts are probably too ingrained. Of course you could probably
find a replacement keyboard and try to do a transplant or have a repair
shop do it. Or you might get along with an external keyboard but that would
be pretty inconvenient if you actually use your laptop on the go.

Or you might consider just buying a replacement laptop -- current machines
available quite cheaply are far faster and more advanced than even a
state-of-the-art unit from six years back.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.
The simplest solution then is to use a USB connected keyboard.
Anyway the laptop is working like a desktop, its tethered permanently
to the AC outlet.
 
You can get replacement laptop keyboards off of eBay for about $15.
What make and model of laptop do you have?
Click to expand...

Its a Vaio- AR series ,17 inch desktop replacement system. particular
model VGN- A59GP.
 
True to form with Sony, it looks like the parts are going to be more
expensive.  I'm finding keyboards in the $40-50 on eBay for Sony AR
series, but you should pull the keyboard and try to find a part number
on it to make sure the replacement in compatible.

It seems odd to me, though, that these keys have worn out.  Have you
tried firing up an alternate operating system, such as a Linux Live CD,
to see if you get the same poor response from those keys?
Click to expand...


Well i don't want to play around with other operating systems for
that computer , its running well with WinXP Sp3 and the backspace
key problem just happened lately, maybe due to worn out contacts
after continuous use.

Do you imply that one defective key is unusual...?

That PC has been my 'desktop' for many years and never had other
problems ; yes the battery is long gone and like I related earlier
its permanently connected to the AC outlet. The display is high
definition (1920 x1200), and still perfect looking....still good for
watching movies/videos near my bed...
its relatively fast having maxed the RAM during its purchase...in
2005.
 
Roy said:
Well i don't want to play around with other operating systems for
that computer
Click to expand...

A Linux LiveCD, runs from the contents of the CD, and makes no
changes to the underlying hard drive or other OSes.

And when running from the LiveCD, it can do most anything it
can do when actually installed.

Installing the contents of the LiveCD, is another option, but
unnecessary for the purposes of testing your keyboard. You'll
be booting the LiveCD long enough, to say, open a text editor window
and type some letters in it, to prove the keyboard works. Then,
do a "shutdown" or a "reboot" from the menu, and you'll be back
in your Windows XP again.

The purpose of differential testing like that (compare response
under Windows versus Linux), is to detect whether some OS
file makes a difference to the behavior.

When I had a design fault in a motherboard, the best diagnostic
info I got, was when the computer crashed in Linux, as well
as Windows, and crashed just as easily (with no effort at all).
Initially, I'd blamed the Windows OS as being the source of
the problem, until I had Linux crash on me. And then I knew
it was hardware at fault.

Paul
 
Hello guys, I would like to know how can we rectify a malfunctioning
backspace key. What do you recommend?
The space bar is gradually following suit due to its low response.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Thank You!

Regards
Click to expand...

I had keypress problems on my last laptop .. the backspace just became
worn out. I popped it off with my thumbnail and placed a few layers of
tape under the key just where the contact was (just above the rubber
spring in the centre of the key). It cured the problem.
 
I had keypress problems on my last laptop .. the backspace just became
worn out. I popped it off with my thumbnail and placed a few layers of
tape under the key just where the contact was (just above the rubber
spring in the centre of the key). It cured the problem.
Click to expand...

Sorry I wrote backspace I meant to write spacebar.
 
Sorry I wrote backspace I meant to write spacebar.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim!
Seems like a sensible solution to me..Give it a try latter..
BTW, I don't have the live CD to evaluate it for that unit and with
such a slow internet connection in my current location it will take me
ages to download one.
 
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