Laptop's "N" key pad came off

The "N" key pad came off my wife's laptop (a Dell Inspiron 8600) yesterday. I don't see anything that looks obviously broken, but so far I haven't been able to get the pad to stay on. Never had anything like this happen before, and the laptop is only a year and a half old. Is there some secret to fixing it? Or will the entire keyboard need to be replaced?

 

Steve R Jones: Thanks for replying. I was beginning to feel abandoned .

I've never had to deal with this kind of problem before, either. As near as I can figure, there appears to be a very small nipple on the under side of the key pad that's supposed to stick down into a hole in a very small rubber-like cone that's part of the keyboard. Sort of an insert Tab A in Slot B situation. But there isn't much to that nipple. It's possible that it may have gotten broken somehow. That would be enough to keep the rubber cone from getting much of a hold on the nipple. As things are now, the pad wobbles on its perch and comes completely loose easily.

If the parts I have now can't be repaired, maybe rather than having to buy a complete new keyboard, all I need is a new "N" key pad?

I may have to contact Dell. The laptop is out of warranty now, so some money is likely to go into the fixing. I wonder if Dell will send me just a new "N" key pad.

Anyone have more thoughts on this?

 

Yes, if the current keyboard would need to be replaced, it would be well worth trying a glue/adhesive (the keyboard will be dumped anyway). I would use a silicone based adhesive/sealer that is flexible, rather than a solid setting type (like superglue) that will eventually crack. Look for those that may state they are compatible with rubber & plastics. Try a small daub, if that holds for reasonable amount of time, but comes off, use a slightly bigger daub (don't glue the keys together ) or find a different type.

Matt
PS: A weight should rested on the key while the adhesive sets. Let it "fully" cure before using it (some take 24 hours, some more).

 

This link might help. I've had it for a long time but the 8600 might be the same
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=FA1044306

Found this on the dell forum for an 8600
Please shake the keycap and see if ther is an x-shaped plastic assembly hanging below keycap. If it is there the re-assembly is as follows. Carefully note the position of the assembly relative to the letter marked on the upper LH corner of the keycap. You must remove the plastic assembly (it is called a scissor hinge) from the key top cap. If you look carefully at it, you will see how it snaps into the key top cap. Once it is off, slip each of the four legs of the scissor hinge underneath the appropriate loops on the key assembly on the keyboard. Keep the same relative alignment with respect to the keycap letter. When this is done correctly, the scissor hinge will stand up straight just waiting for the key top cap. Carefully line up the keycap with the letter in the correct position and push it firmly down onto the key. It should snap into place.

Dell

 

I found keyboards for your laptop on Ebay for as little as $9.95 plus shipping. Just anothe option.

 

Also, see if you can find "Document Number TT1088559" on the Dell Support website which shows how to replace the key (with pictures). I replaced a key that had fallen off an 8600 once and it was only by sheer luck that I got it to work.
The assembly for the keys on the 8600 (as you've seen) is complicated and delicate and usually a new keyboard is the best way to go.
Dell doesn't send out individual replacement keys - only keyboards.

Regards,
Erronius

 

Like I said Ebay. Note the ones with service documents. Just my 2 cents, but better than "GLUING" things.

http://computers.search.ebay.com/in...saprcloZQQsaslcZ2QQsbrftogZ1QQsofocusZunknown

 

Problem solved!

Thanks, everybody, for chipping in.

maggie and Erronius, you two get the dozen roses or case of beer or whatever. It was a tricky operation, but it worked. What I found to be the problem is that the metal tang in the keyboard base that the white plastic "scissor" is supposed to slip under had somehow gotten bent down so the scissor part couldn't slip under it. After I straightened it up a bit, everything then snapped into place and the key cap is now back on and seems to want to stay on.

For anyone faced with a similar loose key cap, here's the link to the Dell Website page that illustrates and explains what I just tried to describe:

http://support.dell.com/support/top...s=dhs&treeid=CD7F9134E8E4DE39E030A68F27283F6C

Thanks again for the help. My wife can now resume typing happily on her laptop and I can resume whatever it was I was doing before her "N" cap came off.