Laptop Hardware Lesson 004: Replacing the Keyboard

What are the three main things that can be replaced on a laptop keyboard?

The entire keyboard, individual keys, and the touchpad.

What is a required skill needed in order to replace most keyboards today, due to the lack of modularity of these components?

The ability to solder electronics.

Why was it easier to replace keyboards and touchpads in the earlier days than it is today?

Because they weren’t soldered to the laptop.

What does ZIF stand for?

Zero Insertion Force.

How were older keyboards and touchpads connected to a laptop?

By using a ribbon cable with a ZIF connector.

How would an older keyboard be replaced?

By taking off the surrounding chassis and removing the bevel and unscrewing the laptop, and unplugging the ZIF connector.

How does one remove a trackpad?

By removing the bezel and locating and removing the screws holding it in place.

What does a touchpad use to achieve connectivity to the motherboard?

A ZIF cable.

What is best practice when considering the replacement component for a keyboard or touchpad?

To get it from the manufacturer.

How does one replace a key cap on a keyboard?

By using a set of tweezers to pry the cap off and replacing it with a new one.

How does one replace an entire key on a keyboard if the key itself doesn’t work?

By replacing the retainer clip underneath the key cap.

What do key retainer clips do?

Translates the mechanical input from the user’s keyboard into an electrical signal sent through the motherboard.

What is usually cheaper to do when a laptop that is a couple years old has a keyboard that no longer works?

To buy a new laptop instead of having it professionally fixed if the user doesn’t know how to do it.