Keyboard Problem

potpal · Aug 11, 2011, 12:00 AM

I have a Compaq Presario CQ56 which I bought 6 months ago. I am recently finding that one or other key becomes hard or impossible to depress. I contacted H.P. who advised me to blast the keyboard with compressed air. I did this and it certainly clears the fault on the particular key but later I find another key is giving trouble. Can anyone explain the likely root cause of the problem please. Is this something common to all laptops or am I just unlucky? Is there anything else I can try to effect a more permanent cure or should I return the laptop to the seller and say it is faulty? I have used a desktop computer for years and this problem has never arisen.

mkk · Aug 11, 2011, 02:04 AM

It's quite common for dust or other particles to accumulate under these short stroke keys, which in turn make them more difficult to operate. If this is the case then more cleaning should take care of it. Sometimes it's necessary to remove a key to get where the problem is, but the platic parts get fragile over time so it's safer to use compressed air. You could take it to the shop and have them look at it, as they should be able to discern whether it is a cleaning situation or indeed a faulty key.

potpal · Aug 11, 2011, 10:07 AM

Thank you MKK for your reply which gives me some reassurance that I haven't bought a duff machine. I will continue with the compressed air as necessary.
One might have thought that blowing the dirt around would simply shift it to another part of the keyboard and hence a good vacuum cleaner would do a better job. However, I guess this has been tried and found to be ineffectual or maybe even damaging. Thanks again.

mkk · Aug 11, 2011, 01:15 PM

Vacuum cleaners have a knack for generating static electricity which is a potential hazard to all electronics. On the other hand I would consider use one myself at low speed and putting my hand so that it acts as the business end between the keyboard and the nozzle.

This crud/dust problem is probably the main reason why we're starting to see more laptops with this style of keys.

potpal · Aug 11, 2011, 11:52 PM

Thanks again MKK for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Aug 11, 2011, 12:00 AM	#1
potpal HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Keyboard Problem I have a Compaq Presario CQ56 which I bought 6 months ago. I am recently finding that one or other key becomes hard or impossible to depress. I contacted H.P. who advised me to blast the keyboard with compressed air. I did this and it certainly clears the fault on the particular key but later I find another key is giving trouble. Can anyone explain the likely root cause of the problem please. Is this something common to all laptops or am I just unlucky? Is there anything else I can try to effect a more permanent cure or should I return the laptop to the seller and say it is faulty? I have used a desktop computer for years and this problem has never arisen.

Aug 11, 2011, 02:04 AM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Keyboard Problem It's quite common for dust or other particles to accumulate under these short stroke keys, which in turn make them more difficult to operate. If this is the case then more cleaning should take care of it. Sometimes it's necessary to remove a key to get where the problem is, but the platic parts get fragile over time so it's safer to use compressed air. You could take it to the shop and have them look at it, as they should be able to discern whether it is a cleaning situation or indeed a faulty key.

Aug 11, 2011, 10:07 AM	Thread Starter #3
potpal HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: Keyboard Problem Thank you MKK for your reply which gives me some reassurance that I haven't bought a duff machine. I will continue with the compressed air as necessary. One might have thought that blowing the dirt around would simply shift it to another part of the keyboard and hence a good vacuum cleaner would do a better job. However, I guess this has been tried and found to be ineffectual or maybe even damaging. Thanks again.

Aug 11, 2011, 01:15 PM	#4
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Keyboard Problem Vacuum cleaners have a knack for generating static electricity which is a potential hazard to all electronics. On the other hand I would consider use one myself at low speed and putting my hand so that it acts as the business end between the keyboard and the nozzle. This crud/dust problem is probably the main reason why we're starting to see more laptops with this style of keys.

Aug 11, 2011, 11:52 PM	Thread Starter #5
potpal HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Re: Keyboard Problem Thanks again MKK for sharing your knowledge and experience.