Dell Inspiron 6400 key fell out, how to replace?

Hi guys. My girlfriend's friend was on my girlfriend's laptop browsing the web or something, and somehow the 'V' key on the keyboard fell out. Don't ask me how or what, all I know is that I need to fix it.

I obviously just tried pressing it down back on the keyboard, and that doesnt work. Coupled with my very limited experience with laptop keys/keyboards, I am at a loss as to what to do now.

Can anyone suggest how to get it fixed back into proper place? Is there any sort of manual online that has a guide as to how to replace these keys?

Hopefully someone has encountered this issue before and can help me fix back the keyboard.

 

It looks like the clip broke. Check the bottom of the key and see if the plastic did break or if it just unattached itself.

 

At the bottom of the key there is still the plastic supports. Its hard to describe, but its almost 2 sets of plastic that form something of a V that gets depressed flat when the key is pressed, and then gets pushed up back by a little piece of rubber.


Any help anyone?

 

I guess no one can help?

 

Can't tell from the description. Maybe you could post a picture of the key and the 'hole' it came from?

I can't tell what level of mechanical aptitude you may or may not have, but I'm morally certain I could give you guidance that could cause more keys to come loose.

Does the little rubber nipple still make a 'v' when it's pressed down? If so, she might (if all else fails) get used to 'typing' get v's on that little nub.

Anyway, you (she) may be boned. You might be able to order the keyboard from the manufacturer, but they'll want a mint for it, if it's even available.

Or plug a USB keyboard into the computer and type on that. If she primarily uses it as a desktop anyway, just get a $30 keyboard/mouse combo and plug it into a little USB hub and she'll be in business again.

 

it'd bother me to no end, regardless, if i were missing a key

 

A Dell 6400 keyboard goes for ~20 bucks shipped on ebay if you get a good deal, if it comes to that...

 

it should "snap" back into place. You just have to make sure that the alignment is perfect. My kid has pulled out many of my keys and I just snap them right back in. After a severe punishing of course.

 

If I couldn't pop it back, I'd just epoxy it back on, but I'm pretty ghetto with my stuff.

 

ALright, I'm going to try snapping it back in again, failing that I'll take a few shots and post them. Thanks so far.

 

Another thing to try... for the non-squeamish sorts:

Get a little flashlight, on a clean, clear work area, and carefully pry up a neighboring key with a little screwdriver and see how it's attached. Call it exploratory surgery.

Only recommended if you're giving up and declaring the keyboard FUBAR. Then it doesn't matter if there are two or more keys popped off.

Anyway, get down where you can see what's under there and slowly pry up the key. If there's a spring, it might hit you in the eye, so maybe eye protection if you're a wuss. Pry in the direction that the 'little lever parts' go, so as not to break it.

Caution: Springs and other tiny mechanical parts don't obey normal physical laws and tend to disappear into another dimension.

Here are some pictures of somebody re-attaching another notebook keyboard design. Though it's probably not precisely a match, it might be enlightening.
http://www.sterpin.net/uk/reattachingkeykeyboarduk.htm

 

This might be of interest:
http://www.sterpin.net/uk/reattachingkeykeyboarduk.htm

Most likely not identical, but similar enough to give you ideas.

 

Oops sorry for the duplicate post. The previous one didn't show up when I hit refresh, and I'm 'multitasking' at the moment, so I assumed the post didn't happen.