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Thread ID: 141707 2016-02-07 23:17:00 Keyboard Problem Driftwood (5551) Press F1
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1415697 2016-02-07 23:17:00 I have a problem with a keyboard.
The keys 1,2,3,4, 7,8,9,0 don't work.
All the other keys work fine.
Keyboard is Genius GK-060002 KB 200
It's a cheap PS/2 multimedia & I like it.

Here is where you say, throw it away & buy a new one.

I have already replaced it with another, that I already had, but prefer the other.

Also as I created the problem in the first place, I would like to fix it, or a least know what is wrong.

The history:
It had a couple of sticky keys, so I took it apart & washed the keypad assembly in warm water with a dash of sunlight liquid.
Then hung it on the clothesline to dry in the wind.
Have done this many times successfully with other keyboards.

After finding the fault I have taken it apart several times, looking for what I must have done wrong.
But to no avail, it still eludes me.

Was just wondering if anyone else may have been down this road.
Driftwood (5551)
1415698 2016-02-07 23:56:00 Here is where you say, throw it away & buy a new one.

Also as I created the problem in the first place, I would like to fix it, or a least know what is wrong.

It had a couple of sticky keys, so I took it apart & washed the keypad assembly in warm water with a dash of sunlight liquid.
Then hung it on the clothesline to dry in the wind.
.

Throw it away and buy another.
You killed it. It wasn't dry and you shorted it.....take it apart again, bet you see burnt bits on the plastic circuit board.
pctek (84)
1415699 2016-02-08 00:25:00 Thanks for the reply.
If that was the cause I would throw it.
But none of the electrical componentry got wet.
Also I would be expecting to find more than just 8 dead keys.
Driftwood (5551)
1415700 2016-02-08 00:43:00 A circuit is broken, if a group of keys fails it usually means that the keyboard matrix is broken somewhere. Taking it apart you may have somehow damaged it. It only takes a small scratch in the wrong place and its dead. Just in case its some weird software problem ( but doubt it) plug in another good Keyboard, if that does the same then its the computer.

I got a laptop here, similar, the number keys along the top don't work as well as the Left hand shift key.The problem is the motherboard, found this out after spending $60 on a replacement keyboard.
wainuitech (129)
1415701 2016-02-08 03:36:00 Ouch, not to mention your time.

Yes, I was thinking my problem would have to be something along those lines.
If I had found something obvious I would have been happier.
But I see you can still buy them for under $15 so trying to fix it is not really an option.
I knew that all along, just didn't want to admit defeat.
Driftwood (5551)
1415702 2016-02-10 07:50:00 Yeah, the comment about keyboard matrix is correct, but it might boil down to the contacts at the end of the membrane not being properly seated into whetever they plug into.

Often the plastic surround on the circuit board will have a little lip that you can lever up - this is the locking mechanism that holds the membrane against the contacts - release the membrane, reinsert/reposition the membrane, and press down the plastic thing again to lock it back in place.

Reassemble and try it out - nothing to lose but your time.

Brings back BAD memories of a Spectrum keyboard membrane - these things would spontaneously crack just because they were too brittle to maintain the curve that was required of them. Obsolescence through bad design.
Paul.Cov (425)
1415703 2016-02-10 18:55:00 I had a laptop with a group of keys that didn't work, took it apart and found a coffee stain and some corrosion underneath. Had to replace it. Are you absolutely certain no circuitry got wet, even the tiniest of droplets stuck between layers can cause problems and take forever to dry out. dugimodo (138)
1415704 2016-02-10 20:13:00 Thanks for your help guys but I've given up & admitted defeat on this one.

I only washed the top part with the keys. The circuit board & matrix was never wet.
It can only go together one way. The circuit board is located on a couple of plastic pins.
So is the matrix. A soft silicone strip clips over the contact area & is held firm when the two half are screwed together.
The different screws lengths all went in the same locations.

It must be a break in the matrix.
Driftwood (5551)
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