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https://i.postimg.cc/NfJrTRxc/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h13m39s313.jpg

This old keyboard has seen better days, one of the keys has completely come off and the other keys do not feel as good as they used to. Luckily I had a spare keyboard for this laptop laying around. I checked out some videos on how to replace it and then got to doing my own. It only took me about 15 minutes, and went alot more smooth than I thought it would. I wonder if all laptop keyboards are this easy to replace, or maybe just this Dell model.

https://i.postimg.cc/6QR7DgxW/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h13m45s447.jpg

First I remove the battery which exposes some screws I need to remove.

https://i.postimg.cc/zBrL57qn/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h13m50s422.jpg

A small screw driver works best, a normal size one is just too small for these tiny screws.

https://i.postimg.cc/BbZXPvLb/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h14m06s338.jpg

Once the back panel is off there are more screws to remove.

https://i.postimg.cc/Znf08hpc/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h14m23s203.jpg

I also take off the framing around the keyboard as even more screws hide underneath it that need to be removed.

https://i.postimg.cc/RFLW0t02/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h14m26s814.jpg

Using my computer blower I clean off any dust that has got in there.

https://i.postimg.cc/c1TKyf2n/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h14m36s699.jpg

The ribbon cable is something you normally need to be careful with, its the most fragile part.. Both the connector and the cable itself needs to be treated with a lot of care.

https://i.postimg.cc/wTG73g6x/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m11s655.jpg

Locating the spots I removed the screws from I work my finger under the keyboard.

https://i.postimg.cc/SNsnyJbt/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m20s324.jpg

With a better grip it comes right out, the bottom part sits in the palm rest but not screwed in.

https://i.postimg.cc/GmT9yV2F/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m22s465.jpg

I can now see the ribbon cable that I disconnected from the back.

https://i.postimg.cc/MGkHb5Mh/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m30s364.jpg

There ya go, old keyboard is out and the new one is about to be installed.

https://i.postimg.cc/cJQHD3f6/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m38s979.jpg

Using my small screw driver I put the screws back in reverse order.

https://i.postimg.cc/50gtJM7V/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h15m45s827.jpg

The framing is snapped back into place, careful not to crack it.

https://i.postimg.cc/PrP5g91g/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h16m05s840.jpg

The ribbon cable is carefully installed, and goes quite well. Though I will not know for sure until I turn it on and test the keyboard.

https://i.postimg.cc/HxdLFLtz/vlcsnap-2022-02-26-13h16m15s631.jpg

Placing the back panel back on, after all the screws were put back in. I boot up the laptop and test it out. With Ubuntu installed previously I just opened terminal and tested some random keys.. all works! A successful keyboard replacement, and my first time doing it. I normally work on desktops so doing some work on a laptop was new to me. But all and all it went well and now my friend has a good keyboard to use.


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