Spacebar has dead ends

[cgymike]

Really annoying when I type I have to go back and fix words that have mashed together due to spacebar "misses"...have a sony laptop and the nublet white thingie in the middle of the spacbar is the thing that makes a space. I have taken the spacebar off and reinstalled it many times but I can't get the ends to make a space. Trying to always hit the middle of the bar is hit and miss since some letters of course are off to the right or left so you are going to hit the spacebar on the ends sometimes.

Any advice besides "replace the keyboard" or "get a new laptop"?

I can order a new spacebar from online but I see nothing wrong with mine.

I wonder if I should install the wires first then press the spacebar down? Those plastic (white) holders are a pain to put back in too.

Why can't keyboards be better designed? Had the laptop 4 years but the rest of the keyboard is fine. Everything else works on the machine ...well as good as a Microsoft OS would work anyway. LOL.

 

[Corny]

Hmm that depends on the kind of keyboard that you have. It sounds like it's entirely mechanical? That would be weird on a laptop though. Most likely you have some kind of rubber contact matt under the keys. Can you take a pic with the spacebar removed?

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I hate the keyboard on the lap top I use at work, so I use a wireless keyboard and mouse with it.

 

[cgymike]

I think I found the problem...the plastic hinge on the right is broken because when I lift the spacebar a little and look under it the one in the middle and left are stretched but the one on right has the top piece of the hinge sticking to the spacebar separated from the bottom bit so I guess the spacebar is not springing up and down. Amazing one little bit of formed plastic can cause such a problem.

 

[cgymike]

Pic of under the spacebar. Must have hit the spacbar too hard and broken the hinge on the plastic piece on the right. The point is it comes apart the one on the left and the centre are in one piece (hinged as they should be to allow spacebar to spring up and down). Local computer repair may have a spare plastic bit...

 

[cgymike]

Also Key board type is SC38 for mine.

http://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/servlet/the-265/SONY-Vaio-ALL-VGN-dsh-N/Detail

This may seem all very nit picking but if someone faces this issue it may be useful.

 

[Corny]

I can't see much in the pic, but it is definitely a mechanical keyboard. Also you are probably right, the right side looks a bit different. I am not sure if you will get the plastic pieces with the new key. I had a similar problem with an old mobile phone .. there I hotglued the key. If you are careful, this might help here, too.

 

[OPHELIA_HARDIN]

www.repc.com in Seattle has a whole box of of used laptop keyboards. DOn't know if they can help you over the phone or by email, but it's worth a shot.

 

[cgymike]

I can't see much in the pic, but it is definitely a mechanical keyboard. Also you are probably right, the right side looks a bit different. I am not sure if you will get the plastic pieces with the new key. I had a similar problem with an old mobile phone .. there I hotglued the key. If you are careful, this might help here, too.

Yeah was thinking of that too. Trick is not to get too much glue on the plastic hinge because it won't flex properly.

 

[cgymike]

www.repc.com in Seattle has a whole box of of used laptop keyboards. DOn't know if they can help you over the phone or by email, but it's worth a shot.

Thanks - will look at this one.

 

[Corny]

Yeah was thinking of that too. Trick is not to get too much glue on the plastic hinge because it won't flex properly.

It's somewhat risky for sure. Maybe try to apply it with a toothpick.

 

[cgymike]

Update: got the new kit with a new spacebar and hinges and nubby thing that gives spring in the middle...overall better since the hinges are all staying connected and hinging up and down but still on right end once in a while dead tap. Can live with it until this laptop dies (it's 2008 so how much life could it have left?)....