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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Exothermic on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:40:59

Title: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Exothermic on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:40:59

I have a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2012, and the control key recently started to not work sometimes when I press it. I have no experience soldering things, and I want to know if there's a solution beyond replacing the switch within the keyboard. Thoughts?

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: tricheboars on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:47:15

does it feel funny when you push down on it? does it look funny if you take of the keycap? did you spill a little something maybe on your keyboard?

if there is a solution without soldering we need more info. you shouldnt be afraid of soldering though, it isnt very hard.  it just seems overwhelming when you first attempt to try it.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Lu_e on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:50:53

Have the newest firmware? How long have you had it?

Its probably the switch but could be a circuit board trace as well. Both require taking it apart regardless... Being the keyboard it is, I would probably feel ok learning some things from it. Such as soldering switches, or trace repair if that is the case.

Then if you were to mess something up you could get a nicer keyboard :p

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:54:36

Solution to all Black Widow Problems:

Step 1:
Purchase Lighter Fluid

Step2:
Douse Black Widow in Lighter Fluid

Step3:
Light Match

Step4:
Incinerate.....


Step5:

Happiness !!!!

Step6:

Buy a new keyboard.


(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/20f27c58.gif)

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Pacifist on Thu, 30 January 2014, 19:13:03

Is it the left control? I remember seeing other people on reddit experiencing that problem. One guy just taped something between the ctrl and the last macro key and rebinded the macro to ctrl.

Other than that, open the board. Its either a dead switch (so just desolder and resolder new one) or the pcb may be damaged in an rare incident. But most likely the switch is dead

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 30 January 2014, 19:15:14

Don't you mean?

Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:54:36

Solution to all Black Widow Problems:

Step 1:
Purchase Lighter Fluid

Step2:
Douse Black Widow in Lighter Fluid

Step3:
Light Match

Step4:
Incinerate.....


Step5:

Happiness !!!!

Step6:

Buy an ergo-dox

Show Image

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/20f27c58.gif)

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: demik on Thu, 30 January 2014, 19:19:45

it's out of control?

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Exothermic on Fri, 31 January 2014, 12:04:48

I did not spill anything on it, it is the left control, I have the latest firmware and drivers, it sounds normal, looks normal, feels normal. I did bind control to M5, but I didn't think about taping the keys together. I might try that. I have a friend that is pretty experienced in soldering, so if I need to, I've asked him to do it and he said he would.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: tricheboars on Fri, 31 January 2014, 13:15:44

Quote from: Exothermic on Fri, 31 January 2014, 12:04:48

I did not spill anything on it, it is the left control, I have the latest firmware and drivers, it sounds normal, looks normal, feels normal. I did bind control to M5, but I didn't think about taping the keys together. I might try that. I have a friend that is pretty experienced in soldering, so if I need to, I've asked him to do it and he said he would.

i vote you borrow that dudes soldering kit and do it yourself. learning to solder is a valuable skill in the world of geekhack. have him teach it to you at least when he works on it. and like others said if you mess up your black widow that is fine cause that board is ugly as sin. 

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 31 January 2014, 22:23:55

Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:54:36

Solution to all Black Widow Problems:

Step 1:
Purchase Lighter Fluid

Step2:
Douse Black Widow in Lighter Fluid

Step3:
Light Match

Step4:
Incinerate.....


Step5:

Happiness !!!!

Step6:

Buy a new keyboard.

Show Image

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/20f27c58.gif)

I saw this coming when I clicked the title of this thread....
(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/63d4808b.gif)

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 31 January 2014, 22:35:34

Quote from: Sifo on Thu, 30 January 2014, 19:15:14

Don't you mean?

Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 30 January 2014, 18:54:36

Solution to all Black Widow Problems:

Step 1:
Purchase Lighter Fluid

Step2:
Douse Black Widow in Lighter Fluid

Step3:
Light Match

Step4:
Incinerate.....


Step5:

Happiness !!!!

Step6:

Buy an ergo-dox

Show Image

(http://www.cute-factor.com/images/smilies/onion/20f27c58.gif)

(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/bye2-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862494)

seems like ya'll r getting to know me...

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 31 January 2014, 22:53:22

Well, it's kind of known that you will throw away a board unless it was a ergo-dox.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: terrpn on Sat, 01 February 2014, 10:00:00

well.........at least you can use the other ctrl

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: C5Allroad on Sat, 01 February 2014, 21:31:52

You can try pressing the switch housing to see if it will actuate.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Exothermic on Sat, 01 February 2014, 23:41:31

Quote from: HUNTERANGEL121 on Sat, 01 February 2014, 21:31:52

You can try pressing the switch housing to see if it will actuate.

Well it does actuate sometimes. Just not every time. It's about 50/50, which is a serious problem when playing starcraft. Also I have a lot of things in wow bound to control+other stuff.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: C5Allroad on Mon, 03 February 2014, 14:52:58

Drivers then?

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: Exothermic on Mon, 03 February 2014, 21:17:13

Drivers are all up to date and everything. As is the firmware.

Title: Re: My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.
Post by: mapple on Tue, 04 February 2014, 06:05:31

main problem with blackwidows  is with razer itself, they make them....