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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: tackyjan on Mon, 22 August 2016, 23:19:54

Title: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tackyjan on Mon, 22 August 2016, 23:19:54
Hello All!

I recently spilled soda on my ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH74 17-Inch Gaming Laptop
and today I decided to be brave and take the entire top off thinking I could access the keys to clean them.

(https://s15.postimg.org/qxi21dnln/front.jpg)

On the underside of top piece that has the keyboard there is a silver bracket that doesn't appear to have any screws (except 4 tiny screws that I found under some black tape).

(https://s15.postimg.org/ku0hhgxbv/back.jpg)

(https://s15.postimg.org/ku0hhgxbv/back.jpg)

Is there a way to remove this bracket to get to the keys and ultimately be able to clean them? Or perhaps I am going about it the wrong way, and should  be accessing cleaning the keys from the top?


Thank you,

Jan
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: Darkshado on Mon, 22 August 2016, 23:53:37
Look for a service guide for this model or a similar one, should give you additional cues on how you might be able to further disassemble this keyboard if it's at all possible. Try posting over on Notebookreview's forums, which might also be another good resource for your predicament.

Consider posting higher resolution photos, and some closeups; there are places where I'm not sure if I'm looking at screw heads or melted plastic "rivets".

Going by Asus's website, it's a "scissor over membrane" or "scissor switch" keyboard. There's often a specific way to pry off keys without breaking them, and small stabiliser rods on keys like tab.

One piece of advice with electronics in general: if you're prying or forcing, stop and ask yourself questions.

Good luck,

Darkshado
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 23 August 2016, 06:16:53
No.....

No access possible. because of those rows of plastic rivets,  they do this to build the laptop thinner, but the downside is,  it's no longer accessible.



For this type of laptop, you buy an entire new top.. and just swap the whole thing..



YOU CAN chisel out the rivets, but if you do that,  You will have to GLUE that bracket back on..


It's up to you.. IMHO, the labor hours involved, you might as well just get a new top..



BUT , if you're a kid, and your time can't be exchanged for cash, then have at it..  contact cement is easiest to work with when re gluing.
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tackyjan on Tue, 23 August 2016, 08:56:34
Thank you all for the answers!

I am curious about one thing however... if you have to replace the whole top, why does laptopinventory.com sell this replacement keyboard (http://www.laptopinventory.com/ModelDetail.php/Asus/ROG/GL752VW-DH74/Keyboard%20(Glossy)/34614) which is not attached to a top piece.

Thank you!

P.S. Assuming I can not go any further in terms of accessing the keyboard does anyone have a recommendation as to how I might clean the keys so they no longer stick? Since the keyboard is completely off the chassis (and away from any power source) would it be safe to clean with water and/or perhaps a little alcohol? :e
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tackyjan on Wed, 24 August 2016, 05:50:38
Couple other questions..

I read one some other forum that the battery needs to be "drained" after it's been disconnected from the motherboard. (I found multiple sites saying the same thing.) The way they said to do it was to disconnect the battery from the board, hold down the power button for approximately 20 seconds then reconnect the power. Do you think this might work?  It seems a bit convoluted to me especially since the power button is built into the keyboard and so you would have to remove the keyboard to access the power connector, reconnect the keyboard, hold down the power button, etc.

(https://s10.postimg.io/4hq2phiix/battery_connection.png)

Also, does anyone know what these two round buttons are?

(https://s10.postimg.io/rkglonk09/lr_buttons.png)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: kingpilcrow on Wed, 24 August 2016, 12:45:54
Magnets?
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 24 August 2016, 16:53:04
Thank you all for the answers!

I am curious about one thing however... if you have to replace the whole top, why does laptopinventory.com sell this replacement keyboard (http://www.laptopinventory.com/ModelDetail.php/Asus/ROG/GL752VW-DH74/Keyboard%20(Glossy)/34614) which is not attached to a top piece.

Thank you!

P.S. Assuming I can not go any further in terms of accessing the keyboard does anyone have a recommendation as to how I might clean the keys so they no longer stick? Since the keyboard is completely off the chassis (and away from any power source) would it be safe to clean with water and/or perhaps a little alcohol? :e

They sell it because it IS replace-able,   but you have to chisel out those rivets then glue the plate back on..  You can actually get away with double sided tape (the 3m clear thin kind)..  Buhhhh well.. yea.. up to you..
Title: Re: Need Help Cleaning/Accessing My Laptop Keyboard Keys
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 24 August 2016, 16:56:26
Don't drain the battery, you don't need to do that..

only do it if you get a bios error.