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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BigBrother on Tue, 30 March 2010, 22:00:18

Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 30 March 2010, 22:00:18
I was cleaning my keyboard recently and I've broken my Z key on my keyboard.

(http://adam.pcriot.com/r/100_1664.JPG)

anyone know where i can get a replacement for this little guy ? (or maybe a REALLY inexpensive clacky replacement? maybe something with media keys? preferably PS/2) the keyboard specifically is a SK-9920
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: Otterclock on Tue, 30 March 2010, 22:36:38
Before you spend $16 shipped for a single key, lemme check my surplus closet at work and see if we have one of those boards that I can jack the Z off of. (I work nights, I'm there now. Let ya know within an hour).
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 30 March 2010, 22:57:59
Quote from: ripster;168192
Be cheaper to just by a replacement. $5 on ebay. (http://cgi.ebay.com/Gateway-Keyboard-SK-9920-Full-size-Nice-NO-Reserve-L-K_W0QQitemZ190365497506QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item2c52aaf8a2)  Listing says serial connection.  LOL.  People are already forgetting what a PS/2 connector looks like.

5$ + 11$ shipping... i really hate it when people charge an obscene amount for shipping. but this keyboard is on the heavy side and as with PS/2 keyboards, it has a metal plate for grounding. xD
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: Otterclock on Tue, 30 March 2010, 23:30:13
All I have are boatloads of SK-9921's. From what I can tell they're the same but sort of tan/off-white/dirt colored. Oddly there is a single SK-9920 but it's being used by an admin, and she needs the z to type "lolz" when we ask for a budget increase.

You can message that guy on Ebay and offer him $3 for a Z. Shipping should be less.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: bitflipper on Tue, 30 March 2010, 23:34:35
$11 is hardly obscene for shipping. I just shipped both of my MX-11800s to different places and the shipping was $13.37 and $11.31 for UPS ground. If you figure the cost of a box, packing materials, and the time / gas to haul it down to the UPS store, heck, $11 is dirt cheap. It should be more like $30.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: Otterclock on Wed, 31 March 2010, 00:34:30
Now I feel guilty. I hope mine was the cheaper one. You should have sent it book rate or by train or something.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 31 March 2010, 01:09:02
well, there's a FRY's near by so i'm going to check that tomorrow. apparently their site DOES NOT INDEX ITEMS FOR THE KEYWORD 'KEYBOARD'! this came as a shock as you may notice.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: Otterclock on Wed, 31 March 2010, 01:34:09
I wish I had a Fry's nearby. 'Keyboard' search worked ok for me on their site. You should totally get this (http://www.frys.com/product/5942014?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG).
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 31 March 2010, 01:42:44
I hope that was sarcasm or you didn't notice 'BigBrother' being my name. >_<
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 31 March 2010, 01:56:49
Quote from: Otterclock;168209
Now I feel guilty. I hope mine was the cheaper one. You should have sent it book rate or by train or something.


Hehe. I'm just glad those 2 boards have good homes now and I didn't have to throw them in my donation pile.

Unfortunately, lower end keyboards are usually bulky and weighty enough that some ebay sellers can justify slapping $25 or more on top of the auction price for shipping. That's one reason I didn't put 'em on ebay.

Here's a Z I pulled off a rubber dome, but who knows if it'll fit:


Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 31 March 2010, 02:16:30
looks like it will fit. what keyboard did that come off of ?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: kishy on Wed, 31 March 2010, 08:07:57
Rawr, needs moar noisy springs.

Honestly, I have doubts you'll find a suitable key unless it came off exactly the same model of keyboard. Certainly the same keys are used between different manufacturers for some boards but the chances of you figuring out what one of those other boards is are pretty slim. Just because it's got the right shape of slider portion doesn't mean it'll accommodate the same travel distance or even be the right size.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 31 March 2010, 11:20:27
You forgot this one:

Quote
Wheel of Fortune:       � r s t l n e
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: bitflipper on Wed, 31 March 2010, 11:40:18
Quote from: BigBrother;168218
looks like it will fit. what keyboard did that come off of ?


It's one of those CompUSA 14.99 specials. The label says "Windows 98 Keyboard".

Quote from: kishy;168245
Rawr, needs moar noisy springs.

Honestly, I have doubts you'll find a suitable key unless it came off exactly the same model of keyboard. Certainly the same keys are used between different manufacturers for some boards but the chances of you figuring out what one of those other boards is are pretty slim. Just because it's got the right shape of slider portion doesn't mean it'll accommodate the same travel distance or even be the right size.


Yeah, it's a long shot, but I though I'd try to help out BigBrother. Maybe he'll forgive some of my transgressions in exchange for a Z key.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 31 March 2010, 13:59:02
I just came back from FRY's and it doesn't look like they have a suitable keyboard. I would like one with the small space on the CAPS LOCK key so I'm not hitting it all the time like I am with this Cherry POS-g84-61401. I like this cherry keyboard but it has little or no tactile feedback and it's better suited for chatting or typing up a document. My HHKBL2 may work for gaming, but it tends to slide around because it's just too light. Media keys are a plus but I have a Logitech G35 now.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: itlnstln on Wed, 31 March 2010, 14:07:35
Get some shelf liner.  It'll keep your 'board from sliding.  It will also keep you from taking the 'board off your desk altogether.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: kishy on Wed, 31 March 2010, 14:45:45
Quote from: ripster;168392
Edit:  Whoops.  Looks like you only paid $83 for it.  Maybe you can't.  But still, it's better to save up for a good one instead of collecting these Logitech/G84/HHKB rubber domes.


Or do what I do.

Ask really nicely :)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 01 April 2010, 14:39:14
Quote from: itlnstln;168386
Get some shelf liner.  It'll keep your 'board from sliding.  It will also keep you from taking the 'board off your desk altogether.


it's not completely impractical but it does work. if i could give rep, i would. :p
now only if i could lower this table about 5 inches...
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 17 April 2010, 23:39:07
whoa, i am late on this. ;_;

thanks  bitflipper   for sending me the key! it fits but it's a tad low... BUT IT FITS. :D
guess i can undo mistakes with the Z key being lower now. ( ¯◡◡¯·)

on another note, i bent and broke a pin in the PS/2 connector and the keyboard is fully broken. (╬ ಠ益ಠ)

I've gathered about 150$ and i'm willing to look for a Cherry Brown.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 18 April 2010, 11:10:37
Quote from: BigBrother;168200
it has a metal plate for grounding. xD


With a keyboard like that, it's probably a layer of tin foil...
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sun, 18 April 2010, 14:18:03
Quote from: ch_123;173229
With a keyboard like that, it's probably a layer of tin foil...

nope, there's a plate of thin molded steel in there... otherwise it'd be a really light keyboard. i think it may actually be about 1mm to be honest.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 20 April 2010, 00:28:08
it seems i made a mistake in asking about a Cherry Brown keyboard. it seems they're not as clacky as i had hoped. if anything, i want something that will echo in this hollow room of mine when i type something (and maybe even a keyboard with that tiny space between the caps lock and the 'A' key)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 20 April 2010, 20:11:58
anything along the lines of a full keyboard ? I have more than enough space now (i also tend to use the keypad's ENTER key on the way to my mouse sometimes)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 20 April 2010, 20:15:35
http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html (http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/en104bl.html) this looks good... i don't see how it's "space saving" though... doesn't concern me however.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 20 April 2010, 20:51:35
oh, so that's what that little indented bar was... haha.

Ripster... I'm jealous of your desk. my desk is... well... a multiple-layer network of cables, papers and various of things:

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9315&stc=1&d=1271814557)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 24 April 2010, 10:24:47
someone please shoot me soon. ;_;

i got the Unicomp spaceSaver yesterday and got to trying it out tdoay... odd thing is: i can type my password in in the login window but once i'm into windows 7 x64, i can't type anything else- the keyboard is moreorless dead. the numlock light is on but i can't do anything with the keyboard (can't turn numlock off, the windows key doesn't work, etc).
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 24 April 2010, 11:05:21
the PS/2 version. I've had issues USB keyboards and BIOS in the past (the board wouldn't start soon enough for me to get into bios and sometimes it would).

i guess i'll patch together my linux machine and get it running.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 24 April 2010, 11:20:40
my roommate needs to get to class (the fool chose weekend classes) and class starts in 10min~

i also need to get some things so hopefully y'all will be here later in the day.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 24 April 2010, 21:30:33
someone shoot me dead, please. ;_;

i took him to class, went to ikea, got lost for about 100mi on the freeway, went to home depot for some wood, car died, pushed it about 100ft, someone jumped the battery till the car worked, went to walmart, car "died" again, called a tow truck and the guy wiggled the rings on the battery nipples around a little and my car works... somewhat. fml
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: elbowglue on Sat, 24 April 2010, 21:33:37
It's a little spacesaving. Look at my sig.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 28 April 2010, 14:37:12
it's dawned on me that i take too long to do things. i need to get my stuff straight. :\

anyways, it's confirmed, the unicomp spacesaver works on Linux so far (now only if i could make this WiMAX connection go faster. >_>).

also, this is what i was taking my sweet time to make: (http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/3332/1001742i.jpg)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 28 April 2010, 15:56:04
i love cats and dogs, but i'm allergic to both. ;_;
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: microsoft windows on Wed, 28 April 2010, 19:13:51
I take it you don't recognize that photograph. Ever heard of "His Master's Voice"?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Wed, 28 April 2010, 19:40:30
It sounds familiar but i'm not entirely into old books or is it a movie?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Wed, 28 April 2010, 19:43:59
Quote from: BigBrother;177120
It sounds familiar but i'm not entirely into old books.


Tsss, kids these days....

(http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/~mma/teaching/MS74/images/hmv_1.jpg)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 29 April 2010, 00:54:19
I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking at there from Mental Hobbit... is that a record or a film roll?


on the subject of the unicomp keyboard: does anyone have an idea why it works in Linux (note that the Linux i am using is 32-bit) but not past the login screen on Windows 7 x64?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 29 April 2010, 07:54:07
Quote from: Mental Hobbit;177123
Tsss, kids these days....

Show Image
(http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/%7Emma/teaching/MS74/images/hmv_1.jpg)

McPhail.  Awesome.

That's a record, BTW. A 78, to be exact.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: keyb_gr on Thu, 29 April 2010, 09:45:21
Quote from: BigBrother;177165
on the subject of the unicomp keyboard: does anyone have an idea why it works in Linux (note that the Linux i am using is 32-bit) but not past the login screen on Windows 7 x64?

I think you're not the first one with that problem, but can't for my life remember where I read about this.

Here would be an article dealing with slow response (http://keyliner.blogspot.com/2009/11/windows-7-slow-keyboard-response.html) - hmm, I /do/ have two copies of ati2evxx.exe running.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 29 April 2010, 13:55:42
Quote from: keyb_gr;177254
hmm, I /do/ have two copies of ati2evxx.exe running.


what does ati2evxx.exe have to do with the unicomp not running past the login window in win7 ?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: muchadoaboutnothing on Thu, 29 April 2010, 19:44:05
So let me get this straight.


 Do you have to type in a password (do we know the keyboard is working at this point?)
What model motherboard is this?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 29 April 2010, 21:33:50
ASUS M4A79 Deluxe

and yeah, i can browse around in BIOS and type in my password at the login screen but once windows actually loads, the keyboard is moreorless useless (oddly, the caps/num lock/scroll lock lights work)

@keyb_gr:

i asked that before i saw the link and had to go do a few errands for the day and then donate blood. i read the article but i don't have ANY ATI2evxx.exe running... anywhere and i can't find that Ati Hotkey Poller thing anywhere either.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: muchadoaboutnothing on Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:11:32
Quote from: BigBrother;177442
and yeah, i can browse around in BIOS and type in my password at the login screen but once windows actually loads, the keyboard is moreorless useless (oddly, the caps/num lock/scroll lock lights work)

Unusual. Does the keyboard show up in the device manager? Did you install the latest chipset drivers? (http://www.mediafire.com/file/2gj1ktqzw2n/AMD_Chipset_V307320_Windows7.zip) (since Asus' servers aren't rock solid, and they don't let you link directly to the driver files, I downloaded and threw them on Mediafire. Faster download anyway, 1 megabyte per second + for non-pro users)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: kishy on Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:16:23
Idea:

When, exactly, does the restriction on unsigned drivers kick in? Is this during boot or after logon?

Presumably the driver being used is signed since it's the MS original, but if something has gone wonky re: unsigned driver restrictions it seems like a possible cause (to test, find the utility that disables this functionality, reboot, see if it works).
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: muchadoaboutnothing on Thu, 29 April 2010, 23:19:36
Quote from: kishy;177456
Idea:

When, exactly, does the restriction on unsigned drivers kick in? Is this during boot or after logon?

Presumably the driver being used is signed since it's the MS original, but if something has gone wonky re: unsigned driver restrictions it seems like a possible cause (to test, find the utility that disables this functionality, reboot, see if it works).


AFAIK it DOES occur at boot. To temporarily disable it, you can hold down F8 right before the "Starting Windows" screen and select "Disable driver signature enforcement" to disable it until the machine is rebooted (one time; I do it when I want to use Virtual Audio Cable or MotionInJoy for my DualShock 3)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Fri, 30 April 2010, 23:40:41
i'm not sure why i'm now just thinking of this... the SK-9920 keyboard that i originally needed a Z  key for was PS/2 and worked fine. ;_;
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Mon, 03 May 2010, 17:14:40
anything?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Tue, 04 May 2010, 20:17:27
in light of no suggestions, i grave dug a (kb & mouse) PS/2 to USB adapter from RadioShack my dad had bought me some years ago. The keyboard works now (very loudly now that i think of it. :D).

I've heard some things about PS/2 to USB adapters though. Somewhere I read that some adapters will not allow for x amount of keys pushed at the same time. any comments on this?

with this massive keyboard on my desk now, i don't think i have enough room for my HHKL2... anyone have a suggestion for a KVM switch or other alternative (except for Synergy) ?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 06 May 2010, 14:25:17
ok, this nearly screwed me over in a game i was just playing... the keyboard decided to reset itself or something. i couldn't use any keys and once i had stopped pressing any keys, the CAPS/NUM/SCROLL lights blinked and i could use it again.

any ideas?
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 06 May 2010, 14:37:20
Are you using a PS/2 to USB adapter or a KVM switch?  I had a KVM switch that would do that on occasion.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: kishy on Thu, 06 May 2010, 14:53:04
USB...to...PS/2.

Yeah, the issue is certainly a "reset", of some kind. If using a USB to PS/2 converter then you'll want to try a different one.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 06 May 2010, 14:56:09
Whatever.  I'm trying to go vintage here.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Thu, 06 May 2010, 17:48:07
itlnstln, a KVM would be nice... this PS/2 to USB just screwed me over- i was driving trying to escape from the EDF and suddenly the keyboard "died" and i got nailed with a bazooka of some sort. :(

kishy, have you used any PS/2 to USB adapters that didn't reset (i could assume an adapter without an extension would not do this "reset" crap) ?

((what i mean by 'without an extension' is an adapter that goes straight from PS/2 to USB like a tiny cylinder not the connector, cord, middle-thing and then usb))

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9759&stc=1&d=1273185988)
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: kishy on Thu, 06 May 2010, 18:05:41
Quote from: BigBrother;179621

kishy, have you used any PS/2 to USB adapters that didn't reset (i could assume an adapter without an extension would not do this "reset" crap) ?

((what i mean by 'without an extension' is an adapter that goes straight from PS/2 to USB like a tiny cylinder not the connector, cord, middle-thing and then usb))


USB to PS/2! lol.
You're not adapting the keyboard to USB...you're providing PS/2 emulation over USB. Thus, USB to PS/2, much the same way a PCI VGA video card would be a "PCI to VGA" adapter card.

As for this "without an extension" stuff, I don't think that makes a difference. It is possible that extra wire length would increase resistance enough to make the electronics unhappy, but that's a long shot with such a short wire length.

The blue cube is very good but I have yet to experience problems with the one-dollar-with-free-shipping ones...

If you don't like experimenting with stuff, just go blue cube. Spend a few more bucks, get something extremely likely to just work, but if you're like me you'd kick yourself for not trying every other option as well. Recommended: USB extension cord, if only a few inches. Blue cubes were designed by some kind of moron who didn't think USB ports are normally beside each other.
Title: need replacement keys
Post by: BigBrother on Sat, 08 May 2010, 03:02:50
Kishy linked me to an alternative site for the Blue Cube since the eBay listing has long since ended- but the site says i don't have cookie enabled (blasted Cookie Monster got me. D; ) so i have yet to fix that. (i lost that link by the way...)

but in other news, i fixed my space issue with the Unicomp Space saver and my HHKL2:

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9796&stc=1&d=1273305728)

the unicomp actually supports me typing on the HHKL2! ^_^