My blackwidow has a problem with the control key.

[Exothermic]

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?

[tricheboars]

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.

[Lu_e]

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

[tp4tissue]

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.

[Pacifist]

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

[Sifo]

Don't you mean?

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

[demik]

it's out of control?

[Exothermic]

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.

[tricheboars]

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. 

[C5Allroad]

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

I saw this coming when I clicked the title of this thread....

[tp4tissue]

Don't you mean?

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

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

[C5Allroad]

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

[terrpn]

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

[C5Allroad]

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

[Exothermic]

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.

[C5Allroad]

Drivers then?

[Exothermic]

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

[mapple]

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