Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Thinkpad 43p keyboard half dead

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    15

    Thinkpad 43p keyboard half dead

    After several years of loyal service, my Thinkpad 43p laptop lost some of its keyboard function: many of the keys, including Enter, M, , and others simply stopped working. If I turned it off for a while and reboot, they sometimes come back, but die after a few minutes. Sounds like something is overheating, but what might it be, and how do I fix it? I would hate to lose it if there is a way to revive it.
    Thanks for any suggestions.

  2. #2
    Lifetime Friend of Staff
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    3,921
    Overheating, open it up and clean it.

    When was the last time you did a clean install.?

  3. #3
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    15

    43p keyboard dying

    I am running XP, so no clean install. Never opened it up to clean-- worried about putting it back together////

  4. #4
    Lifetime Friend of Staff
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    3,921
    Might find a video on you tube showing how to open it up. Or google for a manual that shows how to do it.
    Might want to take it in to have it done.

    With XP, I have gone 3 years between clean installs. Sure helps speed things up.

  5. #5
    Senior Member wardD's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    leduc alta canada
    Posts
    747
    this will let you know if its a heat issue http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

  6. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    15

    keyboard half dead

    I am running NHC, which also shows temperatures. When I have the problem with the keyboard, the temperature is fine, but the machine has gotten to 90 deg. C a couple of times in the past.
    I have now removed the keyboard, vaccumed it, but the problem persists-- now other parts of the keyboard are failing (other letters). My own suspicion is that the chip that interprets keystrokes is dying, but if so, what can I do?

  7. #7
    Lifetime Friend of Staff
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    3,921
    Or the KB contacts are going bad.

    Plug in a USB keyboard and use it. See what happens, it should work just spiffy.

  8. #8
    Lifetime Friend of Staff
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    3,921
    I see you do not know that a vacuum develops static electricity and that is a bad enemy of computers.
    Use canned air that the stores sell for cleaning computers.

    It is safe enough that it is the new refrigerant used in car and truck air conditioners.

  9. #9
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    15
    How can the direction of air flow (out of the computer in vacuum, into it with compressed air) make a difference to static electricity? Is the vacuum cleaner motor charging the air?

  10. #10
    Lifetime Friend of Staff
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    3,921
    Air flow through the hose is what builds the static. Seen a couple fried computers where folks used vacuums. They were not pretty.

  11. #11
    Member t34b4g5's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Australia.
    Posts
    219
    Replace the keyboard, just browsing quickly through e-bay i spotted a few keyboard replacements. Just note down the model no: of your laptop and use that when searching.

    curious what happens if you plug in a normal PC keyboard via usb?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •