This instructions tell you how to substitute a broken or lost laptop keyboard key. The keys have been provided as a courtesy by ReplacementLaptopKeys. Additionally there are some hints about getting a keyboard key removed, just in case you want to clean the keyboard inside out.
Preliminaries
A view of the IBM ThinkPad T30 from the front side before any disassembly.
The laptop case from the bottom, the metallic covers of the compartments for WLAN/BlueTooth miniPCI cards and two RAM slots not yet opened. Note: these covers don't have to be removed to get the keyboard out. There are just two screws, marked with two little arrows in parallel, fixing the keyboard. Before proceed any further don't forget to remove the battery.
RAM and miniPCI compartments opened. The battery has been removed, too. Note, the BIOS battery, wrapped in yellow plastic, is now visible in the battery compartment.
A detailed view into the miniPCI cards (WLAN and BlueTooth) compartment, with the WLAN miniPCI card removed.
The laptop case with the keyboard removed. Fan, CPU, optical disk drive, PCMCIA compartment and parts of the mainboard are visible.
Keyboard Key Exchangement in Detail
The keyboard separated from the laptop case. Note the missing right cursor key in the lower right corner.
A view of all four cursor keys.
The place of the right cursor key with all the parts missing.
These parts have to be put into place (from left to right):
laptop key cap (the piece of plastic which has the letter on it),
laptop key retainer clip (the retainer clip holds the hinge piece to the base of the keyboard),
hinge piece (the hinge piece connects all the parts together),
rubber cup (the piece of rubber or silicone that acts as the spring to rebound the key after you have pressed it).
First: put the new
key retainer clip in place.
Second: now fit the
rubber cup in the middle of the key space.
Third: put the
hinge piece in.
Fourth: the new shiny right cursor
key cap can now be set in place finally.
How to Get a Key Out?
In case you need to clean the keyboard in detail or to change the keyboard keys to achieve a different keyboard layout you have to know how to get the keys out. Just push a screw driver behind the key and wiggle it out carefully.
Other Resources
Disclaimer, Copyright
Warning: These free IBM ThinkPad repair instructions are given without any warranty. They don't have to be complete or correct. Don't do any of the above mentioned steps if you're not sure of what you're doing. You could damage the notebook and you WILL lose its warranty. Everything you do will be at your own risk.
