Key Replacement Help for Type W1 HP/Compaq Laptops Keyboards



KEY REPLACEMENT HELP FOR TYPE W1 HP/COMPAQ KEYS
Removing a Key-cap Replacing Scissors Standard and Small Size Large Size Removing Scissors Disclaimer

Removing a Key-cap Simply slide a fingernail, or similarly flat, stiff edge, under a bottom corner of the key-cap and pull up gradually until the key-cap "pops" off.

Replacing Scissors Standard and Small Size The standard size and small ("f1" etc.) hinge scissor mechanisms are replaced using essentially the small method. Standard scissors (shown in images here) are a little wider than the small scissors. The orientation of the flange and hooks (shown in the top middle image below) is sometimes flipped: flange : hooks ⇓ hooks : flange .
W1 scissors hook onto 1 "flange" + 2 metal "hooks" (top middle image) at scissor locations shown in the top right image. These scissor mechanisms are made of two parts that easily come apart (top right image again). Firstly, slip the inner part of the scissor under the flange (bottom left image). Secondly, slip the "hook holds" of the scissors' larger outer part under the position's two hooks (bottom middle image).
The outer part is then slide back a small fraction toward the position's center. This "slide-back" may have to be repeated. When done correctly the inner and outer parts of the scissor lock together easily and lie flat together: Look to see whether the inner part's two "nobs" (highlighted in cyan-blue in the top right image) have slipped snugly inside corresponding notches of the larger outer part. You may want to inspect the outer part closely to see these notches.
Large Size The large hinge scissor part is only used at a few key positions (left shift, enter and backspace, the spacebar does not use them but, rather, 2 standard size scissors).
Large scissors hook onto 3 "flanges" (top middle image) at scissor "flange hold" locations shown in the top right image. Firstly, slip the scissor's lower flange hold under the position's lower flange (bottom left image). Secondly, press down gently but firmly on the scissors upper corners to push its "flange holds" into their flanges bottom middle image).

Removing Scissors (Reading the previous section "Replacing Scissors" can be helpful.)
Removing standard and small size scissors from a key position is easiest to do by unattaching the inner and outer parts of the scissors from each other: Using a fingernail, or similar edge, gently lift the scissor so it hinges up from the flat position then gently (but firmly) apply pressure as indicated by the 2 arrows in the image at right (2 yellow arrows in the left side of the image, 2 orange arrows in the right). This applied pressure should cause the inner and outer parts of the scissor mechanism to twist apart from each other. When apart, it is easy to unhook the two parts of the scissor from the base of the key position.
Removing large scissors from a key position requires a bit more force than the smaller scissors. The trick is to get one of the top scissors "holds" (shown in previous section) out from under its corresponding flange: Gradually apply increasing force in the direction indicated by the orange arrow in the image at right until the "hold" gets out from under its flange. A little twisting and giggling of this force can be helpful. Once the first "hold" is out from under its flange, it is easy to get the scissors out from under the two remaining flanges.
Disclaimer This help guide is provided as is and irithm takes no responsibility for any injury or damage done to yourself or your laptop through actions that include opening the interior body of your laptop or inserting or removing anything into or from any its ports (USB, ethernet etc.) or through the use of laptop key parts (key-caps and key scissors) not purchased from irithm through ebay.com. Laptop key replacement should not affect warranties but you have to check your own warranty to be sure.
© irithm 2008