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Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working

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On 2/12/2017 6:23 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
> Mike S wrote:
>
>> I bought an HP elite v2 kbd because it has such great action, it's the
>> fastest kbd I've ever used. After about a year the End key stopped
>> working, today the C, D and E keys stopped working. Does anyone have any
>> experience with these kbds? Do they die off after a year or so? I'm
>> going to take it apart and see if there are any easy fixes, any comments
>> would be interesting to hear.
>> TIA,
>> Mike
>
> Keyboard that use rubber-like membranes with carbon patterns to short
> across PCB contact points always wear out.  The rubber-like compound
> dries out and becomes more stiff.  The "action" is the difference in
> thickness around the protruding stub that suddenly collapses when flexed
> beyond a certain point.  Because of the physical wear of pressing the
> carbonized membrane against metal contacts, the membrane's contacts wear
> out (less carbon, less reliable contact).  The more you type, the sooner
> the membrane fails.
>
> You would have to look inside the keyboard to see what technology was
> used for the "switches".  Some keyboards really do still use switches
> which is why they are pricey.  For a $30 wifi thin profile keyboard
> (https://www.amazon.com/HP-Wireless-Elite-Keyboard-v2/dp/B005HNHRA6),
> that one is not using switches.  It's a cheap wifi keyboard.  Get
> another one.  If that's what you like, buy 2 so you have a spare on hand
> when the first one breaks or goes flaky (again).  A mechanical switched
> keyboard will run about 5 times, or more, the cost of the one that you
> bought (and most of the mechanicals are wired, not wifi like you got).
>
> I also buy cheap[er] keyboard; i.e., no mechanical switches, just
> membrane "switches".  I buy 2 because the membrane keyboards do not
> last.  I figure that I'm lucky if the keyboard remains reliable (like
> new) for 2 years, especially since I'm prone to pound on them
> occasionally (if I got rid of my video games, I'd pound on the keyboards
> much less often).  I have a spare waiting in a drawer because I know
> that membrane keyboards do not last.  They are not built to be
> repairable.  With a mechanical switch keyboard, you can buy a new switch
> and solder in a replacement key.
>
> They aren't built to last.  Look at the warranty.  Be glad if the
> product survives beyond then.  They know the failure rate of their
> devices at at which point in the curve to establish a warranty threshold
> or how much to invest in hardware quality to get minimally beyond the
> warranty threshold.
>
> When was the last time you turned your keyboard upside down, held it
> with one hand on one side, and banged it against your other hand and
> then reversed the procedure to know out any crumbs, hair, or other crud
> that got inside?  What you have is not a waterproof keyboard.  Crud will
> get inside.  If it manages to get under the membrane (between it and the
> PCB contacts) then you aren't going to shake it out hence why most
> warranties won't cover liquid damage.  After banging out any crud that
> got inside, blow it out using a duster can.  Often hair and lint won't
> shake out but you can it blown out.  You'll have to blow from several
> angles as the hair and lint may wrap around the stem of the key or cram
> into places that require blowing from several directions.

thanks for the detailed post! I tried turning it upside down, blowing it 
off, knocking it around a bit, none of that worked. I just took it apart 
and flooded the kbd with soapy water, sloshed it around, rinsed it, 
repeat 3x, then flush w/clear water 3x, it's sitting upside down in a 
warm spot for a few days now to dry out. But as you say it's probably 
just worn out. Now that I think about it, it is closer to 2 yrs old than 
I remembered, so if it continues to malfunction I'll just keep it for 
parts and buy another. Thanks again. Mike

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hp elite kbd, keys not working Mike S <mscir@yahoo.com> - 2017-02-12 17:35 -0800
  Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2017-02-12 20:23 -0600
    Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Mike S <mscir@yahoo.com> - 2017-02-12 19:05 -0800
  Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2017-02-12 21:46 -0500
    Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Mike S <mscir@yahoo.com> - 2017-02-12 19:08 -0800
      Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2017-02-12 23:24 -0500
        Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Mike S <mscir@yahoo.com> - 2017-02-13 02:31 -0800
  Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working "Kenny" <me@privacy.net> - 2017-02-13 08:57 +0000
    Re: hp elite kbd, keys not working Mike S <mscir@yahoo.com> - 2017-02-13 02:30 -0800

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