Keyboard reassembly...

Would anyone give me a link to somewhere where there are step-by-step instructions to reassembling a keyboard (PS/2), or a video, please ?

Some time ago my keyboard stopped working (at all). I thought the most likely cause was a broken connection in one of the wires in the cable between the PC (ie between the PS/2 connector and keyboard) and keyboard. So I took the keyboard apart, which was fine until I decided (for reasons I can't remember) to also remove the clamp wich holds the printed flexy circuit connecting the keys to the circuit board with PS/2 connections soldered to it...replacing this seems to require rather precise alignment and I'm looking for the trick which will facilitate this (I now need the keyboard again, whereas previously I just had the potential to have a spare ) The keys are still in the upper half of the keyboard.

Dumb_Question
28.August.2013
Compaq Presario S5160UK (DT261) - Celeron 2.7GHz RK80532RC068128 - m/b MSI MS-6577 v2.1 - 1.5GB RAM - Wndows XP/SP3

 

Thank you very much Major, I will study that (and probably decide that's it's beyond my limited skills and buy another... )

Dumb_Question
28.August.2013
Compaq Presario S5160UK (DT261) - Celeron 2.7GHz RK80532RC068128 - m/b MSI MS-6577 v2.1 - 1.5GB RAM - Wndows XP/SP3

 

If you break down and decide to replace it, go with a new keyboard that has a native PS/2 connection like this:

http://www.directron.com/akb132pb.html

 

You can buy a keyboard for $10 or less. I would not waste my time. Note you can get PS/2 to USB adapters too.

 

What do you mean by "native PS/2 connection", I don't quite understand.

-> Digerati
Thank you, I've been looking on ebay and Amazon, and the cheapest I have seen anywhere is this (£3.85 = US$6.60) but I thought that if even contemplated that the MG thought police would be after me It's always usful to have various adapters; on this occasion I wanted a PS/2 kb to avoid using a USB socket on the PC and I am thinking of using one KVM for 2 computers - hence a KVM switch

Dumb_Question
29.August.2013
Compaq Presario S5160UK (DT261) - Celeron 2.7GHz RK80532RC068128 - m/b MSI MS-6577 v2.1 - 1.5GB RAM - Wndows XP/SP3

 

This was all I could find but it may help if yours is similar

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replace-keyboard-compaq-presario-cq61-hp-g61/

 

No harm in posting links to products - as long as you don't have a personal or financial stake to the linked site or product.

I don't recommend you buy a PS/2 keyboard because PS/2 connections are becoming obsolete. Many new motherboards no longer support PS/2. So I would buy a USB keyboard and use an adapter. They work, and they ensure your keyboard will still be useful on your next computer.

If short on USB connections, consider getting a hub or adding a card.

 

I've found a few older PCs that don't work well with either USB keyboards or USB keyboards connected to a PS/2 (round) adapter. There is a slight chance they won't be recognized properly by Windows or the BIOS.

Assuming the original keyboard that came with the PC was PS/2 (round) and you're only going to use the keyboard on this PC, I'd err on the side of caution and get one with a native PS/2 port (PS/2 connector at the end of the wire - not a USB adapter piece).

 

Thank you for explaining that detail, gman863. I understand now.

Dumb_Question
30.August.2013

 

What I meant was the MG police would be after me for buying cheap (low quality ?) products :-D

A good forward-thinking point about obsolescence.

A very reasonable suggestion on USB ports, too. Thank you.
About being short on USB's: I try to keep all my USB devices plugged in even when turned off (eg printer, joystick, camera, Kindle lead) because I find unplugging/plugging in tiresome/difficult. For the less used things a hub/splitter is certainly useful (I have one). In fact, on my old PC (S5160UK) I have a wireless kb/mouse permanently using one USB port. My WD passport won't work through my hub (a not-externally-powered one).

Dumb_Question
30.August.2013
Compaq Presario S5160UK (DT261) - Celeron 2.7GHz RK80532RC068128 - m/b MSI MS-6577 v2.1 - 1.5GB RAM - Wndows XP/SP3