Thinkpads Forum

This is a used machine I boughtand the C D E and number 3 don't work, i've never had a keyboard problem before so am wondering what causes that. thanks

I would try reseating the keyboard cable.

Do they just not type, or have they failed the keyboard test in the BIOS?

Kyocera wrote:This is a used machine I boughtand the C D E and number 3 don't work, i've never had a keyboard problem before so am wondering what causes that. thanks

The issue maybe dirt bellow the keys, try to blow off the entire keyboard with a can of compresed air ( R-134A ) at work we use a "washer machine" that has alcohol in it's tub and cleans by sonic motion it is mostly for our electronic technicians to be use to clean electronic boards, i try it on keyboard and have a great success using it.

Seeing how the four keys are all on the same "column" I would suspect a broken trace on the keyboard printed circuit board or perhaps a loose connection. If this is a 600X system then you can download PC Doctor and run the keyboard diagnostic. I would also see if the F3 key is working or not since it too is in the same column.

Thanks for all the replys. I did remove it and try reseating the connector several times, it was pretty dirty underneath, i used compressed air to blow it out good and cleaned it up but it still does not work. rkawakami, that whole line does not work from f3 on down.

Kyocera wrote:rkawakami, that whole line does not work from f3 on down.

Then I would suspect a common connection between those keys, normally a trace which makes them a part of a matrix, to be broken. If you've re-seated all of the ribbon cables and still have the problem, then I think it's time for some eBay searching for another keyboard.

As I was looking at the bottom half of a 600X tonight, I realized that there may be one other area which (remotely) may be the source of your keyboard problem. You may want to try re-seating the Sub Card before ordering another keyboard. That would be the small board which the keyboard and speaker ribbon cables plug into. Remove the three (?) small screws and lift the board straight up. And since you have the board in your hand, maybe a quick look with a magnifying glass at the connector on the top (keyboard ribbon cable) and on the bottom (which plugs into the motherboard). It looks like the signals from the keyboard ribbon cable go directly to the connector on the bottom of the Sub Card. Look for any contact points inside both connectors to be dirty and/or out of alignment. Also check the leads from each connector where they are soldered onto the Sub Card. You might get lucky and see something that may be the problem.

Ray, i did try reaseating that card and examining the connectors with a magnifying glass over and over and can see nothing out of sort or damaged, it could be a cracked solder joint but i don't have a tip small enough to do an adequate "re-heat". AlphaKilo has a keyboard he's sending me, hopefully that will take care of the problem. I appreciate your replys

Mike