W520 Shift key stuck

[MSKFAHIM]

Hello,

My w520's shift key got stuck. OMG! I just tested it and now its working fine Anyway, for future, how do I take the key off safely and clean whatever is stuck underneath it? I know how to take off the regular keys. I just pull on them from the right side and they come off safely but I don't know what to do about the shift key. I am talking about the big right shift key.


Thanks

[BillMorrow]

hello and welcome to the forum..

i think you have the new style "chicklet" keyboard..

i have not seen a thinkpad with this new style keyboard but i DO have a couple of examples of these, one for my android thinkpad tablet..
and another on the ipad keyboard i use..
i really don't care all that much for these "chicklet" keyboards but no one pays attention to the people who use them..

i rather imagine the hardware maintenance manual for your thinkpad will have something to say about pulling the keytops off to clean underneath..

otherwise one of the forum members who has more experience with these will chime in soon..

[bit_twiddler]

Actually, I believe that the W520 has a non-chicklet keyboard, similar to
the T400s and T420. If you look on ebay, you should be able to buy
one for $40 or so.

I've had bad luck buying this kind of item from overseas in the past.
The trackpoint can also fail - I speak from personal experience.
If you are able to buy one at a reasonable price and feel comfortable with
the seller's return privileges, then I would do that and get a keyboard skin for
it (another $4).

This should eliminate your problems and you'll be able to diagnose the ubiquitous
key crud problem at your leisure.

[BillMorrow]

well, now I know..
then the shift key should pop off the same as the other keys..
there is a little metal "bail" that prevents the keytop from rocking side to side when it is pressed..
I just tried this on two different keyboards..

[MSKFAHIM]

Thanks guys.

do you guys know where I can find these hardware maintenance manuals/guides online?

[RealBlackStuff]

You can stay right here, since we store them!
Scroll to the top of this page, and click on Drivers & HMMs.