Removing individual key to clean underneath (sticky key)

X200, X201, X220 (including equivalent tablet models) and X300, X301 series specific matters only.
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Investinwaffles
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Removing individual key to clean underneath (sticky key)

#1 Post by Investinwaffles » Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:37 pm

So a small amount of coke spilled on my palmrest during a recent flight, and it leaked under the FN key. Now it is sticky and annoying to press :(

Can I safely remove the key to clean underneath? I have ADP on the laptop but I dont want to send the laptop out for that.
Im going to try to slim down a q-tip soaked in ISO rubbing alcohol and jam it underneath but If I can remove the whole key it would be eaiser.
X301 - C2D SU9400 (1.4ghz), 4GB DDR3, Intel X18-M G2 , W7 64bit
X41 Tablet - PM 758 (1.5ghz), 1.5gb DDR2, 60gb 4200rpm, XP Pro

kay.one
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Re: Removing individual key to clean underneath (sticky key)

#2 Post by kay.one » Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:58 pm

Investinwaffles wrote:So a small amount of coke spilled on my palmrest during a recent flight, and it leaked under the FN key. Now it is sticky and annoying to press :(

Can I safely remove the key to clean underneath? I have ADP on the laptop but I dont want to send the laptop out for that.
Im going to try to slim down a q-tip soaked in ISO rubbing alcohol and jam it underneath but If I can remove the whole key it would be eaiser.

I have removed keys from my T60 multiple times, you should be able to remove keys.
even if you don't want to try that since you have ADP you can call and ask them to send you a keyboard since its user replaceable. that way you don't have to send it in,.

dr_st
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Re: Removing individual key to clean underneath (sticky key)

#3 Post by dr_st » Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:42 am

Stick your fingernail under the key (from the bottom if it's NMB, for Alps/Chicony it seems better from the top), and carefully pop the cap upwards and out (make sure you don't twist it).
Current: X220 4291-4BG, T410 2537-R46, T60 1952-F76, T60 2007-QPG, T42 2373-F7G
Collectibles: T430s (IPS FHD + Classic Keyboard), X32 (IPS Screen)
Retired: X61 7673-V2V, A31p w/ Ultrabay Numpad
Past: Z61t 9440-A23, T60 2623-D3U, X32 2884-M5U

Investinwaffles
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Posts: 118
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:29 pm
Location: Boulder, Colorado

Re: Removing individual key to clean underneath (sticky key)

#4 Post by Investinwaffles » Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:11 am

Getting an entirely new keyboard seems ridiculously unnecessary :oops:

For the record, I pulled up on the top (front side) of the key, and popped the front off, then lifted up on the back of the key to pop the back off.
Cleaned with rubbing alcohol and all is well now. :banana:
X301 - C2D SU9400 (1.4ghz), 4GB DDR3, Intel X18-M G2 , W7 64bit
X41 Tablet - PM 758 (1.5ghz), 1.5gb DDR2, 60gb 4200rpm, XP Pro

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