Replace a Toshiba Satellite laptop keyboard

Not long ago my old but still highly useful Toshiba Satellite (A65) had an odd breakdown. One of the shift keys shorted out in the "down" position. So it functioned as though the shift key was always pressed. That meant I couldn't type any numbers and clicking on things tended to highlight or open entire pages. 

I tried several software fixes and then dug into the hardware. I even tried an external USB keyboard to no avail. After buying a replacement laptop I decided it would be a good idea to try removing the keys completely, including the board. That was a bad idea.

It didn't solve the problem and it created a new one. To make matters worse that laptop is where my Adobe software lives and I've long since lost the discs and things needed to migrate it to my new laptop.

I finally decided that the real solution was going to be installing a new keyboard and then doing a system restore.  

Step 1 Finding the right part

It turns out that an awful lot of Toshiba laptops use the exact same keyboard. That's a good thing. I simply used the model number of my laptop and looked for one on Amazon. It ended up being dirt cheap. So, my hundreds spent on a replacement laptop wasn't all the necessary as it was effectively a $16 problem. 

From the looks of things, if you have a Toshiba laptop with a broken keyboard it's a mildly intimidating but simple thing to replace. 

Comments

[mishayuri]

This really helped me a lot. If you want to buy laptop replacement parts you can visit Laptopaid.com to find the best replacement parts for your laptop.

[rhurst1]

(removed by author or community request)

[Culturespy]

I tried eBay but ended up finding everything I needed on Amazon. It was a lot easier. You just need to search with part numbers.

[MRedu]

Nice writeup. Hooray for Amazon and replaceable keyboards :D

[i_promise]

I tried replacing my toshiba keyboard, bought off ebay from china using the computers model number and the full model numbers off the bottom of the old keyboard.
I was sent a keyboard with near matching numbers, but the ribbon cable was to the left by an inch (guessing to remember), so not usable.
Sent it back, emailed them megapixel pics with measurement photoshopped in.
They sent another, better matching numbers, still same offset cable.
Sent it back, more detailed pictures, they sent another, numbers matched perfect, same problem but the ribbon had copper corrosion.

They refunded my money less initial shipping I paid and to send them back, and let me keep the last useless keyboard.
I had to buy a used DOA computer replacement to fix the problem.

Take what you will from this experience.

[vjagessur]

thank for your advance it's an experience for me to read this

[Culturespy]

Wow... that's terrible! I just looked up my model number and found one on Amazon. Had no trouble at all first time around. Though for unrelated reasons and another known issue with these, my screen has gone so dark I have to use an external monitor.

[The Skinnerz]

For the new 2010 models, the keyboard is easily removed by removing the cd drive, and unlatching from the underneath.

see: http://www.instructables.com/id/Toshiba-satellite-disassembly-overclocking-full/

Not finished yet, but the disassembly bit is done.

[KDaver]

If you needed to add the time.. then the CMOS battery was dead. cna also be replaced normally with a little more break down. Usually happens if you have had it unplugged for long periods of time and not being used.. Great write up.. when you clean things out. while open.. make sure you get all the vents also..

[Culturespy]

Hey , thanks!

[godofal]

if that batterie's dead, then it's a really old laptop :P those things run for years most of the time. nice instructable, with clear instructions/photo's :D might want to add a site where alot of instructions are found
i found this site usefull

[Culturespy]

Thanks for that link by the way. I just Googled Toshiba laptop breakdown guides when I did mine. There were a lot of them. The one problem I had with them was they "all" seemed to want a much more complete tear down that wasn't needed to replace the keyboard. I would have needed to remove more than a dozen screws for no reason if I had followed any of them.

[Culturespy]

It is a really old laptop! I just can't let it die. I think the screen is going dark now though. I'll have to see if it's the board or just the cathode going out. If it's the board then it's pretty much dead and the HD will migrate to an external enclosure but it's just the monitor I'll be replacing that or trying out the LED retrofit solution.