Acer Aspire keys not working

[kahlil88]

I'm trying to fix an Acer Aspire 5552 laptop for a friend. Several keys weren't working so I replaced the keyboard with a brand new one from Amazon. Bad keys still don't work with the new keyboard, even in a live Linux environment. I did flash the BIOS several weeks ago, but it was working.

 

[pcmagic]

Have you tried plugging in an external keyboard and see if those same keys dont work? Im curious if it just related to the onboard keyboard.

Is it the same exact keys that don't work each time, or do they switch? Is it the same keys that didn't work before the keyboard replacement that do not work now?

Speaking from experience, I have had some parts of a keyboard cease to function but start working again after replacing the keyboard and also managing the keyboard ribbon cable better. Sometimes the keyboard ribbon cable gets bent or kinked and that will stop some keys from working properly. Just guessing, but if different keys aren't working after you replaced the keyboard then its something to do with that ribbon cable, the connection point to the motherboard, or the keyboard. If its the same keys, then its probably a deeper seated hardware issue. Maybe try using a can of compressed air to clean out the pinch bar where the keyboard ribbon cable connects to the motherboard. Believe it or not, I've had "new" boards sent to me that were defective. This has happened from both the factory and from third party sellers on ebay (rare keyboard, no choice on where to buy.)

 

[kahlil88]

All keys working with external keyboard. Put the original keyboard back in and there's actually more bad keys on that than the new one. Is it really that common for brand new keyboards to be defective? Perhaps I should tell her to contact Amazon about a replacement...

 

[pcmagic]

Is it the same exact keys that don't work each time, or do they switch? Is it the same keys that didn't work before the keyboard replacement that do not work now?

It is absolutely NOT common. But its happened to me once or twice with factory new, and with a used keyboard a couple times. You replace enough of them, youre bound to find some bad apples.

What kind of condition is the ribbon in? can you test the keys while the ribbon is at different angles? Like, flat, no kinks. See if manipulating the way the cable lays gives you more keys. Im inclined to thing its the plug where the keyboard plugs into or the ribbon itself if different keys work on each keyboard.