HP ProBook 450 G8 Keyboard Replacement – Step by Step Repair Guide, by PCWhoop Electronics on YouTube. 32 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 32 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Shut the laptop down, unplug the charger and every cable, then hold the power button for about five seconds to drain leftover charge.
Put on an anti-static wrist strap and clip it to bare metal. Remove the screws around the bottom cover and lift the panel off with a plastic pry tool.
Disconnect the internal battery connector from the motherboard before anything else. This stops a loose screw from shorting the board.
Undo the screws holding the keyboard and note where each one goes. Release the clips along the keyboard edge with the plastic pry tool.
Lift the keyboard slowly and turn it toward the screen. Open the small latch on the ribbon connector, then slide the ribbon cable out.
Seat the new keyboard, slide its ribbon into the connector until it sits straight, and close the latch. Do not pull on the cable.
Reconnect the battery and power on. Test every key in Notepad or an online keyboard tester before you refit any screws.
Once all keys respond, press the keyboard down into its clips, refit the bottom cover and screws, and reconnect the battery.
Tips and common mistakes
Before buying a keyboard, plug in an external USB keyboard. If that one works and the built-in keys still fail, the keyboard or its cable is usually the cause.
Check the keyboard driver in Windows and reseat the ribbon cable once before you assume the part is dead.
Keep drinks away from the laptop and wipe the keys with a barely damp microfiber cloth to stop dust and sticky buildup.
A bent ribbon pin or a latch left open will make the whole keyboard fail, so check the connector twice.
Questions
Do I really need to disconnect the battery?
Yes. Disconnecting the internal battery first protects the motherboard from short circuits while you work near exposed components.
How do I know the keyboard is broken and not a software problem?
Check the keyboard driver in Windows and try an external USB keyboard. If the external one types fine and the built-in keys still fail, replace the keyboard.
Can cleaning fix it instead of replacing it?
If keys stick because of dust or crumbs, cleaning may be enough. Liquid damage or several dead keys usually means a new keyboard.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
