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47723

August 11th, 2006 00:00

Are my laptop keys removable/rearrangeable?

I wanted to take my keys off and rearrange them so that I see a Dvorak layout, instead of the QWERTY one.

Can I just pry them off and snap them back on?

I want to confirm this before I start breaking my new laptop (An Inspiron E1505)

Is this safe?

thanks!!

David

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87.5K Posts

August 11th, 2006 11:00

They're not intended to be removed and can easily be broken if you try.

806 Posts

August 11th, 2006 11:00

yeah, you might be able to rearrange the keys on your keyboard without breaking them, but it won't change the character produced by striking that key.

 for example, lets say you swap the "Q" key with the "P" key. now "Q" is on the right and "P" is on the left. if you strike the "P" key now, you'll get "Q". changing the key caps around will not change the way the hardware functions, it will only change the appearance.

565 Posts

August 11th, 2006 11:00

Yes, your keys can pop off and you can re-arrange them anyway you want to.

They are a little difficult to put back on and if you're going to pop them off and on you need to be careful. They're a lot more fragile than a regular keyboard.


So, it is possible to re-arrange keys. But you really gotta be careful cause these keys are very fragile, the plastic clips that hold them on arent very rugged.

565 Posts

August 11th, 2006 12:00

I'm assuming he's planning on getting a driver that allows him to change what kind of keyboard he's using.

I'm pretty sure he can find one that will allow the keyboard to function as Dvorak.

806 Posts

August 11th, 2006 14:00

if you do change the layout, you'll want to follow these steps to change the input to dvorak:

  1. Select Start->Control Panel.

  2. If you're viewing by categories (the default), click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

  3. Click Regional and Language Options.

  4. Click the Languages tab

  5. Click the Details button

  6. Click the Add button

  7. Under Keyboard Layout/IME, select United States-Dvorak (or Left- or Right-handed), then click OK.

  8. If you want it to be default, select United States-Dvorak again in the Default input language pull-down

  9. Click OK to close the control panel.

565 Posts

August 11th, 2006 17:00

They're difficult, not impossible.

Threading a Camel through a Needle is IMPOSSIBLE or inhaling a City Bus through your Nose is IMPOSSSIBLE.

Removing the keys of a laptop is not impossible.

1.4K Posts

August 11th, 2006 17:00

They are difficult - about as difficult as threading a camel through the eye of a needle, or say, inhaling a city bus through your nose. Any chance you can find some decals to put over your existing key caps? Here's a source: http://dvzine.org/type/reconfig.html

806 Posts

August 11th, 2006 17:00

keyboards for portables are not expensive - given the probability that some of the keys will be damaged in the process, it seems alot easier to just find another keyboard.

you can get the key cap labels here: http://www.fentek-ind.com/keytop-labels.htm

Message Edited by bweed6 on 08-11-200601:57 PM

1.4K Posts

August 11th, 2006 18:00

Removing the keys isn't even difficult -- two-year olds can do it, and frequently do just that. Getting them back on is a whole nother story. The newest designs are the toughest. It depends on how much you value your time. $20 for a replacement keyboard, or hours spent on one key.

1 Message

March 6th, 2007 12:00

Hello I'm new to laptops I was wondering if you can clean out the inside how can you do that I'm afraid to hurt my laptop I love it very much it was a christmas present.Thank you Mindy
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