Dell Laptop Return Key Fell Off

[HSK]

Hi guys, bit of a strange one - the Return key on my work laptop came off today, quite mysteriously and without much effort.

I could have a bash at sticking it back on, it's probably a no brainer - but the various latches etc look quite delicate so I'd rather not attempt or force it without a decent idea.

i wasn't going to go in to my office on monday, but if i can do it myself, it will save support guys some time and wise cracks.

It's a Dell Precision M4500 with a backlit keyboard.

Pic here

Thanks in advance!

[DannyM]

If I am not mistaken, you should be able to remove the white plastic clip off of the key, you then put that into position on the keyboard then put the key on top of it.

However, if the clip is glued then I am probably mistaken, but most keys I have replaced always consist of the key, a white clip and the base for the key (the keyboard).

[hnosyalnif]

Did this with my HP laptop a last year, it is possible to get it back on if you are gentle and align the bits together. It took me a while to work out how do it and in the end I forced it and broke the catch (darn impatience). Not sure what the latch is like on the Dell though.

You should also be able to get replacement keys if you break it putting it back on (as I did). My dad's work was running HP laptops at the time and IT department gave me a couple they had lying around to replace mine.

In the end I thought I needed a new keyboard in part because the line of keys A-return stopped working but it turned out I had damaged the controller by dropping it but that is another story...

[HSK]

Cheers for the reply guys!

I ended up going in to the office today anyways...showed it to one of our tech guys....he just slid the metal rods in, and then pushed / bashed down to the thing a few times, and the rest of it clicked on as magically as it came off.