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[voodoo]

I have the stuck keys and my laptop is basically a brick. I am very hesitent to open it up and mess around on the inside of it to "clean" it. The keys stick ALL OF THE TIME. If i unstick them by massaging them, they re-stick down a few seconds later. This happens under all conditions: typing on flat surfaces, using a totally separate plugged in keyboard, etc. So it is clear that the keys are sticking even when i am not touching them!!!!!!!

It happens with the CONTROL and ALT KEYS as well as the DOWN Button and RIGHT button.

Can I/Should I send it back to OLPC to replace? How much will this cost? Anyone done this?

Should I remap all of those keys? If so, how do i turn off the old sticky keys?

Can anyone tell me how to make the laptop ignore the builtin keyboard and ONLY pay attention to a plugged in external keyboard?!

UNTIL THEN, I HAVE A $400 paperweight!!!

[pgf]

take a look at this page:
   http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Stuck_keys

i think you'll probably want to request an RMA for a replacement keyboard, but perhaps one of the tips there will help.  to request an RMA, send email to help@laptop.org.

paul

[voodoo]

Thanks for that link.

I have no experience with RMA. Has anyone else done RMA (whatever that stands for?). How much does it cost? How long does it take? Etc...

[pgf]

it doesn't cost anything, assuming your laptop is still new, which i assume it is. (how could it not be?  :-)

i think it stands for "Returned Merchandise Authorization" -- i.e., they want to give you a number that you send back with the laptop, so that they'll know why it's coming back, and who it belongs to.

you should do some searching for "RMA" and "keyboard" on this forum and the other forum (http://forum.laptop.org) to learn about other peoples' experiences, but i think it's been taking quite a long time -- 6 weeks?  but i don't know.  i haven't had to do it myself. 

paul

[voodoo]

well, my laptop is not still new. it is 3 months old. i don't want to lose it for 6 weeks if i'm gonna be charged an arm and a leg. i haven't found anyone who could give me better info on using RMA after the first month, thus i don't know the cost and experience. i think i'm gonna have to do a workaround.

[olpc_franco]

Can anyone tell me how to make the laptop ignore the builtin keyboard and ONLY pay attention to a plugged in external keyboard?!

Can you explain that?  I happen to be using an external USB keyboard, which works fine.  I know that is of no help but I am curious about your statement.  If you use one, does it mimic the sticky keys of  the XO keyboard?

[voodoo]

ideally, i'd like to have my computer's OS ignore the green flimsy crappy keyboard and only allow keyboard input from a usb keyboard plugged in. the reason is that even when i have a usb keyboard plugged in, the stuck keys of the internal keyboard get stuck on every few seconds EVEN WHEN I AM NOT TYPING ON THE XO KEYBOARD! i then have to "massage" the xo keys, they unstick, and then i go back to typing on my external usb keyboard. a few seconds later, the xo keys randomly stick down again even though i am not touching the xo!! you can sense my frustation with this.

by the way, i am in the process or rerouting my left control, left alt and down keys.  i've read a few posts on here about keyboards sticking again about a week or two after people opened up the keyboard and wiped them. i have no faith that "RMA"ing my 3-month old laptop will come to much.

[Gabey8]

Unfortunately, plugging in a USB keyboard doesn't help if there's a stuck key on the XO keyboard sending whatever signal that a stuck key sends. For example, if the ALT key on the XO keyboard has stuck, the XO still thinks you're hitting ALT-R if you just type R on the external keyboard.

FWIW, I've had issues at times with the ALT and the CTRL key. Massaging the daylights out of the stuck key, with my finger above the key and my thumb below it, seems to help. It helps to the point where I carried the XO around in a backpack for a solid week and never once had a stuck key problem. This is significant, to me, because it seems like stresses on the XO frame have been what triggers me to have sticky-key issues.

Things I now avoid are picking the open XO up by its keyboard area or the touchpad area. I use the handle. Using the XO unsupported on a non-flat surface, like a pillow, has caused me to have stuck key symptoms, as well.

Massaging the key as described above, as well as massaging the white plastic frame adjacent to the key, clears up the problem for me. (knock on wood )

[olpc_franco]

Gabey8,

Thanks for the explanation.

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