Broken Key - Replace the key or keyboard?

mr cheese · July 28, 2020

I just got a laptop from a family member for college, it's the HP Envy 13-ah1025cl. Quite snapy, runs well, but the member in question definitely didn't have the best cleanliness habits with this laptop. Namely, the keyboard.

Crumbs in this keyboard were and are leading the keys to just... not click properly. I've already had a lot of issues with several keys not clicking all the way and this keyboard honestly feels kinda shitty to me but eh, free laptop is a free laptop. I went to clean a key, the P key specifically, and managed to pop it off. However, i drew the short straw and the switch came out with the key. And then, to top it off, the switch split into its two parts. After trying to finaegle the things back together I'm confident I'm at the point of no return with the key. It's fucked, the switch is damaged, and I have no idea how to put it back together

which leads me to my question. eBay has keyboards for this laptop for sale, like whole keyboards, for like $30, which considering this things was free like, hell that's not too bad. However, I don't know if I could get individual keys for cheaper, or even find a good reputable supplier for the keyboard that i can trust and will ship before I leave for fucking college. In a month.

Spoiler

SO yeah, basically I'm just looking for all-around advice. I want to clean the rest of the keys too so like, whole keyboard replacement would be less overall effort and safer in the long-run, and in the event I want to go with that I'd also like some links to some quality and reputable parts either on ebay or elsewhere so I know I'm putting my money to safe use. Otherwise, where could I buy individual switches now that mine is broken, and where could I find info on how to install the switch with the key? (yes btw, I have the key, it's just not there.

The spoiler contains the pictures of the hole in the laptop and the broken key switch, spoiled as to not make the post and therein replies egregiously long for no reason. You know, big phone camera.

Spoiler

5x5 · July 28, 2020

Get a replacement key and switch. They're 5$ at most and a LOT easier than a 100$ keyboard swap

mr cheese · July 28, 2020

Just now, 5x5 said:

Get a replacement key and switch. They're 5$ at most and a LOT easier than a 100$ keyboard swap

The keyboard I found (and bought at the time of writing) was $25. I haven't been able to find an individual key and switch for this machine either, unless you happen to have a link