Fix track pads buttons - best way?

[joydivision]

Got a laptop that you have to really really hit the left pad button down to get it to respond. How do people normally fix this? Is it easier to simply replace the palmrest?

I can get a second hand palmrest with trackpad for £15 plus delivery.

 

[smashedbotatos]

Got a laptop that you have to really really hit the left pad button down to get it to respond. How do people normally fix this? Is it easier to simply replace the palmrest?

I can get a second hand palmrest with trackpad for £15 plus delivery.

Just replace the palm rest. A lot of times there are broken or worn plastic parts or even missing bits.

 

[GeeksInKhakis]

Swap the left and right buttons in mouse properties, most people don't use the context menu very often. If you need to, there's usually a key on the keyboard for it.

 

[NYJimbo]

Every laptop is different. Some are simply screwed into the palm rest, others are fused with some kind of glue, others are just plastic flippers and the actual buttons are soldered onto the motherboard. So it all depends on the model.

 

[Kitten Kong]

I know it's not a fix, but instead of hitting the left button, why not double tap the touch pad, when your on a link, or accessing a prog/ file etc.

 

[JustInspired]

Problem is with used parts is that they may be well on the way to having the same problem as the broken one especially if it's a design flaw.

On another note, if you ever get any of those buttons that have broken 'plastic springs' you can sometimes use a piece of sponge as a spring. The sponge that comes in the boxes of new screens is usually good for that.

 

[altrenda]

Swap the left and right buttons in mouse properties, most people don't use the context menu very often. If you need to, there's usually a key on the keyboard for it.

I imagine this is something you would recommend after the customer turned down the option of fixing it.

I am reluctant to recommend work arounds to clients unless they specifcially ask for one as a temporary solution. It has bitten me a couple of times, once where another tech questioned my knowledge for suggesting one and I lost the customer.

 

[B-MASTER]

I have repaired a fair few damaged mouse buttons, where they go all floppy this it normally down to the plastic lug detaching from the underside of the palm rest.

I have a old soldering iron i normal align up the loose lug and then apply a little heat with iron and melt the lugs back in to place. what would normally cost the client allot for a new palm rest is fixed in a few short moment.

I know this is not the best way but i have never had a return and i have repaired many with this method.

*EDIT*
This ofcourse does not work if one of the lugs is completely snapped, but 90% of the time the plastic insert has dislocated from the plastic loop (melt and mend)

 

[ProfessorCPU]

I personally would go with the idea of replacing the touchpad. The part is so cheap. The amount of work would actually be less than most of the workarounds posted. The workarounds wouldn't really save much money. You have a happier customer who knows you replaced it instead of using a tweak.

Unless the customer in no way can wait for shipping of the new part there isn't much reason to not replace it. Even if my customer needed a quick fix I then would do the quick tweak... but suggest that we order the part and replace it later when it arrives.

For me customer service is most important. Of course my profit margins are important too. But in this case there isn't an issue with profit because no matter which way you do it you charge so you make the same amount of money. You could actually charge more money and make a higher profit if you need to do the quick fix... pluss replace the touchpad later. Also you have a very satisfied customers who sees that you took that extra step toward making sure they were taken care of 200%.

 

[Markverhyden]

I'm not a big fan of "fixing" something like that. Depending on the make and model there are a number of things you can do. But in the end if you leave in the old parts you still might end up with it coming back earlier than you want.

What you actually replace will vary depending on the make and model. As mentioned many times it is the entire palm rest assembly. But some models may allow you to replace just the button assembly. Either way, if you get a reputable source of parts, replacing is better from a customer service perspective.

Of course if it is an odd/old model it is then time for some for some home made solutions.

 

[GeeksInKhakis]

I imagine this is something you would recommend after the customer turned down the option of fixing it.

I am reluctant to recommend work arounds to clients unless they specifcially ask for one as a temporary solution. It has bitten me a couple of times, once where another tech questioned my knowledge for suggesting one and I lost the customer.

Yes, I only do this if it's older and they don't want to put the money into getting it fixed. I present both options.

 

[joydivision]

I will put all three options to them, a bodge repair, tell them how to use the track pad as a button (Nige's suggestion) or swap the buttons round, offer a second hand one, or offer a new one. The problem is they have spent £100 for a new hard drive for it before Christmas, so I doubt they will want to spent £70 on a new palmrest especially as the bill is already £40 for malware removal.

 

[Markverhyden]

Depending on how mobile they really are the nickle solution to the dime problem may be an external mouse. USB or bluetooth