Helios 700 Replacement WASD Keys?

OK, so while typing today, at some point my "A" key, the standard blue one of the WASD set, popped off. Ok, that's fine, I'll just pop it back on. Yeah, no. If you hit the key anywhere but dead center, it pops off again. One of the bottom tabs that holds it onto the cross bars underneath is broken off, so only one side stays on now.

I contacted Acer Support, and they said they don't sell the keys, OR the whole keyboard, and that I would need to send it in to their repair center to get a single key popped back on. It also states they they may wipe the device if necessary. That's not going to happen. Not for a single key the size of my fingernail.

Would anyone here know where I can get a new set of keys, or are willing to part with their "A" key, or all the WASD keys (Blue standard, not MagForce). I'll pay you for them.

You can see the little tab broken off in the bottom left of that key. Thats the bottom left of the key when it's installed.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/vu/9qkhjvqhoa0h.jpg

Accepted answers

ChevyCam94

xapim said:

Reloadable ChevyCam94 personally i would send it back they will replace the complete keyboard its always the best option in my view

I worked it out with them that they will send me a new complete keyboard slide, and I'll do the swap at home. They will put a hold on $150 (price of the keyboard), and when they receive the old one, release the hold. That way I get to keep using my computer for my business and still get it fixed under warranty.

All comments

Commodore_1995#

Have you tried to contact this supplier? https://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/acer-predator-g3-571-g3-572-keyboard-key-replacement/

ChevyCam94

egydiocoelho said:

Have you tried to contact this supplier? https://www.replacementlaptopkeys.com/acer-predator-g3-571-g3-572-keyboard-key-replacement/

I did. They don't carry anything above the Helios 500. The Helios 700 (PH717) isn't anywhere on their site.

ChevyCam94

I get the feeling, from reading their About section, that they make keys similar to OEM, but are not actual OEM distributors. So specialty keys are something they won't have.

ChevyCam94

Any other ideas?

Commodore_1995#

Have you contacted technical support to verify that they only send this key?

ChevyCam94

egydiocoelho said:

Have you contacted technical support to verify that they only send this key?

Yes. I called support first, because I'm still under warranty until December. They wanted to send in the whole laptop just to replace one key, which is designed to be user replaceable to begin with.

Reloadable

I'm having the same issue. My A key broke in the same spot just this past week. However, this is my third key to have this exact same issue and break... My Q key went first, then my G, now my A. Even my spacebar has begun popping off at one corner every so often. As someone who uses this laptop and keyboard constantly, for gaming, working, research, writing papers, etc... it's been a nightmare. I'm incredibly disappointed with the workmanship employed by Acer on this. 20 years of owning laptops, never had a broken key before in my life, let alone three from the same laptop.

I went down the same route as you OP, got nowhere useful. I can't afford to send my laptop in every three weeks because a new key breaks, and I don't know that an entirely new keyboard would be any different. Luckily, I have a second, older laptop on hand (An HP). The key caps themselves from that laptop did not fit the retainer clip for the Helios 700, but I managed to remove both key cap and retainer from the laptop and insert ones from the old laptop. It works. It doesn't match, and it feels a lil weird to have keys at slightly different elevations from the keyboard, but... it functions totally fine. I can still play League of Legends with my Q button now lol. Give it a try if you have a different laptop laying around you don't use?

xapim

Reloadable ChevyCam94 personally i would send it back they will replace the complete keyboard its always the best option in my view

ChevyCam94

xapim said:

Reloadable ChevyCam94 personally i would send it back they will replace the complete keyboard its always the best option in my view

I worked it out with them that they will send me a new complete keyboard slide, and I'll do the swap at home. They will put a hold on $150 (price of the keyboard), and when they receive the old one, release the hold. That way I get to keep using my computer for my business and still get it fixed under warranty.

xapim

ChevyCam94 thats a very good deal and must be an exception because they dont do it usually

Commodore_1995#

So, will you change the entire keyboard? Check out this disassembly video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzW2mGUL35M&t=2s

ChevyCam94

I have it all fixed now. Got the replacement keyboard today, had it replaced in just under 2 hours. This laptop is NOT tech friendly. lol

xapim

ChevyCam94 glad u got it fixed finally and the beasts are usually a bit more complicated than the normal predators especially the H700 because of the keyboard retraction

Commodore_1995#

@ChevyCam94 Did you change the entire keyboard? Or just replaced the damaged keys?

ChevyCam94

egydiocoelho said:

@ChevyCam94 Did you change the entire keyboard? Or just replaced the damaged keys?

I replaced the entire keyboard. Different serial number. Acer would know if I didn't send back a different one.

If you're curious what they keyboard mech looks like, these are my disassembly photos.

Commodore_1995#

Great post. You removed the rivets with a soldering iron, correct?

ChevyCam94

egydiocoelho said:

Great post. You removed the rivets with a soldering iron, correct?

What rivets?

Commodore_1995#

I mean this here:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/he/9rkue3ijj7d4.jpg

ChevyCam94

What kind of computer is that from? I've been working on computer repair for almost 20 years, and I've never once had to replace a keyboard by melting a mounting post.

Besides, it looks like, from that photo, that you would also need to replace the keyboard bezel, as you'd destroy the posts when your melt them.

But no, the Helios 700 has no melted posts holding anything together that has any reason to be separated. 😎👍