Several keys on a laptop do nothing after a spill that has already dried. The display, the disk, and the battery are fine. Which part should be replaced?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
The spill reached the keys, and those keys are the part that stopped responding. You should replace the keyboard. The display and battery are fine, and the operating system is not the usual cause of a few dead keys after a spill.
Full Explanation
A dried spill that leaves several keys unresponsive while the display, disk, and battery remain fine points to a failure in the keyboard itself, so replace the keyboard. A failed display panel would affect the screen, not explain keys that no longer respond, and the display is already reported to be fine. The battery supplies power; it does not store a map of which keys work, and the battery is also reported to be fine. The operating system can have a bad driver, but a few dead keys after liquid exposure indicate keyboard hardware damage rather than a need to replace the operating system. Exam caveat: on many laptops the keyboard is a separate part, while on some it comes with the top case, so check the service manual to order the assembly that includes the keys for that model. Practical check: after installing the replacement, confirm that every key responds, including keys that still worked before, and check that the spill did not leave residue under the new keyboard.