TLDR - I destroyed an already dysfunctional keyboard in search of answers. Found an affordable, budget-friendly creative solution!
So, I got this Asus Rog Flow Z13 about a year ago from Ebay. It was super affordable. I was super excited to have a fancy device to draw on that had the power of a PC. I went one step further and bought an Asus Pen. (Yeah, the Asus pen is actually pretty great for drawing in my opinion btw, and it also works on the Microsoft Surface...) This is all fine and dandy, but then Microsoft surfaces started appearing all around me. All with fully funcitoning keyboards.
There I sat, in the dark, bending the keyboard connection in just the right way so that it would work enough for the mouse and keyboard signals to register. The backlight wasn't working, so I struggled to see in the dark. Complete darkness. I am not afraid to admit that I am not a keyboard wizard. I can type okayishly-fast. But there is something about periodically glancing down that allows me to cruise along.
I want my keyboard, backlight, and mouse as they should be.
I couldn't justify buying a new one, or a used one. Yeah, i'm a real pain in the a$$ right? Or is it just another great excuse for me to rip tech apart to see what's happening? I'll let you decide.
So, on a mission to hopefully discover a fix, I come to terms with the fact that once I start ripping things apart, I may lose the tiny bit of function that is holding on for dear life. ~ Such drama ~
I fully commit to the land of no-going-back.
Starting the Process
I take a good long look at the edge of the Rog Flow. It has a magnetic strip that connects to the base of the Rog. It made sense to me that this was some sort of a clamp to hold that fabric in place, as it looked like it was inserted into it.
I noticed an area where the pieces looked like they were perfectly fit together like a puzzle, like they had been snapped in place. I thought perhaps this was my entry point.
After some amount of prying, I was able to get my nail between the hard plastic and the rubber edging.
I worked my nail along the egde to separate the rubber the entire length of the keyboard.
This part took some time and patience as I was trying to not destroy any parts.
Success!
Edge Removal, Phase 2?
Now that the rubber edge is off, I take a look at the next piece in question.
Again, they work together like puzzle pieces that can be separated.
I had to use a stubby flathead screwdriver very carefully, but I was eventually able to separate these two.
This plastic is very brittle, and ultimatley I did end up snapping it in two places, but I kept all the pieces.
Fabric Situation
I get to a certain point where I realize I only have to cut out a small piece of fuzzy, sticky fabric covering to get a good view of the electrical components. So, I only cut what I need.
Overview of disection so far.
If you have a good eye and look closely you might be able to spot the problem already.
As you can see, the wires are ran through a secondary clamp, in between the top magnetic strip and the beginning of the keyboard plate.
I discovered a tiny rip in the electrical wires! Who puts a right angle of flimsy plastic inside a heavy use flap! 🤦
Common now. Anyone that has ever used a cricut (craft cutting machine for various materials) would know that this is a precarious situation! Right angles on a flimsy material in a high-traffic area = BAD. Can we get some smooth curves for longevity here? I don't have to keep digging to know for a fact that this is the problem area. You can see it ripping into the wire.
The Realization
So. What can be done? There is no way I am soldering this. I have never used a soldering iron, and I don't imagine it would go well here. LOL.
This is complelety unhinged, but shortly after doing all of this and festering about my inability to "fix" it, I found myself on Amazon. I get all sorts of recommended you-know-whats-its all the time there. Something caught my eye. A lovely device with a case and - yes - a backlit keyboard to match. For roughly ~$20. It reminded me a fair amount of my rog keyboard.
Now...
I spent a solid hour searching for a Rog keyboard replacement. Or a "small tablet backlit keyboard" what-have-you. I didn't find anything to my liking. This particular object was marketed as a case for a galaxy tab-11. The keyboard was an 'included' item with the case. I saved by getting a refurbished one. Here is the monumental discovery in all of its glory:
Getting Crafty
I started thinking of ceative ways to reuse the old magnetic hinge for a perfect fit back on the rog flow with a new keyboard.
The keyboard will be just under an inch shorter on both sides. I can make it fit by designing a special case for it. Luckily, I have a sewing machine and I'm not afraid to use it!
I was happy to come to a resolution that was both interesting and didn't cost another small fortune. I hope this post can help at least 1 person think creativly about tech problem resolution!
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