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[Sappho]

My left Ctrl key keeps sticking.  On a desktop keyboard, I'd just pop the thing off and clean it out a bit under there, but when I try to pop this key off, I encounter strong resistance and stop for fear that it's not designed to come off and I'll break it.  (Never owned a laptop before.)

I have no idea what's causing this.  I was hoping that whatever it was, it'd just dry up and stop, but it's been a week now and it's not happening.  Any ideas on fixing it without breaking the keyboard?

[WorkerDrone]

Your LEFT ctrl key?

I don't even USE that key. Maybe the right, sometimes.

But the left?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure you can remove the key, its probably just resisting because of whatever gross sticky substance that went below that key.

[Sappho]

You don't use it to copy, paste, select all, undo, and find?  It's probably one of the most used keys on my keyboard, actually.  I can't remember the last time I used the right one.

Actually, all of the keys resist when I try to pry them off.  Is it common for laptop keyboards to have non-pop-off-able keys?

[IndonesiaWarMinister]

I always use the left ctrl key?

I don't know, my FPS preferences, obviously (my pinky finger is always on the shift button)

[Duke 2.0]

 Indeed, the left ctrl button is in a handy place for the left hand, while the right hand has a bit more difficulty reaching its own.

 I'm also meeting heavy resistance with my desktop keyboard. It desperately needs cleaning, and I don't want to break it. Although generally for stuck keys I just hold the offending keys down and up rather hard a few times, and it sorts itself out eventually.

[Mr Tk]

Is it common for laptop keyboards to have non-pop-off-able keys?

Yes. In fact I think all laptops have non pop off keys.

Popping the key off a laptop is not a good idea. They're a bitch to back on, and that's if you haven't broken or bent something while prying it off.

To give you an idea the laptop key is attached to the keyboard by two intersecting pieces of plastic about 1x1cm and the parts which clip to the key and the actual board about about 1-2mm big. Break or bent any of these and that key is never going to sit correctly again.

You could try blowing some compressed air under the key and seeing if that helps.

[Puzzlemaker]

Hey guys I have a great idea!  Why don't you take the battery out of the laptop, then scrub it with soapy water!

What's the worst that can happen?

[Cthulhu]

Some of my keys did this when I spilled pop on my laptop.  I was afraid to remove the keys so I just ignored it and after a few weeks they're almost unsticky.  I think the use is just wearing whatever it was away.

[SHAD0Wdump]

Yeah... The CTRL key is widely used in FPS games to crouch.

[IndonesiaWarMinister]

Hey guys I have a great idea!  Why don't you take the battery out of the laptop, then scrub it with soapy water!

What's the worstBEST thing that can happen?

Magma.
You'll create a simulated magma.

[WorkerDrone]

Yeah... The CTRL key is widely used in FPS games to crouch.

I use the right Ctrl key for that too.

[ToonyMan]

Yeah... The CTRL key is widely used in FPS games to crouch.

I use the right Ctrl key for that too.

:-?

Do you have a REALLY long right hand or a third hand?

[Sappho]

Are you sure you're not confusing left and right?  I haven't even touched the right ctrl key in...  Well, possibly ever.

[umiman]

Workerdrone just doesn't want to admit he confused the two.

Anyway, I use the left ctrl key all the time too. My desktop keyboard has keys that randomly get stuck as well, but repeated pressing usually solves the problem.