Cleaning keyboard incident: remapping of keys

[gksarmy]

Ok, so yesterday i installed XP sp3 pro on my macbook 2gb ram intel core2duo cpu t8300 @ 2.4ghz 789mhz
i noticed that it was rather dirty, so, being the responsible owner, i decided to clean it.

i however: DID neglect to turn it off, and believe that i may have inadvertanely remapped some keys to each other:
for example, the h key and alt key now work interchangebly, as in, i can press alt, and get alt, but if i press h, i also get alt. remapping using KeyTweak gives the same.
the shift+/ gives a "?" but also right clicks.

did i harm my macbook physically? i've reinstalled windows 3 times now, and this last time, used ubuntu distro 9 to use gparted to erase and format the drive a couple times. (to get rid of Registry errors if that was the problem)

i have the original XP professional disk, and my key.

*Edit*
i plugged in a usb keyboard and it works fine, all the keys function as they should.
im about to start ubuntu back up and see if it works like it should

*edit*

booted up ubuntu, the h key still repsonds as alt.

[gksarmy]

could someone please respond?

[Salmon Trout]

could someone please respond?

OK, I'll respond. Hi! We don't like bumping on here, especially after only 44 minutes! You do not say what method you used when cleaning your keyboard. Tissues and wipes etc are NOT recommended. This is a specialised task. Macbook keyboards are well known to be vulnerable to damage and stories of malfunction after cleaning are common, even when switched off, so I fully expect that you have damaged something. You can get a new top case for $50 - $100 on Ebay, but given your record so far, I would take it to a repair shop.

[papayrus]

OK, I'll respond. Hi! We don't like bumping on here, especially after only 44 minutes! You do not say what method you used when cleaning your keyboard. Tissues and wipes etc are NOT recommended. This is a specialised task. Macbook keyboards are well known to be vulnerable to damage and stories of malfunction after cleaning are common, even when switched off, so I fully expect that you have damaged something. You can get a new top case for $50 - $100 on Ebay, but given your record so far, I would take it to a repair shop.

This guy always has a snotty thing to say.
I would not do that. You can take the keyboard apart fairly easy and make sure all the inside parts are still in the right position. Keyboards are simple to take apart and put back together infact it's a good way for being able to wash all the plastic parts by separating them from the electric parts. Sounds like you may have pushed a key out of place when washing it. Oops you said mac book. Well same idea actually you can pull individual keys off and check underneath and make sure the rubber under it is not flattened out or just check to see if its been displaced. The keys snap back on easily. If that does not solve the problem its not too hard to dissaasemble a laptop and check the keybord out but you may have broken the keyboard. If it's under warranty do not take it apart.

[gksarmy]

sorry salmon trout, i didn't realize i was bumping, really more of a cry for help.

@Papyrus: i do have a rudimentary understanding of computers, and a bit of  hardware, but my macbook's no longer under warranty. i was looking around, and yeah, it does seem REALLY simple to replace. take out the screws, take out the L bracket, ram, hardrive, then carefully lift off keyboard after prying it open, and then take out little silver-y wire. i'm fairly sure i can do it, and as ST said, the keyboards are only $50. with many being about 30-40.

thanks for your help, though i may just continue to use a usb keyboard for the time being

[papayrus]

Yep and you may find that you can fix the problem yourself and save 50 bucks but since it's a notebook I kind of think there might be keyboard damage. Who knows you may luck out though by just removing a key from the top they should snap out and snap back in and maybe you just displaced the rubber under it when you were cleaning it. Good Luck hope you solve it without spending too much.