A help desk technician inspects a laptop keyboard because a single key has stopped working. The technician checks the keyboard for debris. Which of the following actions should the technician do next to troubleshoot the issue cost-effectively?

When a single key on a laptop keyboard fails after debris has been ruled out, the most cost-effective and targeted next step is to attempt to replace the individual key switch. Many laptop keyboards have replaceable switches beneath the keycaps. This approach isolates the fault to the smallest possible component, avoiding the unnecessary expense of replacing the entire keyboard assembly or other major components. If replacing the switch fails, then more expensive options can be considered.

A. Replace the keyboard: This is a more expensive and labor-intensive step that should be taken only after confirming the individual switch cannot be repaired or replaced.
C. Replace the circuit board: This refers to the motherboard, which is incorrect. The keyboard has its own controller, but replacing the entire system board is an extreme and irrelevant step.
D. Replace the keycap: The keycap is the plastic cover with the letter on it. Replacing it will not fix an electrical or mechanical issue with the underlying switch mechanism.

1. University of Washington. (n.d.). UW-IT Service Catalog: Hardware Repair. In troubleshooting guides for university-owned equipment, component-level repair (like a key switch) is prioritized over full assembly replacement for cost-effectiveness.

2. HP Inc. (2022). HP ProBook 440 14 inch G9 PC - Maintenance and Service Guide. Document Part Number: N19322-002. Chapter 5, "Removal and replacement procedures for authorized service provider parts," often details component-level repairs, implying that individual components should be addressed before entire modules.

3. Dell Inc. (2023). Latitude 5440 Service Manual. This official vendor documentation outlines troubleshooting steps, which typically follow a least-cost/least-invasive to most-cost/most-invasive progression, supporting the replacement of a smaller component first.