HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard is now available at Mascom International for KSh 3,500, brand new and sealed, with white backlighting under black keycaps. This original HP replacement carries the UK English ISO arrangement, including the tall inverted-L Enter key and an extra key beside the left Shift. The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard suits HP's 14-inch EliteBook 1040 G4, which some sellers list as the Folio 1040 G4. Bring your laptop to Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD and compare the two boards side by side.
Many EliteBook 1040 G4 units sold through Nairobi's refurbished trade started life on British corporate desks, so their top covers are cut for UK keyboards. When a worn board gets swapped for a cheaper US one, owners notice an open slot near the left Shift and a gap around Enter. Symbols go astray too, with Shift+2 printing a quote mark where the keycap promises @. The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard closes those gaps and puts every legend back where Windows expects it, for accountants, lawyers, students and freelancers alike.
Where many Nairobi electronics shops hand over whichever 1040 board sits on the shelf, Mascom International checks the layout before the part leaves our store. Customers who come to us after a mismatched repair elsewhere say the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard shows its difference the moment the lid opens: a flush Enter, a filled slot and £ printed where they reach for it. A US edition sits on our shelves as well, for machines that left HP with the American arrangement. Order the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard on WhatsApp and pay only when it reaches you, anywhere in Kenya.
Common Questions About the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard
How can I tell whether my EliteBook 1040 G4 came with a UK or a US keyboard?
Check the Enter key first: a UK EliteBook 1040 G4 has a tall Enter shaped like an upside-down L, spanning two rows. Next, look for a small key between the left Shift and Z, which US machines lack. The 3 key on a UK board shows £ rather than #. Your product number confirms it, because HP adds #ABU to UK builds and #ABA to US builds. Send Mascom International a photo of that label on WhatsApp if you are unsure.
Why does a US board leave gaps on an ex-UK EliteBook 1040 G4?
The palmrest cover on the EliteBook 1040 G4 has an opening for each key, and those openings follow either the UK or the US pattern. Fit a US board under a UK cover and its short Enter leaves the notch above it empty, while the hole beside the left Shift shows bare backplate. Dust and crumbs then fall straight onto the board. The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard fills every opening on an ex-UK machine, so the surface looks factory-fitted.
Which Windows setting should I use with the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard?
Choose English (United Kingdom) as the input language and United Kingdom as the keyboard, under Time and language in Windows Settings. With that pairing, every printed legend on the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard produces its own character. Leave Windows on the US setting and the board misbehaves: Shift+2 prints @ instead of the quote mark shown, and the £ key types #. You can keep Kenyan regional formats for dates and currency while using the UK keyboard.
Where do @, quote marks, # and £ sit on the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard?
On this UK board, Shift+2 types the double quote and Shift+3 types the £ sign. The @ symbol moves to the apostrophe key on the home row, reached with Shift. The # key sits in the notch directly left of the tall Enter, with the tilde as its shifted character. The euro sign comes from AltGr+4. The extra key beside the left Shift carries the backslash and vertical bar, which programmers use for file paths.
Should I convert my ex-UK EliteBook 1040 G4 to the US keyboard instead?
Only if you also replace the palmrest cover, because the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 US Backlit Keyboard leaves visible gaps in a UK deck. Both boards cost KSh 3,500 at Mascom International and share the same backlighting, black finish and ribbon connector. The difference lies purely in the key pattern and the cover openings that suit it. Typists trained on American keyboards sometimes prefer US, but on an ex-UK machine the UK board is the simpler, cleaner fix.
Can I type KSh amounts and M-Pesa codes easily on the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard?
Yes, letters and digits sit in identical positions on UK and US boards, so M-Pesa transaction codes, KRA PINs and iTax figures type the same way. Neither layout carries a shilling key, so Kenyan amounts are written as KSh followed by the figure on either one. The £ on Shift+3 earns its place for Kenyan freelancers invoicing British clients through Upwork or direct contracts. Commas and full stops stay put, keeping spreadsheet totals quick to enter.
Will the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard fit older or newer EliteBook models?
No, this board is cut for the EliteBook 1040 G4 alone, even though the older Folio models and the later x360 convertibles look similar from a distance. Key sizes, screw positions and ribbon lengths change between those generations, so a near-miss board will not seat. Mascom International stocks original keyboards for several neighbouring 1040 models in both UK and US patterns. Photograph the product label under your laptop and WhatsApp it to us so we match the right part.
Who should buy the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy it if your EliteBook 1040 G4 has a UK deck and its keys, lighting or legends have failed, or if an earlier repair fitted a US board that never sat right. University of Nairobi and Strathmore students running ex-UK machines fall squarely into this group. Skip it if your laptop label ends in #ABA, because the US edition suits that deck. Skip it too if your machine is a different EliteBook generation, and ask Mascom International for its matching original.
Technical Specifications
UK Key Arrangement and Core Function
- UK English ISO pattern with one more key than the US version, matching factory boards on British-built units.
- Tall inverted-L Enter spans two rows, giving the right little finger a larger target during long documents.
- Shift+3 prints £ and AltGr+4 prints €, useful when quoting prices to British or European clients.
- Shift+2 gives the double quote, while @ sits on Shift plus the apostrophe key on the home row.
- Dedicated # and tilde key in the Enter notch, so hashtags need a single press instead of a Shift combination.
- Extra backslash and vertical bar key beside a shortened left Shift, handy for file paths and command lines.
Backlight and Evening Visibility
- White LEDs sit beneath the board and shine through cut-out legends, so £, @ and # stay visible after sunset.
- Lighting switches through HP's function-row backlight shortcut, the same control the laptop used from the factory.
- An off setting stretches battery life when the laptop runs unplugged through a long outage.
- Light spreads evenly to the tall Enter and the small Shift-side key, which many copy boards leave dim.
- Soft brightness avoids glare on the matte caps in a dark lecture theatre or bedroom.
Compatibility and Model Match
- Built for the HP EliteBook 1040 G4, HP's 14-inch business ultrabook launched in 2017.
- Also correct for units resold under the Folio 1040 G4 name, since that title describes the same machine.
- Pairs with UK-cut palmrest covers, whose openings match the tall Enter and the extra left-Shift key.
- Laptops whose product number ends in #ABU left HP's factory with this exact layout.
- HP UK spare keyboards normally carry a part number ending in -031, a quick check against your old board.
- Works with the built-in United Kingdom keyboard driver in Windows, so no download or extra software is needed.
Build and Key Feel
- Original HP construction with a stiff backplate that keeps the board flat under hard, fast typing.
- Matte black caps resist shine and fingerprints, keeping legends crisp through months of daily use.
- Even key travel from corner to corner removes the mushy spots worn boards develop around Enter.
- Island-style spacing lets you clean between caps with a soft brush without lifting any key.
- Unused stock with straight clips and an uncreased ribbon, because no previous fitting has stressed either.
- Legends are printed at HP's factory and centred on every cap, including the £ key.
Ribbon and Fitting Guidance
- Flat flex ribbon uses HP's original pin arrangement and plugs directly into the motherboard socket.
- Ribbon length matches the factory part, so it reaches the socket without tension or stretching.
- Fitting means opening the base panel and working from underneath, a task for an experienced technician.
- Disconnect the internal battery before touching the socket, protecting both board and motherboard from a short.
- After fitting, open Notepad and press Shift+2, Shift+3 and the # key to confirm the UK driver.
- Keep removed screws in a labelled tray, because base screws of different lengths are easy to mix up.
Inclusions and Order Handling
- Supplied keyboard-only, with no palmrest cover, touchpad, screws or battery attached.
- Packed flat in protective wrapping so keycaps and ribbon survive courier trips upcountry.
- Black is the only colour available, matching every factory-fitted board on this model.
- Each unit's Enter shape is checked before packing, so a US board cannot slip into a UK order.
- Repair shops buying several units can request one invoice covering the full quantity.
Package Contents
The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard arrives as a bare HP service part, ready for a technician to install:
- One HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard in black, keyboard-only
- Protective wrapping around the keycaps and ribbon
The top cover, touchpad, screws and tools stay with your laptop or your technician's kit. Hold on to the old board until the new one passes the Notepad symbol test.
Warranty
The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects. Covered faults include keys that will not register, backlighting that stays dark, or a ribbon fault traced to the part itself. Liquid damage, drops and ribbons torn during installation fall outside that cover. Bring your receipt to our Nairobi CBD service desk to raise a claim.
Where to Buy the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard in Kenya
The HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard is available now at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Visit Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and hold it against your laptop to compare the Enter shape before buying. Available colour: black.
Reach us through any of these channels:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Mascom International ships the HP EliteBook 1040 G4 UK Backlit Keyboard across all 47 Kenyan counties with pay-on-arrival delivery, so you pay only when the parcel reaches you. Nairobi and its environs receive same-day delivery. Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa and every other major city and town receive next-business-day delivery. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Every unit is covered by the 6-month warranty above, with claims coordinated at our Nairobi CBD service desk.
Send a photo of your laptop's label before ordering and our team confirms UK or US on WhatsApp during working hours. Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for original replacement parts, honest layout advice and after-sales help from a store they can walk into.
