[SOLVED] Keyboard replacement dell xps13

[WillDonald007]

Hi,

Some time ago I had problems with the spacebar of my dell xps-13. It wasn't registering off center hits. I made a big mistake and removed the spacebar, but just couldn't get it back in again.

So I looked around for a great laptop repair shop in my area, and found one with great reviews. After a week or so of looking at it, they said they also couldn't put the spacebar back in, and it was best to replace the whole keyboard. Fine I thought. The whole process was taking ages, and once they phoned and asked me if I wanted to have the inside of the laptop cleaned for an extra 30 euros.

Anyway, finally I could pick it up, but it was horrible. Key were half stuck, and didn't have the feel no where near the original. So I went back, and said I wasn't happy. They said they had ordered a cheap keyboard and they would try to get a better one. All with no extra charge.

Months went by... Finally they called that it was ready, and again a really terrible result. The spacebar doesn't work if it's hit off center. Some keys are ok and other keys seems to be more sticky and clicky.

Basically the keys are worse now than the original before the replacement.

Is it worth trying to save this laptop? I mean the dell xps-13 is still working well. Maybe just putting in a new keyboard is just too difficult in general, and I was expecting too much. These are very compact laptops.

I definitely don't want to go back again to this repair shop.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[punkncat]

Since it's a Dell you could try contacting them, if you really need it to be portable and for that keyboard to work....OR you could just get another wired/wireless/bluetooth keyboard that you like and use it instead.

 

[geofelt]

Look for a new keyboard.
They are not hard to replace by yourself.
I have done it on a thinkpad.
Ebay is a good source, here is an example:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-XPS-1...467191&hash=item340e36fa6e:g:2K4AAOSwnGldH52z

There are some youtube videos on the process.
Here is one which I did not view:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Mioy9d910


Do you use a ssd?
A conversion to a ssd will make al the difference in the world on performance.

 

[WillDonald007]

Thanks all for the suggestion. Yes I think I will contact Dell, and at least see how much it will cost to replace. I am already using an external keyboard but would prefer it fixed so it's more portable to use.

Geofelt: Not hard to replace??? Haha. I watched the video and so many components need taken out. (Speakers, heat sink, IO parts, WiFi, etc etc). The guy in the video seems to do it for his job and also doesn't seem to find it so easy to disconnect things. I think I would be worried about breaking something and not remembering how to put it all back together again. But yes, if the choice is between throwing the laptop away or trying this, I guess I could give it a try.

 

[geofelt]

As I said, I did not watch the video.
My experience was with a thinkpad T430s which was relatively easy.

Why not buy the keyboard and take it to the local shop to install?

 

[WillDonald007]

I'm definitely not going back to the same repair shop, because I've lost all confidence in them. That was a waste of money

I think calling Dell and getting a second opinion from another repair shop may be good. I wonder if the keyboard itself is the problem or the placement. The original problem I had was with the spacebar and offcenter hits not registering. This new keyboard has that same problem (amongst others.) I wonder if it's just really sensitive to how it's placed. Uneven pressure on the keyboard or something, from the screws or other components inside.

Maybe just time for a new laptop....