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    Alienware 17 R4: Some keys are not working...

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by speedsweep, Nov 4, 2017.

  1. speedsweep

    speedsweep Notebook Geek

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    Hello everyone,

    I got my 17r4 on April and everything was fine (appart from temps etc...) up until a few weeks ago.

    Now, there are some keys on the keyboard that are not working, and after some time, they start working until the next reboot. It's random, as sometimes they don't work at all.

    I googled the subject and apparently, it has something to do with the keyboard ribbon which is not staying put.

    So I had a Dell tech to come over and he changed the keyboard. He came with a keyboard + small stamps to be fit around the ribbon, where it is connected to the mobo.

    I didn't see the repair as I had to go back to work, but he called me and tested it with my wife and it was working fine.

    But when I came back the evening, after like an hour, it started again : keys randomly working, and this time, when I pressed one of the faulty ones, it printed a few times instead of just on time (like instead of having 'S' when typing, it printed like 'SSSS'.
    They keys that are not working are exactly the same : s, coma, upper arrow, numpad 5.

    I will open the backplate to check what he did with the stamps.

    Did anyone have the same issue after a keyboard+ribbon change?

    I also tried to find the keyboard firmware in case it got f.... up but couldn't find anything...

    Cheers,

    David.
     
  2. speedsweep

    speedsweep Notebook Geek

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    Ok, I opened it, and saw what the tech did : instead of pasting the small stamp on the back of the ribbon and inserting it into it's socket, he just put the ribbon back and added the stamp on top of it.

    My god, those guys... I know they are pro technicians more used to work on Dell machines, and that most of them never opened an Alienware but come on, there was instruction and a picture on how to place the stamp...

    I'll make some testing over time and if it does work over a few days I'll come back and ask for the topic to be resolved!

    Cheers,

    David.
     
  3. MogRules

    MogRules Notebook Deity

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    Have you suspected software at all?

    It seems unlikely that you would get the same problem on two different keyboards.

    I would be re-installing Windows before I was suspecting hardware after two keyboards. Those ribbon cables can take quite a bit of punishment, even folding them in half.
     
  4. speedsweep

    speedsweep Notebook Geek

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    Yep, I tried removing and reinstalling the driver, etc. Nothing.

    After a weekend of testing, it looks like it definitely was the issue of the tape positioning. The keyboard is working fine now.

    So, for all of you that might encounter the same issue: it is just a matter of the keyboard ribbon not making proper contact in its socket.

    The solution is pretty simple:
    -put a little square of tape on the back of the ribbon
    -insert it in its socket
    -add the little black plastic clip to hold everything in place

    This will help to make proper contact to the mobo.

    Next time I open it, I will take a picture and add it to the thread.

    Cheers!
     
    leeloyd likes this.
  5. Speedster159

    Speedster159 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I know this thread is old and you probably don't have the laptop anymore but... did you take photos of the repair? I have a similar problem that even with the new keyboard I ordered from dell still persists.
     
  6. omy808

    omy808 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Used to have this problem a lot. My keyboard ribbon was loose, so just wiggling it back in place on the top tends to do the trick.
     
  7. Speedster159

    Speedster159 Notebook Enthusiast

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    What model?
     
  8. speedsweep

    speedsweep Notebook Geek

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    Hey man,

    I didn't take any pictures but it's pretty easy.

    Basically, when I got the keyboard there was a little plastic bag with it, with a little 1x1cm black sticker (probably eletrical tape).

    If you didn't get it with your new keyboard, just cut a little square of electrical tape and paste it on the back of the keyboard ribbon (where it will be inserted in it's socket).

    Then just place the ribbon on the motherboard. It helps making contact and that fixed the loose cable problem!

    And of course I still have it! It's my main unit, managed to fix almost all temp and core issues, overclocked it and it runs like a beast!