Can this Dell Laptop be Fixed??

[thatsright]

This is for a family friend, and somehow they think I'm a computer geek. Which I am of course, but not really when it applies to laptops.

She has a Dell Inspirion i8200, model # PP01x

So she is a new College Kid and she has a Dell Laptop. She told me that a heavy clay sculpture fell on it at school and 3 of the keys are missing. And she said that most of the remaining keys don't work @ all. So she called the Tech Support From HELL (or more accurately, the The Indian Tech Support From Hell) and they told her it would cost $700 to fix it, which sounds pretty outrageous to me.

Besides it being obvious that this is a rip off, is this something that is self fixable.

thx

 

[Mermaidman]

Just curious--Does the lappy work fine otherwise? Or are there other problems?

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

the trackpad and buttons work fine?

heck, I'd hook up a USB keyboard to it and call it a day.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Just curious--Does the lappy work fine otherwise? Or are there other problems?

Yes, it's fine besides the Keyboard. It boots into Windows and I think the mouse pad works fine as well, just pressing any key brings no response.

As for buying a USB keyboard, this is a good idea for most folks but I don't think it's doable for a college kid. She would have to take it to class and put it on those tiny fold out desks.

Boy, dell is really sticking it to her as it seems they are just trying to force her to buy another laptop.

 

[Gunbuster]

I looked on ebay and found a KB in under 2 min, give it a try

 

[Koing]

I'd go with the ebay KB idea. BUT if that doesn't fix it there is probably a deeper problem but if it works with an external KB you are fine.

Laptops are not easy or cheap to fix. It was bad she had an accident but if she didn't have the accident it would be fine. Dell just want to make some money.

Koing

 

[PlatinumGold]

first check and see if the ribbon cable that is used to connect the keyboard to the laptop is in place or not (you can remove the dell keyboard) also look at the cable to see if there is any physical damage or not. then plug in a regular keyboard in the ps/2 slot in the back and see if the laptop works ok.

if so, then just buy a replacement keyboard for that model dell laptop (i'm sure you'll find one).. voila.

 

[HappyPuppy]

A keyboard shouldn't cost much and changing it is a piece of cake. There are 4 or 5 screws on the bottom marked (usually) with a "K". Remove them, remove and unplug the keyboard and install the new one. It takes about 3 minutes.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
A keyboard shouldn't cost much and changing it is a piece of cake. There are 4 or 5 screws on the bottom marked (usually) with a "K". Remove them, remove and unplug the keyboard and install the new one. It takes about 3 minutes.

Well SH!T Happy Puppy, you might make me look like a star after all!

But if I were going to replace the keyboard, where are the Keyboard screws located? On the side or the bottom of the laptop? And I assumed that her laptop has a proprietary Dell only keyboard, or are they universally interchangeable? And if I could get a replacement, where would I do that exactly?

Thanks guys for all the help/suggestions.

EDIT: BTW, I have built several new PC's but I have never taken a screwdriver to a laptop, so as much info as you guys can give will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

heres one

 

[NutBucket]

Laptops are really pretty simple beasts. Anyhow, yeah, just look on the bottom of it. I think Dells do have the keyboard marked with "K". Remove those and it should pop up. Unhook 1-2 ribbon cables and you're golden.

 

[HappyPuppy]

The screws are on the bottom. I don't recall if there are 4 or 5, but they should be marked with a "K".

You can buy a keyboard from Dell or check on Ebay.

Hopefully this link works.

 

[spanky]

ok, now that u have htekeyboard dilemma in hand.... pics?!

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
heres one

Wow, thanks man. THIS IS WHY I LOVE ATF!

Now in this picture of the auction is the keyboard, but I don't see where one would attach the Laptop keyboard ribbon cables. Are they hidden?

I dunno;

50% of me thinks I can fix it
25% thinks I will just F it up even more
25% of me thinks its un fixable.

O well........

 

[HappyPuppy]

You can do it. Once you lift the keyboard up you will see where and how it connects. Just use a pair of long nose pliars to gently pull up on each end of the connector until it comes loose. You will probably have to use the pliars to attach the new cable as well.

 

[thatsright]

Another follow-up question:

For the Inspirion 8200 line, is the keyboard used standard across the whole line, or are there different SKU's/Revisions, etc. It would be a bummer needless to say if I bought a 8200 Keyboard on eBay and realize it's the wrong variant for a Inspirion 8200.

Thought I'd ask

thx, you guys ROCK!

BTW, The only thing I feel technologically inferior as a AT member is that I don't have a digi-cam yet, even a POS one. But this would be a cool, albeit quick article online and/or print about saving yourself $650 or so by doing it your self!

 

[NutBucket]

Dude, just try it!! If you're that worried about getting the right one you can buy it directly from Dell. If the thing is fvcked right now anyway you've got NOTHING to lose!

 

[HappyPuppy]

They keyboards are the same across the 8200 line. Don't worry, once you pull the keyboard up you will see how it is connected.

 

[DanFungus]

damn that's a great design to get the keyboard out! I had to completely disassemble my HP laptop to take out the keyboard..

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Dude, just try it!! If you're that worried about getting the right one you can buy it directly from Dell. If the thing is fvcked right now anyway you've got NOTHING to lose!

Your right man, JUST GET ON WITH IT!!

Well at the earliest I won't be trying this out till next weekend as I hope to get the ordered part by then. I'll also let her know if its FUBAR and me trying to replace the keyboard is no-go, that the USB keyboard is her last option; short of drooping $1k+ on a new laptop.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Dude, just try it!! If you're that worried about getting the right one you can buy it directly from Dell. If the thing is fvcked right now anyway you've got NOTHING to lose!

Your right man, JUST GET ON WITH IT!!

Well at the earliest I won't be trying this out till next weekend as I hope to get the ordered part by then. I'll also let her know if its FUBAR and me trying to replace the keyboard is no-go, that the USB keyboard is her last option; short of drooping $1k+ on a new laptop.

don't order it first.

check to see if it works without it first. plug in a keyboard to the ps/2 slot.

next, take the laptop keyboard out. unscrew the bottom etc and see if it is just the ribbon cable that is not making a solid connection THEN order the keyboard IF it work with the ps/2 keyboard and if pusing the ribbon cable back in doesn't resolve the issue.

 

[thatsright]

Sure it is a bit late, but hey better late than never.

I want to give everyone a big :thumbsup: who posted in this thread to help me out. Like I said, anything with PC's is old hat, but when I 1st asked about fixing this Laptop, they absolutely terrified me @ any prospect of trying to fix them on my own.

I was all ready to buy a replacement keyboard on eBay, but then I called Dell Tech and I was stunned to learn that the 8200 was STILL under warranty till Aug 2005. Well when I heard this I went to town with Dell Parts & Replacement service. On my own I replaced the Keyboard and DVD-Rom drive with replacement parts sent overnight from dell. (In fact doing these two was easier than anything I have ever had to open up my PC case to work on!!) Then I called them about the busted up Video LCD screen. I had to explain my 'problem' in a very gingerly way so they wouldn't realize the damage was caused by my sister. I just sort of said it 'didn't work' and they agreed to send a Dell Technician out to my house the next day and the guy changed the screen in 30 minutes!

I want to especially give a BIG :thumbsup: and also a case of :beer: to HappyPuppy. I got all the confidence I needed when you gave me the Dell KB article that shows you how easy it really is to swap out the keyboard. Laptop repair has really come a long way. Dell Tech support told me in the last few years they have really re-designed them to make them infinitely easy to repair.

Thanks guys! Yet another Reason I LOVE ATF

P.S. I don't know why Dell Tech Support, India gets such a bum rap. Maybe because I was VERY specific and knew what I was talking about, and so where the guys in Bangalore. They knew their stuff and where quick to help. I still don't get why it was so easy for me, but for others...........