Precision M4600 keyboard swap

I'm fairly set now on ordering an M4600. However, I have a problem with they keyboard that it will be sold with. Is it easy to order a replacement keyboard and is it easy to fit? If I get the completecare thing, should I fit it or should I get a Dell engineer out to fit it?

The reason I will want to replace the keyboard is that I am British (so my native language is English) but I live and work in France (so it will be ordered from Dell France and come with European mains plug, French Win7, and French AZERTY keyboard which is awful).

So I will want to replace with a US English or British English QWERTY keyboard.

I'm assuming that blowing off the OS and re-installing will not be an issue if I download the drivers from Dell US website (I have a retail copy of Win7 Ultimate sitting here ready to install).

Dell France used to offer options for QWERTY keyboard, English OS etc (my M90 was ordered like that) but these seem to be gone from the Dell France site now - I looked at it today.

 

Hoping to hear a reply also, because I'm wondering about swapping my regular keyboard for a backlit one.

Edit: Is your keyboard back-lit? I could live with an AZERTY if I can use it like A U.S. Keyboard. I hardly look at my keys anyway. I know where they are. Though mine isn't back-lit

 

I haven't ordered it yet. But I don't plan to get a backlit one, it would shine on the screen and cause color shifts.

 

Oh, ok. Reasonable.

 

It should not be a big deal. You have to be careful with the plastic trim around the keyboard. You also need to be careful with the ribbon cable and make sure you know how the ribbon's connector latch works. Complete care covers all accidental breaks, so if you did have an accident it should be covered.

You can see the whole process here - http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/wsM4600/en/SM/sm_en.pdf

 

Just curious - isn't it possible to select the specific keyboard you desire when you order your dell? Try calling Dell - maybe that particular layout is available over the telephone but not online?

regarding the backlit keyboard: I find it a *huge* enhancement in usability in low light. You can always turn it off if you don't need it, or only have it turn on when you do so.
Regarding color shifts induced by the keyboard illumination: I can't really detect any to make a difference right now. The screen is matte and it doesn't really "shine" that brightly...
I can however imagine it making an ever-so-slightly impact when color is critical. But again, it's a huge help when it's dark and color isn't critical...

Just a thought

 

As long as you are careful, you should be fine. Make sure it's the same keyboard though as I've tried to salvage parts from my ancient laptops (15+ years) to older laptops (8 years old) as the older laptop's keyboard was broken. Even if the size is the same on the top, I could not get the keyboard swap to work.

I already swapped out my original M4600 HDD to replace it with a better one (and change the format from IRRT to AHCI as well). Before you reinstall Windows, make sure you download the appropriate driver (32 or 64bit) first onto a thumb drive or burn them onto a dvd.

When you reinstall Windows, there will be a bunch of devices that need driver. I will install the Intel chipset drivers first, then video drivers. After that, it's up to you. I personally installed the intel wireless drivers first so I can download drivers from the net via wireless. You might want to install the USB 3.0 drivers first. It all depends on how you plan on installing your laptop. You can do it via media or network so you should work on getting those devices to work first.

I do not know what kind of install you have, I did mine with MSDN subscription Windows 7 with service pack 1. It recognized most of the devices with a fresh install except wireless, video, USB 3.0, VPro, etc. If your copy of Windows 7 is older, perhaps it might not recognize as many devices.

 

Thanks for the advice, everyone. This will be a company laptop so I will ask that they contact Dell to see about shipping with US keyboard and OS.

Also, I may reconsider the backlit keyboard given the comments here.