M11x-R1/R2 New Hinge Design (see post#1)

The tech did all the work. What was good about this was that this guy (the tech) replaced my screen about 3 times in the past, plus this one, and he never commit an error. So, in someway, i trust in this guy

 

the middle hinge are made of two parts i.e. the 'strip' and the 'base', if there is any gap between the joints than either one need to be changed or probably both....

 

Just sent off my M11x in the box that they sent me. It was so strange that they could not send a e-mail reply to one that I sent them, but after I called they sent the pickup box the next day.

I am so going to miss my M11x.

 

Well, for my luck, they replace my LCD again yesterday (I have about 20 days left of warranty). And if this are the "good"hinges, then I dont think I would ever or at least in a couple of years, have problems with my LCD/hinges .

Why you did not make them go to your home to replace the screen there in front of you? It would be better and faster with that method.

 

I thought it was mentioned that if you're out of warranty then you're required to send in your machine for repair, they won't send a tech.

 

They said that I was out of warrenty so that did not entitle me to home service.

 

Oh i see. I though that even without the warranty the tech have to go to your home.

 

Nope they just send you a box with a premade mailing lablel. the box is made for a m15x so you will have to add some extra stuffing around it and they ask for your power adapter.

 

I know they replace a lot more than just the hinges... including the plastic cover.

Does the actual LCD get replaced? Does the whole lid of the laptop get replaced including the "stealth soft touch black lid".

 

Yes, they replace the entire assembly. So anything above the hinges.

 

They also may replace the power button. They did on mine at least.

 

I'm in the UK. My hinge has not broken as yet but there is only a month left on my warranty. Should I request replacement before it runs out to have it done on site?

Also what are the chances of getting a soft touch stealth black instead of grey?

 

You will get a replacement for whatever you have on the original order from Dell

 

I just had the hinge fix today....new LCD assembly + new palm rest. The hinges seem much stronger. However there are two remaining issues: Firstly most of the time the Alienware lighting suddenly does not work (It always did in the past). I called Dell right away and they are sending a tech to change the palm rest again. I hope that fixes the issue. Secondly...and this is what really bothers me..... the lid is now slightly (but still very noticeably) raised in the front. It does not close flush with the base, although overall it does not look out of alignment. Did anyone else who got the fix notice this?

 

Mine as well, but I actually prefer it.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Perhaps the new lid was engineered purposely to be raised slightly to prevent contact between the screen and keyboard? If that is true, I suppose it's not really an issue.

 

Are you kidding me? Of course it isn't supposed to be raised slightly.
There are already rubber bumps that function properly to prevent screen touching the keyboard.
Mine is perfectly fine without keyboard marks on the screen and without the LCd cover being raised slightly.

 

That was my interpretation as well. I'm not unhappy with it - anything is better than another hinge breakdown!

 

Luminair.......I also was not really unhappy with the lid being slightly raised in front, especially after hearing that I was not the only one to experience this. Nonetheless I still called Alienware today about it. According to them, the lid should not be raised at all. They are sending a tech out tomorrow to replace the whole LCD/hinge assembly again. I'll report back once everything is finally done.

 

Did you check your keyboard?


There has already been a few references in this thread where the tech did not install the keyboard correctly. Check both the left & right side of the keyboard....if it sits higher than flush with the palmrest area then it's installed incorrectly. Just push it down on the sides. There's little plastic tabs there. If you're afraid to break them, then you can remove the keyboard & reinstall it.


Replacing the hinge AGAIN will not fix it (Unless the tech installs the keyboard correctly the second time around) And it is most DEFINITELY NOT designed that way.

There are little rubber stops that are supposed to prevent complete closure.......but it wouldn't be noticeable unless you're looking at it from the side. We're talking only sightly thicker than paper here.












TL;DR
It's probably your keyboard not being installed correctly. Check the left & right sides & make sure it's flush or below the palm rest. If not, then push them down until they click in place (Or better yet, remove & reinstall the keyboard correctly)



Also, please check out the rest of the thread. Most of these questions have been asked already, several times. I know it seems like a lot....but there is a search function as well. Just sayin.....this 52 page thread could be reduced down to 10 pages or so if it weren't for all the repeated questions & answers. Then you wouldn't have to spend an hour reading through all 52 pages to get your answer.









If your keyboard is installed correctly, and there's a large gap still, then call Dell & demand that they fix it.

 

This has been the weirdest experience I have. But I'm happy still. I had sent an email last month about my right hinge is going weird everytime I close the lid. It will some how lift a little then sit right back. There are no any response from dell.

Then yesterday somebody called me that he has a full brand new kit of LCD and some stuffs to service my alienware and want to make a schedule of appointment... I cannot believe Dell did not even notify me. But its all good, got him to service today and everything went smoothly. The LCD display is brand new now and close so much better and different. But I notice the tech did not install the keyboard properly. So I have to reinstall and got it to sit right.

Overall, excellent service and weird without even notifying me first...

 

Yeah, when I first got my M11x refurb, it was a disaster. The keyboard was the first apparent issue and called to get it replaced right away. In the meantime I found lots of other issues, and Dell was going to replace the whole machine. The tech called me the next day saying he was ready to install the keyboard. I didn't return call because I figured it was just a lag in communicating to him. Next day without warning the tech ARRIVES AT MY HOUSE unannounced !!! I was heading out with my two baby boys, and he was pressuring me to get in and replace the keyboard. I told him the whole machine was being replaced and then he acted like he was mad at me. Whatever.

 

Arak-Nafein.....your analysis was right on the money. Thanks very much. There was indeed a problem with the keyboard installation first time around. The tech stopped by today with a new keyboard......although I'm not so sure a new keyboard was actually necessary. In any case he took everything apart again and reassembled the machine very carefully..... paying particular attention to installing keyboard properly. Now everything seems to be in excellent working order, and I can say that the new hinge design seems extremely sturdy and properly aligned. Overall, despite the few glitches I experienced, the service experience with Dell.....and with the on-site technician who did an excellent job in the final analysis.....was very satisfactory. All's well that ends well, and now I look forward to really enjoying my M11x

 

I doubt the new LCD assemblies are designed any differently when it comes to alignment or how it "feels". Likely if you can actually tell any difference its because the old one was messed up (or the new one is). Unless shown otherwise the actual hinge -moving parts- will be exactly the same as before.

Anyone get pics yet of the new rear LCD shell? I might have missed it.

The variance in how each one seems different from customer to customer points to some quality control issue IMO leaving only LCD lotto as recourse. Too bad.

 

Well, the "old" hinge design, any force on the lid would pull on the plastic bosses. The new design is supposed to eliminate any and all "play" in that area, so it could very well make a difference. They may have even "tuned" the hinge friction a bit so it's not as tight. I dunno.

I don't like the LCD lotto though either, as far as knowing which LCD you'll get and the variance between them.

 

Just looked at the fedex tracking. My M11xr1 will be back with me tomarrow, hopefully with a hinge that will last a long time.

This will be the second screen replacement on the second laptop that they sent me. The first had the lcd screen coming seperated and was returned within the 21 day return time.

I have never had a laptop cause so much pleasure and pain at the same time, maybe the next M series will be called the S/M11xr4.

 

hmm.. my m11x is getting its motherboard and hinge replaced. iv been using my trusty dell inspiron 1521 for the last 2 days,and iv noticed...my inspiron 1521's screen is quite amazing compared to my m11x. i never noticed before.

 

It is definitely made different. I compared the two parts when the tech replaced it on my R1.

The new hinge is thicker, and definitely of a different design.

 

And you and the engineer, decided to crack open a sealed M11x replacement monitor to have a look inside?

Way cool. Did the engineer then re-seal it and attach it to your M11x?

No involuntary bowl movements while all this was happening?

As approx ten people (from my observations) know, and the rest of the world has no idea, the faulty components in the failing LCD monitors are the plastic mounting points attaching the hinge brackets inside the LCD monitor.

Any external hinge mounting bracket attaching the monitor to the M11x base has no impact on what has or has not been fixed.

 

I don't have the new one but have had a replacement. I too wondered if they had tried altering the tension as a fix first (free!) for new assemblies because the replacement was obviously not as tight as orig. Anecdotal evidence sucks.

I stand by my comment though. The improvements themselves should not look or feel any different as tension is unrelated me thinks. I REALLY want someone to open a lid and poke around.

 

:smile: I'm glad it got sorted out. Enjoy your little beast!

The new hinge definitely "feels" different than the old hinge(when brand new)

It's less "wobbly". The old hinge ALWAYS had play in it......even when fresh out of the box, the M11X hinge(the old one) had play in it. I recall taking a trip on the road with my M11X & trying to play games, but the screen kept wiggling back and fourth slightly due to road vibrations felt through the car.(VERY noticeable in the early morning due to the high-gloss screen & bright sun) This was way before my hinge broke. after breaking, the problem was MUCH worse.


The new hinge feels more solid. There's little-to-no play. It doesn't wobble like the old one did. I haven't cracked mine open, so I can't comment on the structural differences.....but it DEFINITELY feels more sturdy. Opening/closing pressure is about the same.

 

Thats the problem with perceptions... Im on my second orig screen and didnt experience what you did until failure. You shouldn't draw these conclusions too easily.

THERE IS NOT ANY DIFF IN THE HINGE. They may have adjusted tension but that too I doubt - probably just random. Where the physical change is most likely is the REAR portion of the LCD assembly to add a bit of plastic reinforcement for where the hinge attaches. Not the hinge itself.

This means to be different other than tension you would have to have a broken lcd panel in the first place. Until someone can show some pics I'm gonna take Dell at its word on what the changes are and what is most likely from a warranty cost pov. The actual hinge itself seems quite an ok design but its a bit early to say

Good job though on getting me to pickup my computer and give it a shake.

 

Hey guys, I just want to confirm that the E-mail listed on the OP still works. I sent out an email about 9 days ago and i got a dispatch confirmation today. So the email still works, it just takes longer than the described 5-7 days.

 

I still haven't heard back from them. Sent my request on the 29th of April. I'll be calling tomorrow.

 

My M11X right hinge was binding up, I called 7am PST Thursday and the Tech just left my house 3pm PST . He replaced the screen hinge assembly and installed a new speaker panel, total cost -0- .....

I forgot to mention this new assembly seems to be smoother and a lot tighter than the original assembly when I bought it new 145 days ago....

 

The tech replaced mine today....how should I know if this is the new hinges and not the old hinges?

 

At this point I think it is safe to assume all the replacements are the new hinges

 

do we have a picture of the new hinge already?

 

i hope so. because when i compare the two hinges (old and new) its almost the same.

 

A Seller on ebay named Notebookpart

Is selling Complete LCD Panels for the Alienware M11x

Check them out here

Part numbers NDT4N
F8W3Y
757TW
PKYWD

Does anyone know if this are Refurbished or New ???/

 

I believe you won't see the difference unless you crack open the LCD screen.

 

Just an update. A few days after my hinge replacement, I noticed that when the lid is closed there is a small gap on one side (about 1mm) where the lid meets the base........exactly as in the posted pics of Arak-Nafein on page 32 of this thread. Has anyone else been noticing this? I suppose I'm worried that with time, it might get worse. On the other hand I'm probably just being paranoid, since the new hinge does appear to be very sturdy so far, with no creaky sounds when opening and closing the lid.

 

Just got my M11x back from Dell. Some how they broke off the rear foot on the lefthand side, which although disturbing at least everything else works. I had planned to get some rubber feet for it anyway due to the covers coming off of the back feet. It just seems as though they would treat the laptop better or check the quality before sending it back to the customer.

Also had to push in the keyboard.

 

So if we have a M11x R1 or R2 still under warranty we can simply call Dell and they will send On-site to replace our LCDs with the new hinges? Also will they replace my Green Onion Anti Glare Screen protector?

 

Yes.

No.

 

hi, i originally found myself with a hinge problem resulting from an uneven spacing between the hinges and the keyboard, and then found that the left hinge was making a popping sound as a result from stress upon opening. I followed the exact instructions listed in the topic post, and a repairman came within 2 days of me emailing the address provided. (I still have 60 something days left on my warranty)

I was called back the very next day and arranged for a good time to have the serviceman come and do the work on my laptop.

He ended up taking apart my laptop and replacing the entire LCD screen as well as the hinges! It works perfectly, once again.

Thanks so much for making this thread!

Ps.
It took him about 15-20 minutes to do the work, which in the meantime I watched a little bit of The Dark Knight.

Good luck to you all!

 

Exactly right. There are no changes that we know of to the hinge. In hindsight we gave this problem the wrong name.

Kinda figured by now someone would have opened the replacement panels up. Only because there are lots of brave folks out there (not me).

 

I'm pretty sure I saw a few pictures here comparing the inside of the new and old hinges. The screws that held the hinges to the panel were screwed in with cheap plastic sockets that wear down fast, so they applied some glue on the redesigned ones.

 

Any news on UK screen replacements?

 

What. Eh? No.