How to fix keyboard flex near the directional keys!

Hey everyone! So the more I used my M15x the more the keyboard flex around the directional keys started to bother me. I then decided to take the keyboard off and see if there was a way to fix it. Sure enough, it is a simple 5-10 minute fix that anyone handy with a screwdriver can do. Here is the guide:

Step 1:

First thing you are going to want to do is turn your computer off, then flip it upside-down exposing the bottom. Then you are going to need to take off the battery by sliding the lock to the left. That will then expose this area here:


Step 2:

What you then need to do is remove the two outside screws with the "I" label (the "I" stands for information panel).


Step 3:

Now that the screws for the "Information Panel" are off, flip the computer over and pull up gently at the back left of the top panel (where the power button is). Like this:

Once it starts to come up there, work your way over to the top right side until all of the tabs are free. It will look like this:


Step 4:

Gently slide back the information panel, revealing the 3 keyboard screws. Be careful not to pull the information panel off completely, as there is a white ribbon connected to it! Once it is out of the way, it will look like this:


Step 5:

Take off the three screws, and the keyboard sort of slides up and out as the only thing holding it in are the tabs on the bottom. Be careful pulling on the keyboard, because it is also attached by a few ribbons. As you can see, what holds the keyboard firm and in-place are the bottom tabs, one of which is located directly underneath the directional keys. I have heard other people complain about flex in that area, and I determined it was because the tab (see below) was not firmly pressing on the slot it went into.


Step 6:

Ever so carefully bend the tab upwards with whatever tool you find fit for the job. Remember, this is very thin metal you do not want to over stress it. Very slight adjustments are all that is required to fix this problem:


Step 7:

Reassemble the computer in the exact opposite fashion you took it apart. I highly suggest you put the keyboard on and test the directional pad before you put the rest of the computer back together. I take absolutely no liability for any damage you do to your computer, and this modification is done at your own risk.

- Here's a comment that lastcoyote posted, I thought it may help some of the more nervous people out!

 

wow nice guide. + rep

 

Thanks a bunch man! I was shocked as to how easy these things are to work on! It almost reminds me of a desktop. All the screws are easily accessible and things come apart and go together very easily.

 

+rep

nice pics!
although poor keyboard, look at what you're using to bend that thing... it's like a horror movie, i can just imagine placing the music from alfred hitchcock classic - "psycho" to that particular pic.

 

I don't really care about the flex too much.

 

Haha, I know, I wanted my tools but I don't have my toolbox right now so I had to use a couple of old rusty ones. Oh well! It all bends the same

 

Which brings me to my next task... As you can see I just added a poll and I would like to hear from you guys!

 

is there anyway to fix the flex in the bottom right palm rest ? are there taps under that ?

 

There are screws labeled with a "P" for the palmrest that you will be able to tighten and minimize the creaking but there aren't any tabs to bend and you most likely won't completely get rid of the creaking.

 

thanks alot +1 rep !


Where are these screws located ?

 

To the left and the right of the HDD. You should see them. They are labeled with a "P" as I stated before. There are only 2

 

Well done. I was just going to shim the keyboard myself with some think thin foam or something. Didn't think of bending the tabs!

+rep

 

Thanks for the rep guys. I just wanted to get a guide out there for people that were having the same issues I was. This being my first guide, I was surprised at how well it came out.

 

No flex on mine, guess I'm fortunate. However must pay compliment when due..........Very clear, detailed and helpful thread.

 

This is a nicely written guide. I will definitely be looking for this on my potential m15x acquisition. Thank you.

 

Thank you guys so much for the kind words!

 

found the courage to try this keyboard/arrow keys flex fix lastnight... after it has been bugging me since i got the laptop over a year ago now

just wanted to say thanks for the clear instructions. was very easy to follow and to achieve the fix. was nervous popping the top/power button section off of the laptop as it requires a little bit of persuasion but turned out fine with no damage caused at all. amazed how easy it was to slide the keyboard out after unscrewing the three small screws.

as the guide says..only slight bending up of the tab metal wire rim is required. try it a bit and then slide keyboard back in to check the flex (which was more a 'tapping' with mine) has gone. if not just another little bending up adjustment and so on.

ony thing maybe worth mentioning is to be careful with the black tab part. not the metal rim that you bend up but the thin black plastic tab which is part of the keyboards background and fills the tab shape. the tip of my pliers must have touched this part whilst bending the metal rim up and left some slight shiney type marks on it. very slight though and hardly noticeable unless closely scrutinizing below the down arrow key. i reckon if you put a small piece of tissue or paper in front of it whilst bending the metal bit up it should save it from getting marked.

all in all though well impressed. keyboard is now perfect

 

Awesome! Glad it worked out!