Area-51 m17x keyboard mod?

I purchased an area-51 m17x last year, being from Singapore i was forced to buy it from UK. Unfortunately it comes with a UK keyboard. I've been trying to obtain a US keyboard, unfortunately i seem to be cut off from support from alienware.com . I was just wondering, since the m17x has been released in Singapore, is the keyboard compatible with the area-51? I know the keyboard top latches will not fit but it seems that i should be able to remove those with abit of work, and that the bottom latches seem to match.

Does anyone have any info about the keyboards being swappable (as in non-illuminated to illuminated)?

Thanks in advance

 

Just order one on ebay.

M17x "All Powerful" (new one)


Area51 m17x (old one)


They are about the same layout, but I don't know if dimensions will be the same. The connectors could also be different if the ODM is different (I know the new one is Flextronics)

 

it looks the same to me

 

i've checked dimensions for the keyboard on a system on show, seems to be the same. as for the connectors. they look the same too =X

i'm getting the m17x keyboard free so i thought i might as well have a go at it first. I might just buy one off ebay if it doesn't work

 

good luck, hope it works for you!

 

thanks
i'll update if i do manage to pull it off

 

after an hour+ of fiddling, sawing, filing and cutting of the ribbon connectors. i'm proud to announce that i have success and am currently typing with the m17x keyboard on my area-51 m17x.

In short, the top screw latches had to be cut off since the area51 uses pop-up catches to hold the keyboard in place. The rest of the keyboard fit perfectly.

As for the ribbon connector. there are 2 extra connectors on either side that i just snipped.. and fit the remaining bit into the slot.

 

very very nice work lol how are the lights

better?

 

Were you able to get all the extra colors from that mod ?.

 

The lights don't work since my system originally didn't come with a illuminated keyboard. But other than that it works and i'm much happier typing with a US key layout now

if you have any way of making the lights work please do let me know, i somehow think its to do with the drivers since i have the alienfx connector on the MB as well

 

no the option is there did you enable it in BIOS?

 

oh yeah bios.. i'll brb with more info gonna try it out now
*prays*

 

its there

i know it is

 

no option under mine

only had a couple of options there on mine. nothing to do with keyboard.

 

try reinstalling CC and other applications hope it picks up

 

do i have to get CC specifically configured for my laptop? or can i just use the newer m17x one?

 

no you have to use yours

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=307050

try that

 

i see, ok thanks alot i'll go try it out.

 

You'll need the Area-51 m17x command center or findvikas program.

Command Center - Fixed Link Thanks Moo - (Note: Thread says m15x, but the command center piece is the same for both.)

Findvika's

 

Command Center

that link is pretty broken/useless

 

somehow i have a feeling the keyboard doesn't come illuminated. The keys looks painted white. and looking under the keys i don't see any way any light can shine through the keys

testing out the keyboard, its actually alot more responsive than my previous one.. the old one tended to not register key presses until i hammered on the key itself
but with this one, its great. Sad that i can't get the lights to work though.

 

there are fiber optic threads that carry lights ...

it must be the keyboard because every m17x came illuminated

 

yeah but the key is entirely opaque. hmm i might be wrong on that so i will have to get the CC to detect it in order to test it out.. currently reinstalling. hope it works

*update*
apparently the keyboard lights are disabled in my alienFX firmware. no apparent way to access it, updated the CC and other software and its still the same.

 

There isn't any chance of getting a brighter keyboard for the M17, is there? Just looking at the M17x keyboard I can pretty much tell that it won't fit. Wrong dimensions.

 

@Evil, do you have the 130E Keyboard controller BIOS installed? It was put out to make the lights brighter.

@Zenieth: I know you checked the BIOS, but I am pretty sure there is a keyboard illumination on/off switch in there somewhere.... If not, its possible you got the non-illuminated version.

 

...I have absolutely NO idea. How do I check?

 

Boot to your BIOS (Jam F10 or F12 on boot) and on the first page it will tell you what Bios revision and Keyboard Controller BIOS revision you're running on.

 

Okay thanks. Checking now.

edit: I'm running 130D. How do I upgrade to 130E?

 

how do you check the keyboard firmware for the m17? I have the firmware from K|N Nagamaki loaded (it downloaded with their .28 BIOS - which is not pass protected)

 

Load up the BIOS (I presume you know how). It's right there on that screen when the bios loads. Right under the BIOS is the keyboard BIOS.

 

Ok, will check when I get home from work, thanks!