M17x Keyboard Light Issue

Hi Chaps and Chapesses

For the last two nights i've noticed during gaming that one of the keyboard light zones was flickering (Zone just left of numpad). After playing around I found that pressing the Left-Shift or Caps-Lock or "A" keys firmly would result in this zone's lighting turning off until key released i.e. the left side of the keyboard appears to be flexing and causing the right side zone to flicker/turn off when pressed firmly.

I suspect there is probably just a connection issue here, but was wondering if this had been encountered by anyone else, and (if it gets much worse) whether it would be better to call Alienware support for a replacement, or to try re-seating the keyboard/cabling in case that might be the issue.

I'm admittedly OCD so loathe to have someone with messy hands pull apart my machine and replace with a 'refurb', but if that's whats needed, perhaps they can replace the clicking hard drives too...

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Cheers

Trelawney

 

You could re-seat the cable, but I would just take the short route and give them a call. Have them dispatch out a new keyboard. you can opt to have a tech install it or you can do it yourself ( Service Guide Here). If the tech replaces it, he will take the original keyboard and send it back to Dell. If you replace it, the replacement keyboard should ship with a pre-printed shipping label. Box up the old keyboard, affix the label and drop it off at FedEx.

Personally, if it were me, I would do it myself. I refuse to let a Qual-X tech near my M17x.

 

Thanks BatBoy - always good to have your input, and glad you feel the same way about keeping any other tech off your baby too!