Studio 1555 Backlit Keyboard Upgrade

Greetings - this subject has been discussed quite a bit - but I thought I would add some more info. I received my KB today via ebay - the seller was kilter88 in case anyone is interested. The manufacturer (Quanta) is the same as the non-backlit KB. I followed the Dell service manual ( http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/studio1555/en/SM/index.htm) to remove the center control cover - the directions cover it fairly well - but it was easiest for me to start at the right hinge area (on the back of the system) when separating the control cover. The control cover isn't the strongest piece of plastic in the world so you may want to snap it off carefully.

Removing the old keyboard was easy - except the instructions didn't cover the next part as clearly (at least for me!). The ZIF 'data cable' for the keyboard is held in place by what Dell calls a keyboard connector latch. This is looks like a tiny (but wide) door lying on it's side - and it rotates up on it's hinge and toward the LCD/top of the keyboard to unlatch. The keyboard lighting connector has the same style of little latch on it - even a little more difficult for me to unlatch.

Re-assembly is in the reverse order - the keyboard data ZIF cable was a little tricky to get fully inserted and latched. They lighting cable was even trickier for me and having a flashlight (I bothered my long-suffering wife to hold the flashlight at just the right angle ... ) helped get it latched. Also, my old data ZIF cable had a fold in it - the new cable did not - so you may want to consider putting a small Z-fold in it before you latch the ZIF cable in place. Not having the fold could, I guess, result in a small high spot on the keyboard over the cable. I reinstalled the battery, temporarily, next and checked for lighting and keyboard functionality before I replaced the control cover.

After checking for any possible KB problems, I put the center control cover in place - starting from the space-bar part of the keyboard and snapping it in as I worked around to the top of the keyboard and speaker area. The snap detents took a good amount of pressure around the top of the keyboard; I worked on mine at the kitchen table with the 1555 resting on a folded bath towel. I noticed some flex at the top of the keyboard when I finished. I re-checked whether or not the cover had been fully snapped in above the keyboard and it had not - fully snapping it in removed the KB flex.

Last but not least, make sure to put the screw back in under the battery after you have finished!! (I forgot it). The backlit keyboard is a beautiful addition and to me well worth the $23 plus $9 shipping. Good luck!!

 

Nice. Thanks for posting