m1330 keyboard bulge, a comprehensive solution

Hi guys,

The solution to the keyboard bulge is to absolutely get a new keyboard. The new keyboard is in my opinion, the equivalent of a thinkpad keyboard and an absolute pure joy to type on. I'm serious. It is so wonderful and it is obvious and not subtle in any way that this keyboard rocks. It is stiff as a board and very satisfying and durable. No mushy feeling, 0% flex. Not even 0.1%.
Pictures follow below, which I believe may help some or all of you. Honestly, even if you don't have the issue I would request the part from Dell since they will send it out to you for free (mine was sent next day) and you don't have to return your old keyboard. It even comes with a new black touch-sensitive control strip, which as you'll see below I needed!

This is my second foray with the m1330. I got it initially when it came out but thought that it was such a cheaply made notebook that it was not going to be worth that much money.

Now I am back after a disastrous attempt at being a mac convert. So pretty but so fragile yet so expensive.

Anyway, ordered refurb m1330 for $832 + tax at the outlet and when I got it, it was basically semi-used. Anyway, keyboard bulge.

The following discussion on makes sense if you actually read the following two links first:

I followed http://www.jrin.net/2008_02_01/how-to-fix-the-dell-xps-m1330-keyboard-bulge

And I would recommend this.
Hi instructions are spot on, as is the dell manual beginning somewhere on page 120 or so:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/index.htm

Two notes:
1. When removing the black touch-sensitive control panel, please be quite careful. I botched it. To remove the little strip with wires, you have to lift up that tiny black thing on the underside of the control panel where it connects in. Do not pull it out. It flips UP like a little latch. Then the white ribbon with copper wiring can be removed. Remember this: BLUE SIDE DOWN (In other words, remember what position the ribbon is in exactly. I believe it is blue side DOWN).
2. To take out the white ribbon with copper wiring from the other connection point, the motherboard, push out the tabs on both sides. Unfortunately mine was fried and that was what was making the burning plastic smell. It melted my white ribbon with copper wiring completely and I can't be sure how you remove it for sure, but apparently you just move those tabs to the right | -->
carefully and gently. This might be easier than it was on mine. But clearly someone had been in there before me.
3. You need to strip the black plastic tubing off as that JR guy said. I think that this was the problem. I used some small swiss-army knife type of scissors to cut it and it came off. An exacto knife might not work as well as finely tuned small scissors. Then carefully tuck it all into place so that these wires do not stick up. They have little grooves/tabs for the wire to follow, and I used force to push those tabs all downward. I think this was responsible for the keyboard bulge. BUT
4. The new keyboard is amazingly nice and I don't think that anyone would disagree with me. While Steps 1-3 can fix the keyboard bulge so that it's not really there much, the new keyboard alone would probalby go a long ways by itself b/c it's so rigid and solid.

Here are some pics:

First pic shows the original keyboard's part #
As you can see from subsequent pics, the "good" keyboard and again it's not subtle, is way stiffer and built differently and has a different part #.

I think it's worth the hassle.

Good luck to you and hope that this helps you all who want to get a good keyboard that is the equal of a thinkpad's.

 

Glad to hear you stuck with Dell. I REALLY like my Vostro keyboard. Like you said, NO mushiness.

 

Which one' the new one? the one with the variously shaped vents? Or the one with the small circularvents.. almost plain back? Because as i see it, the one with the more vents also has th burn mark...

 

The one with the burn mark is the old one and the keyboard metal backing is much flimsier than the new one's metal backing. Night and day.

 

I got a new keyboard and it's different to your new one.

Got rid of my bulge though, but there is still a slight bit of flex. Doesn't bother me though.

Do you think it's worth asking them for the stiffer version?

 

My replacement XPS came with a keyboard with NO bulge whatsoever, and no flex either!

I don't think I'll risk opening it up to check that it has the newer keyboard, as it is fine the way it is.