Fixing the Envy 14 keyboard flex

So I completely dismantled this thing. I have the top cover off with the keyboard out. If you attempt this just know the service manual is slightly off in some place. For one the keyboard only pops out if you individually release these small tabs on the backside of it. Don't just push on it like the manual says.

Also, to release the front cover theres a small tab that says "press here" in the battery bay. There is zero indication of what this does and the manual makes no mention of it. I just decided to push it and guessed right.

I will post some pictures soon.

So the flex:
The keyboard comes off the front cover as keys+metal backing
The metal backing to the keys is extremely flimsy and it wobbles in a way that suggests the shape wasn't quite cut to the right fit, or the metal is slightly warped. I'm not reallly an expert so don't quote me on that.

However, I dont think thats the real culprit. The keyboard rests on a a metal tray / network of metal pieces that are connected to the front cover. The left side of the keyboard, the A side has a very strong/solid aluminum backing. The P side on the other hand, has a thin, flimsy/wobbly black piece of some kind of metal.

Basically, there is a gap on the right hand side between the keyboard backing and the front cover part it rests on. In addition, that area of the front cover is flimsy.

How do I fix it? I'm open to ideas. A lot of double sided tape would secure the keyboad to that black flimsy metal, but it still wouldn't fix it 100%

Gap:


Front cover with P area marked:


Black flimsy backing:



Update:
After many hours of trial and error and possibly breaking those damn ZIF cables, I have the flex reduced to almost nothing. If I push hard enough there is still flex, but nothing more than my asus v1s. Note: My method is probably/definitely not the best method of doing this.

Before you attempt anything I noticed that the front cover screws affect keyboard flex to a great deal. If you have widespread flex its likely that your screws aren't tight enough or were tightened unevenly. There are 11-12 (One I wasn't sure of) screws that attach the front cover. 2 are under the battery and 2 are under the HDD. There's one in the middle of the keyboard area that screws directly into the keyboard.

My method uses the resistance between the keyboard and tray for stability. I removed the keyboard from the front cover. I then taped (duct or electrical I guess) up small pieces of the keyboard tray on the front cover where there was flex (P area for me). I used about 4-6 layers of tape . i tried to avoid the holes and keyboard cable areas. I kept adding small amounts/layers at a time. When I reattached the keyboard the front cover I checked for bulges. You can't really tell how much flex you'll have until you screw everything back in. Once I fixed the P area I noticed the W area (The round hole over the DVD drive) flexed a tiny bit, so I went back and added a bit of tape there.
I would have pictures, but I really don't feel like opening everything back up.

Derp derp suggested reinforcing the keyboard tray with some metal or rubber. This would be worth trying and then attaching the keyboard to this reinforced tray with double sided tape.

 

See above.....

 

Could you possibly draw on maybe the third picture exactly where the P key lines up on the backing, that would make it easier to visulize.

Anyways, great job opening it up. I get my envy soon, and if we could find an easy fix and I notice a lot of flex, I will fix it.

 

edit: Ok the foam stickers don't really work.




Also I updated the first images

 

I did something similar. I created some small tabs with double stick mounting tape to hold the keyboard flush against the tray support around the CPU. Works great.

 

since you took the keyboard area out, I'm wondering if there is a way to reduce keyboard raise so that the tray sits flush with the body. is that possible or is the keyboard tray just warped?

 

That looks like it is the backplate to the heatsink on the CPU or GPU. It certainly will get hot.

Check out this picture of the reverse side: Picasa-Webalben - Jonathan ??? - Envy 14

 

yeah.

that's gonna get 76 C hot

 

Off Topic: The next time you open it up could you get me a close up of this area here so I can read the info on the chips.



(To see if there is any headroom on the memory chips for the video card.)

On Topic: Perhaps you could use some of those crappy pad thermal pads that can barely transfer heat but can sustain high temperatures?

 

Yeah I realize it gets hot, but will that be a problem? I have no idea if the foam stickies will melt at those temperatures. I need some advice on a different material i can cut into a small shape.

 

I know that I simply warped the boards so that they were a bit U shaped before I mounted them back onto the chassis. I noticed a slight bulge on both of the keyboards. Now, it is completely gone.

 

Heavy I'm trying to get this to work right. I have scotch mounting tape. Did you put little squares on all four corners of the cpu backside? Did you put anything on the left side of the keyboard to balance it?

EDIT: Oh I understand, you put the mounting tape between the keyboard and the tray.
Except theres a gap in the mounting tray where the cpu coming in. Your tabs arent resting on the CPU. Maybe the resistance between the keyboard and tray is making it not flex?

 

It will get soft at those temperatures I think. It might not melt but do you really want to risk molten plastic all over your motherboard?

Only if you want your keyboard and fingers to be a heatsink

 

maybe ill be able to fix some of my problems doing this!

 

Hmm I didn't realize that most of the flex fixes involved placing thick tape between the keyboard and the tray/cage underneath. This works well on Lenovos and other laptops because they have a solid cage to stick to.

Unfortunately on the envy, the keyboard tray (the only thing between the keyboard and the mobo) is itself flexible. Putting too much bulk between them will just warp/bulge both parts.

 

I stll don't understand how you took the keyboard out. Do I just press the button behind the battery and just pry out the top?

 

No definitely not. You have to remove 12 or so screws first. The service manual tells you generally where they all are. 2 are under the HDD

 

I don't think pillars are the right approach :
- they get in contact with the cpu and get heated
- they only provide support on 4 points unless you bridge over them with a plate afterwards

My solution would be to simply bridge over the backplate P area gap (on the keyboard side) with something resistant enough like thin pvc plate (PVC can wistand 70°C) if it's not in direct contact with the cpu assembly it won't cross that limit. Or you could bridge that gap by soldering a metal plate mesh over it that would be the safest and most resistant solution if nothing electrical comes in contact to it. Easiest would be rubber, the right rubber doesn't fear heat, you can get some adhesive (double sided adhesive would be good, I'm thinking of chatterton tape, electricians use that to isolate electric cables) rubber bands and bridge over the gap with them, the tension will make them as hard as the backplate itself. Hell this could even work with duct tape.

 

I updated the first post. I just built up a small amount of tape on areas of the keyboard tray.

 

why do people care about something as insignificant as keyflex?

 

Because we have to use our computers to type up documents, and not just surf the internet for p*rn?

Oh snap!

 

are your fingers made of cement?

considering you have to press vigorously to force this flex to happen, I wouldn't exactly call that normal typing for documents

 

On the right side, slight pressure caused flexing. It was only on the right side though. I had to press pretty hard on other areas. It did bother me and I understand the frustration.

 

Is it really that bad? Would you actually notice it without watching it? I have a dv6tse and there is some flex, quite a bit in some areas. But if I was looking at the screen rather than my fingers while typing, I would have said it feels rock-solid.

edit: I did also order an envy so I'm not just randomly crashing the thread

 

The worst flex in a laptop is probably in my toshiba x305, so I'm used to flex

 

Doesn't really bother me since I don't look at the keyboard and use little force to type

 

The flex would be the least of my problems with your laptop If mine comes like yours I'm personally returning it to HP

 

Agreed. I spazzed about the E14 flex when I first opened the box (I even posted a video of it in the owners lounge). After a few days, and after typing on it, I don't care. Feels solid when I'm not looking at it. And considering the problems some other people have been having (processor whine, fan noise, glue resin, etc), I consider myself lucky!

 

I think putting up with the minor flex is better than trying to fix it and risking some damage to the laptop.

 

Mine just arrived today and I was already aware of the P-flex, so I was expecting it. What I wasn't expecting is what I personally received...the Q-W-A-S area actually is having MORE flex than the P. I barely have to attempt to press a key on the left for the thing to bow in a few mils

At least for P, I have to exert slightly more force than I would just typing normally. The left, I'm not sure I can handle it and I may have to return/RMA. It's like the keyboard part was a small fraction of an inch too big for its orifice, to the point that it's forced to ever-so-slightly bow outwards and wait for me to snap it through to bow inwards with each keypress

 

I fixed mine so there is almost no flex, whatsoever, even with very firm pressure. I will post up a video to illustrate.

Here is the result. I will have to video a "how to". This is a video of me pounding the P key.

YouTube - HP Envy 14 Keyboard Flex

 

Yes, please do. I have some flex on the P side I am interested in fixing.

 

I would also be interested, since I just got mine and it really has a lot of flex all over. I might check the screws as mentioned in the OP first though.

 

Oh geez that reminds me of the entire day i was pounding the P key when trying that fix. Unfortunately it just created more flex elsewhere on the keyboard. Eventually I realized the whole laptop really wasn't worth it.

 

Fix took about 5 minutes so it was no big deal. Just made sure that keyboard was flat and true and then made sure keyboard support tray properly supported the keyboard around the CPU area. The P pounding was to illustrate that there was no longer any flex.

 

Detailed instructions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

Ask, this guy, he doesn't mind a little flex.



Or this guy (lol)

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this shows a pretty bad flex:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsTDUJ8Chk

Where this guy has to press pretty hard, that's about how mine is and doesn't bug me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svAZ2esPY1g

First one would bug me though because the whole thing springs with a regular key press. The second one only flexes after a little pressure is applied after the key is depressed. I guess for gaming it might be an issue especially.

 

Detailed instructions would be very much appreciated.

 

did HeavyH20 every post instructions????

 

Detailed instructions would be very much appreciated.

I'm trying to decide if I should sent this back...everything else looks good but the flex is bad from the H key all the way to the top/bottom/right side of keyboard. Like the metal is rippled almost. The feel doesn't bother me so much as the idea of what might happen over time/general low quality of build on a high-end machine. The flex is very visible when light touch typing.

My flex is a lot like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsTDUJ8Chk

 

This must not be an issue on the UK keyboard as I get no perceivable flex at all.

 

Any update in the situation?
Heavy, how are you coming along with that instruction video?

After reading all the reply's I was thinking two things could be done with this;

one being: I could put a small sheet of pvc on 4 little rubber legs. I would have to make sure the height is exactly the height of the metal plate.

Or I could out one or two layers of duct tape under the metal and a thin sheet of either pvc or something to fill up that void in such a way that the "p" area doesn't fles so much anymore. Of course the dt has to be high quality, because you never know with the heat and all (<-read: I don't like taking risks)