For those who are annoyed at the keyboard flex on the dv6t-6xxx

If you have some flex on the keyboard, but NOT between S and D, U and I, and on the right side of the keyboard, you can fix the flex by taking out the keyboard (you only need to remove one screw above the dvd/bluray drive screw), and remove the two flat black screws on the back of the keyboard there. Those 2 screws come with the keyboard as standard, but are not used in this model (as there is only one screw securing the keyboard to the top cover). Those 2 screws are raising those two points above normal, and so the rest of the keyboard do no rest flat on the base of the top cover. Take out those 2 screws and the flex is gone.

 

would this void the warranty?

 

so THAT'S the problem! I had two DV6's--both of which had loose keyboards that were super-noisy to type on, especially around the numeric keypad's lower left area. HP's assembly techniques leave a lot to be desired, IMO.

They should give you a $50 credit for your trouble.

 

no, as long as you dont break anything. there is no stick that would void the warranty anywhere on the laptop. you need to remove 1 single screw to take out the keyboard (and the two that you want to get rid of...) just follow the service manual. those 2 screws are like the appendix of the laptop or something - they serve absolutely no purpose except for a chance to give ur laptop appendicitus.

 

Toetuf - have any pics of this? I haven't been able to find any service guide for pulling this puppy apart. I think I know which screw it is.. but.. Any pics would be great. I have the back panel off just need to know where to press and with about what size screw driver.

Actually my keyboard was poping out when I got it and the speaker grill is loose in the uper left hand corner (not as tight as the right side). Makes me worry about longevity of this laptop.

 

Here is the manual for my DV6. Look at page 63 and onwards.

 

It is confusing as to which area of flex you are talking about. You say not certain letter and on the right side...So you mean not on the right side, or that the flex that can be fixed is on the right side? I have major flex on the left side, and it won't really snap in on the upper left.

 

it doesn't flex at the places i mentioned. most of my flex was around G and H, and around F4-F6

 

This fixes the F4 F6 flex!?

Edit: PS, where are these two screws located?

Edit: Update: Teotug, I did as you said. When I put the keyboard back in after taking the screws out, it seemed a little loose. Than I thought back on the process and remembered the holes situated right underneath the screws. As it turns out, the tops of those screws are actually supposed to slide underneath the bottom lip of the holes, thereby locking in the keyboard. I did this and mine is nice and secure now with little to no flex. Here's how to do it:

When putting the keyboard back in with the screws in it, DO NOT put the latches on the bottom of the keyboard into the body of the palm rest first. If you do that, when you lie down the keyboard from its 45 degree angle, the tops of the screws will rest just on top of the bottom of the holes where the screws go. The screws are supposed to be slid underneath. SO instead, lay the keyboard down as flat as possible with about 1/4 of an inch space between the bottom of the keyboard where the latches are and the place where the latches go in the palm rest. Then, push down with your fingers where the screws are, and then slide the keyboard latches into the palm rest. This should secure the tops of the screws rightt under the bottom lip of the hole.

 

interesting... those screws do look like the are supposed to go from below. but if you do it your way, how can you ever take the keyboard out again? if those two screws are under there, then you can't just pop it open after removing the one screw, and there is no way of accessing those two screws without removing the keyboard in the first place?

Edit: so i just tried it. it does work, and you can still take the keyboard out afterwards - it is just a little bit tighter when you try to pop it out.

Another thing to watch for is that if your left touchpad button is much higher than your right one, you can loosen the screw right below the left button key on the bottom. it is too long and pushes the left button up, while making the right button less sensitive.

 

The best way to get the keyboard out afterward it to pop up the top and sides and then slide away from the bottom, that should get the screws out from under.

Glad we got this all figured out, that flex was bugging the shizzle out of me.

 

I have a lot of flex in the middle end of my keyboard...and I tried to do what you guys were telling me to do, but I couldn't manage to disconnect the ZIF Cable...and I closed it backup in fear of ripping the cable or something.

How did you guys manage to disconnect it?

Do you think a computer shop would do this for me...?

 

lift the black plastic

 

DO NOT disconnect to zif cable. You just need to readjust the keyboard, not completely disconnect it.

 

I did your method of sliding in the two screws, i didn't disconnect the ZIF cable (Thank you for that by the way) and I lost most of the flex in the main section of my keyboard.

I still have flex in the function keys, (f4-f6)

Admittedly, not nearly as strongly as before, the keyboard seems to be a lot more stiff now, and quieter.

Can anyone else confirm this?

 

Btw...I was a bit confused at the method you guys were talking about as I am relatively computer illiterate when it comes to physical hardware, so hopefully my instructions can be a bit clearer to some.

1. Follow the manual provided by speed king to take off service cover and remove keyboard. (Page 63)

c02745432.pdf

2. BE very careful as to not wreck the black cable connecting the keyboard to the computer at the bottom of the keyboard.

3. Flip your keyboard outwards and rest it where you would rest your palms on the computer WITH THE ACTUAL KEYS FACING DOWN. This way, you won't rip your ZIF cable, it's shaped oddly so if you try to just rest it any other way on your palm rest then the cable looks as if it will snap.

4. Look at where the two screws at the BACK of your keyboard is. They are 2 black screws. One is located at right below the S and D key, while the second is located right above the K and L key.

5. Look at where you just removed your keyboard. Those 2 screws seem as if it will fit in these 2 holes on the frame of the laptop, your plan is to get those screws wedged in under those holes thereby "securing" the laptop.

6. This is where brnkcv's strategy comes in...I thought he explained this very well.

I found this part to be a little difficult, you will know if you were successful in getting both screws in properly if you press left and right to where the screws were, there should now be little to no flex. I had to press pretty vigorously to get the screw above K and L in properly.

7. Finish putting your keyboard back in, following the same method you used to take it out. Close up the service cover and...

8. Your done! Congratulations.

If a person as terrible with precision movements as I am could do this, you can too! Just be careful of the black cable (ZIF Cable) and you'll do it just fine.

Thanks everyone to who helped me fix this horrific flex problem, please answer my last question now if you have time!

 

I just got my dv7T and it has some flex around lower number and F keys. I'll get around to fixing it as you all have suggested but when I'm home I run a 24" Dell LCD and MS Arc Keyboard so I'll fix it next time I hit the road and have nothing to do..lol

 

I only notice flex around 2 places:
1) right Alt, menu, right Ctrl, and arrow keys.
2) F4 through F9

Does this screw fix fix those areas?

 

bump

1) Has anyone new tried this to fix keyboard flex around the top and bottom areas to the right of the space bar?

2) Has anyone fixed their touchpad's right click button being basically entirely unresponsive outside a very small space in the middle of the button, due to being like a see-saw, through this mod?

 

Curious as well. Can anybody who did this chime in?

 

Just opened up my computer and played with the keyboard. This mod does not fix the arrow key flex, as the two screws are not near it.

edit: for those of you who are going to do the fix: make sure that when you're poking the keyboard to detach it, use an object smaller than the tip of the screw or else you'll just end up trying to push out the plastic part of the chassis that the screw goes into (you won't succeed).

edit 2: Just thought of something to get rid of the arrow key flex. Would double sided tape work? Don't have any right now so I can't try it, but I'll probably pick some up tomorrow.

 

I did this but still have a little flex around the lower numbers below the F3-F6 and the F3-F6 themselves. It clicks from time to time from the separation from the top of the keboard and the bottom of the frame. But, it's not that bad.

HP actually had double-sided tape in that general location and one other location. I removed it though because once I got everything back together it made it worse because the tape wasn't sticking as well so it just caused the flex to catch, then release, etc. I suppose I could put some new tape on there sometime.

 

I just got my replacement laptop today and it does have quite a bit of flex around the number pad. My first laptop didn't have this problem, but at least it can be fixed. Thanks for the info, I'll be trying this tonight.

 

I'm not trying to threadjack or revive an aging thread, but I got my DV6tqe a couple of weeks ago and have a question. My keyboard is basically solid from the QWERTY row and down, arrow keys, and 10-key number pad. However, the number keys have a little bit of flex and the F-keys noticable flex. I've taken the keyboard off a couple of times to see if there's anything wonky going on and it's not - it just appears that because of how the keyboard is designed (the two screws on the underside of the keyboard keep it nice and firm under the SD\UI keys) - but because you take it off top-side first, the top side is naturally a little more loose and resulst in a bit of flex.

Is this similar to what other people have noticed? Everything else about the laptop is working great so I'm wary of contacting HP for a replacement in case the replacement has significant issues. I keep meaning to stop by a store and check out their DV6tqe to see if it has similar flex but haven't had a chance.

 

It's similar for me. Everything above the QWERTY row has some flex. It's not really annoying for me, but it could be for others.

 

This is normal. Also, there are plastic tabs that easily break off on the bottom portion of the top cover (not on the keyboard). That causes a little more flex if you take it off and put it back on and they break.

There is noise sometimes from the keyboard flexing down and then back up and hitting the metal of the top cover (I notice this the most around the number 6). I may try some double-sided tape to fix it at some point. I'm not super happy with the keyboard due to this, but I suppose I can live with it for now.

 

Just to let everyone know, I tried several types of tape:

Mounting tape, double-sided duct tape

But the mounting tape was too thick and the duct tape was too flexible itself so it allowed the keyboard to still move.

I then searched and found a post on here by "Bronsky" where he suggested poster tape. I went to a hobby lobby and found some poster tape and it worked great. I tried to avoid certain areas on the metal base where there were holes and I suspect that I was a little too cautious. There is only one area on the numeric keypad that still makes a little noise. For the most part though, most of the noise and flex issues are solved and the keyboard is very solid now. I really like the change and it made a huge difference. The area around the F6 used to make a clicking noise and that is all gone and so is the rattling around the numeric keypad. It's definitely worth doing.