Left click is failing on my 3 yr old ze2000, poor design

I purchased a HP Pavilion ze2308wm in Nov 2005 and I've been using it regularly since and it's been through a few upgrades.

Recently, the left mouse button started to malfunction. It would either not register at all, or a contact bounce would cause a single click to register as a double click. Due to the way it's designed, it's beyond reasonable economic repair.

You might not notice it from daily use, but I find that it's poorly designed from serviceability.

The touchpad is permanently attached to the top chassis, therefore the entire chassis must be replaced if there is a problem. The plastic click buttons are attached to the top chassis permanently and the bonding on one of them broke. I was able to glue it back on, however the poor responsiveness of click was not corrected and I suspect it is the switch itself.

On an IBM Thinkpad, the mouse buttons are on a module much like the keyboard.

On my Pavilion the buttons are like the tick switches commonly used on VCRs and they're soldered onto the main board.

This computer requires dozens of screws to be removed to access CPU fan, RTC battery(which must be removed if you forget your BIOS password) or the touchpad.

Are current HP laptops poorly designed in serviceability as well?

 

Really? ... 3 years of constant use, and you think it's caused from poorly designed hardware? Maybe, it's from the constant use. I would just purchase a USB mouse of your liking. There are literally hundreds to choose from. Since you don't seem to want to remove the dozens of screws, you can either, send it to an HP repair center, or just get a USB mouse.

 

He is referring to the access and ability to replace the particular component on the notebook. He NEVER once mentioned that the touch pad was defective.

I don't think you interpreted that post correctly. Maybe he isn't knowledgeable with notebooks and does not want to risk the entire notebook overall. It just isn't economical to replace the entire casing on a 2005 notebook. You'd be a few bucks short of a brand new notebook. Who wants to use an USB mouse, or any external mouse for that matter during their commute on the bus or in their lap at the library? I know I would not want to.


And as for serviceability with current notebooks, I cannot not say with certainty. I own the DV7T (x2) as can be seen in my sig. A notebook would not be purchased by me without a warranty, which can prove to be your best friend during times like this. Grab a new notebook with a warranty. They have changed the feeling and appearance of the current touch pads and buttons. I really could not see how they could fault the same way that you experienced.

Check out the pictures on my review: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=284823

 

is this the palmrest with touch pad you need?
http://www.pchub.com/uph/laptop/352-38287-2388/HP-Pavilion-ze2100-Series-Mainboard---Palm-Rest.html

 

That's what you would have to replace if the TOUCHPAD fails. However, the mouse button switches are actually soldered on the motherboard, so if they're failing, you'll need to do a component level soldering assuming you can even find the proper type switch or replace the mainboard.

Now, if it had all wearable components on ribbon cable and a separate module like the Lenovo ThinkPad, such a failure would not require a replacement of mainboard.

 

I stand corrected, I can see where you wouldn't want to delve that deep into this repair. My opologies to the OP. Still.. get a mouse..

 

My computer lasted fine way past the warranty. It doesn't shock me that the mouse button is failing after three years and it's one of those components expected to wear out, since you use the left button so much.

What's disturbing is that HP decided it was a good idea to install the switch directly soldered on the motherboard.

If I could source the correct tick switch, I could replace it, however that means a complete tear down of the computer.

 

It's called making things that have to be repaired by your company