Modding - dv6t/dv7t Quad Edition (2011)

There are 2 screws after you take the keyboard out, near the left side (most likely where the flex is) and the middle, and a 3rd screw to secure the keyboard to the top cover on the right side. You can fool around with tightening/loosening each of the left/middle screws to adjust the height of the keyboard relative to the bottom of the top cover. I did that and all of the flex is gone.

 

I returned my original dv7tqe because of the now available 1080p screen, my current order (which I placed on Sunday) says estimated ship date June 2. Hopefully I'll get it sometime before then like I did with my previous one (of course its estimated build date was a full month after I ordered it, not less than 2 weeks).

EDIT:

Something I need to find out is the spacing of the pins on the motherboard header. I havent decided if I want to go the ZIF route or if I want to do the wire method (safer).

 

Here's my suggestion (for what it's worth)...
Try out the wiring method and if it work well enough, keep it.

 

Direct from china Envy 17 backlit keyboard
18.50 +5.00 shipping

HP ENVY 17 BRONZE FRAME BLACK Backlit US SP8 AESP8U00010 9Z.N4DBQ.101 Laptop keyboard & HP laptop KeyBoard

 

Out of stock

 

Interesting...
I just ordered an Envy 17 so I could get a back-lit keyboard....I hope it works out for you.

HP really dropped the ball by not offereing on on the DV6/7's.

 

Well there has to be some features to differentiate the top end from the next-to-top end line or no one would ever buy the top end.

 

True....but a $25 backlit keyboard seems like a silly item to split the difference on. I have a backlit keyboard (and touchscreen) on the DV6 I ordered 4 months ago. HP pulled the backlit keyboard....and offered up a lit ring around the trackpad? Crazy...

I ordered an Envy only because of the backlit keyboard....but I would have gone with with a DV6/7....or another brand.....if I would have had to pay regular price for it.

If HP wanted the Envy to be the high end computer.....they should have left the Beats Audio, metal case, and i7Quad on the Envy line IMO.

I think the new DV6/7 is one of the best deals out there if you can catch it with a nice coupon.....especially if an Envy 17 backlit keyboard can be dropped right in (with no modding).

 

I completely agree.

No modding isnt going to be the case, the header appears to be on the motherboard but has no connector so it will need either some soldering of a connector to the board or running the ribbon cable to some other connector via wires. I'll know more when I get mine.

 

Can't wait for more details...

Things I'm wondering:
Connector/interface results
Alignment/Mounting
Keys swappable with factory keyboard
Pros/Cons
Problems

 

Even if the BL keyboard works, it's still not going to look like a combination of Unicorns/ Zombies / and a Janet Reno "Dance Party" all shooting LASERS out of their eyes while simultaneously curing world hunger as the M14X has accomplished.

HP SUCKS!!!!

 

? The wind blows so do you!! No disrespect
but this is a modding thread dont hate cause you paid so much for a 14 inch
and when the Nvidia chip fails dont come crying here fool....

 

+1 to that brotha

 

YOU GUYS DON'T LIKE JANET RENO DANCE PARTY?, OR ZOMBIES, OR UNICORNS!!!???



(yeah I'm just desperate for my DV6)

kinda sorry for the trolling, but the same time I hope you laughed


now, someone needs to make a Haiku about the dv6 quad

 

hey i don't know that much about modding so i have a couple questions.

I ordered the dv6t quad edition with 6gb of RAM. what is the speed of the default ram? also how is the 6gb organized? 1 2gb and 1 4gb? If i feel like replacing the 2gb will Amazon.com: Corsair 4 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory CMSO4GX3M1A1333C9: Electronics be good?

Also, what is the default wireless card? it just says "intel b/g/n and bluetooth" what model of the centrino card is it and is it really necessary to upgrade that?

 

It would be a Intel Wifi 1000 BGN + a separate Bluetooth module (BCM 2070?)

It is ok for most users anyways.

 

what about the RAM?

also if i were to install more RAM, where is the compartment in the case for that?

Sorry for the nub questions

 

The ram is 1333. It could be from a number of manufacturers. There is only one compartment on the bottom of the laptop that holds the Hard drive the ram and the wireless card. Dont even need screws to take it off

 

Well, I can't say much about your ram considering the way it would be configured, beside Good luck

The possible outcomes could be

8GB Dual Channel or 1.5 Mode
8GB Single Channel
8GB (2+ GB Reserved)
4GB ....

Not to scare you or anything, just the odds are decent.

 

Dude, seriously?

Does the alienware not warrant it's own thread?

What did your pc cost? Mine, $753 + tax. In ONE year, where will the "Unicorns/ Zombies / and a Janet Reno "Dance Party" all shooting LASERS out of their eyes while simultaneously curing world hunger" euphoria (and your money) be then?

 

I actually wasn't serious, sorry. I was just mocking the ridiculousness of an m14x lighting video that I saw

 

The sarcasm train left the station and someone missed it...

 

So I figured I'd write up some observations/concerns/thoughts here from the backlit keyboard discussion before I receive my machine and the ENVY 17 backlit keyboard. Give me any thoughts or concerns you might have.

First: There was a discussion as to the backlit keyboard power vs the ring around the touchpad. I had a thought as to why there are 5 connectors and a wider cable instead of just 4 like on the keyboard. Which is this: If you fn+space on your keyboard you can turn on/off the light on the trackpad. Also, if you disable your trackpad an amber light turns on while the bluewhite light turns off. My guess is that the additional pins power the small amber light. I suppose there is likely still a possibility at fitting the small 4 pin keyboard connector in there but it will likely be a loose connection since it does not fill the entire width. I have heard, however, on people that purchased ZIF connectors that did not quite fit the spec of the ribbon cable they were using, that they filled the void (both in width and thickness) with paper... So that's a thought, and I'm with you guys, the less modification needing to be done the better, plus I also agree that backlit keyboard >>> backlit trackpad

Second: It would be nice to know the size of the connector header available (the width of the entire space and the spacing between the pins) it seems that this is what is needed to order the proper ZIF connector from someplace like digi-key. Rather than waiting though, and simply because they are cheap, I bought one for $0.95 that is actually for a Nintendo DS screen that is 4 pin hoping it will fit. To me a $0.95 gamble is acceptable. I even ordered 2 of them in case I screw up one of them.
Link: Nintendo DS Touch Screen Connector - SparkFun Electronics

Third: I'm hoping to put this in there without modifying the magnetic shield piece, but I need to know if the connectors around that stick THROUGH the shield or are still below it with the shield 'floating' above the board. This will be very telling because the shield may not fit properly again with a connector under it. I'm hoping it is 'floating'.

Fourth: Keyboard tab and screw hole lineup. shasta7 posted a pdf of someone that added a backlit keyboard to a different HP model. The person that wrote it moved screw holes and tabs around based on need. If I'm willing to go so far as to solder something to my brand new laptop's board, then I am willing to modify a keyboard that has nothing to do with the physical layout of my machine in order to make it fit. Some of those suggestions in the PDF seem reasonable. I'll see how far off the tabs are to start with (or if I just need to remove one or two extraneous tabs). If it is simply a process of replacing the metal backplate on the envy keyboard with the backplate from my original dv7t keyboard, I will test the functionality first, then I will do just that.

Fifth: Kind of an unmentioned thought. I'm hoping that, however unlikely, the dv7t motherboard is different than the dv6t motherboard and the connector is still in place since it would make the board more similar to the ENVY series machines and they wouldnt have to manufacture 2 separate parts for them. Can anyone confirm if the motherboard part numbers between the dv6t and dv7t are the same or similar, or if they are the same/similar between the dv7t and the ENVY17? Kind of a 'would be nice to know' before I go tearing things apart.

Sixth: There has been multiple mentions of a driver for the keyboard/backlight and possibly using one from the ENVY17. Anyone able to supply a link to this?

I will post more thoughts or concerns if I come up with any, and after I do this you can all expect pictures and/or video of the results.

 

Thanks for the effort Beradon, you know that everyone on this forum is rooting for you and the rest of the modders

 

Hear, Hear!

I hate trying to catch trains! I thought you were serious. I gotta check out that video.

 

Can't wait to hear from you Beradon. Just ordered a DV6TSE with an i5-2410M, 1080p screen, 6770m, 640HHD and 6GB ram for $806.24. Really really excited to see if I can get a backlight on this thing. I'll be happy in the long run. Hope because I got the non quad version, that I still get to follow the mod procedure. If not, I think the glow from the screen is sufficient lighting.

 

My Envy arrives tomorrow...and I have not yet received my return box for my DV6. If this works...I may return my Envy and go with a DV7.....

 

Received the ENVY17 keyboard today... unfortunately my dv7tqe hasnt even shipped yet.

 

Purchased Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1866 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1866C11S3P1K2/8G and should have it from Newegg by tommorow morning.


Once I get it I'm going to put it a dv6tqe-6000 notebook & see how it goes. The main tests are PCMark 7, Cinebench 11.5, & 3DMark Vantage to see how much of a difference it will make.

 

Is the keyboard the same as the ebay/internet pictures? More importantly, is the tab spacing the same. I posted a picture of the DV6 tab spacing a while back.

 

Nice, thanks for all the testing Futureperfect. I am getting the bottom of the line quad for the dv6 and IIRC the ram speed is stuck at 1333? It probably won't make much of a difference for me, I'll be playing RIFT, maybe still raiding on WoW and of Q3 (lol) on 1080p on my lappy and 1080p monitor. As long as I get SOLID FPS, "pretty" settings on games don't really matter to me.

 

The keyboard is identical to the ebay posting, this is the one I bought from:
HP ENVY 17 Keyboard | eBay

85mm from the start of tab 1 to the end of tab 2
85mm from start of tab tab 2 to end of tab 3
66mm from start of tab 3 to end of tab 4
71mm from start of tab 4 to end of tab 5
71mm from start of tab 5 to end of tab 6


so no, they dont line up. kinda wish I had some way to generate 5v at some low current to test the keyboard and make sure it lights up

 

I was looking at my old pics and it looks like the first tab (under the left ctrl) and the last 2 are lined up the same. It seems like at worst you would have to break off the middle ones. Can you post a picture of the side/top edge of the keyboard. The edges on mine has tiny tab-like-things that snap in to the chassis.

 

So amusingly enough I taped 3 AAA batteries together with some wires from my really old capsela construction set and touched them to the back of the keyboard.

It lit up! So the keyboard works... Now just to get the laptop.

Lit up:


Top edge of the keyboard that speedking asked for:

 

Good luck Beradon!

 

Beradon, may I just ask when your shipdate is? I'm really interested in your efforts. I hope it's done easily while still being able to remove the mod later for warranty purposes.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for posting the pic.
Hmm, I believe that the DV6 keyboard has groves on the sides so it can snap onto the side of the laptop. Also, it doesn't have that white cover over the bottom or those silver holes at the top. Do you know if it is removable?

Good Luck, and whens your laptop supposed to ship?

 

The white cover on the bottom has the LED array in it... Depending on how it is attached, if this keyboard just straight out wont fit, I might see if the LED array will work under the standard keyboard.

My 'estimated ship date' is June 2 (tomorrow). I was hoping it would ship sooner than that but obviously it hasnt.

 

Anyone manage to keep the dv7t-6000 maintenance guide. The links I can find for it no longer work and the location it used to be on the HP site doesnt have it anymore.

Did anyone save it? I know I should have, but like an idiot, I didnt.

I believe the filename was: c02718431.pdf

The original link was:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02718431.pdf

If you have it can you put it somewhere for me to snag? Thanks

 

I dont have the one for the DV7, but here is the link to my DV6's if you want
c02745432.pdf

 

Excellent, I appreciate it. I'm sure the 2 are likely fairly similar.

I'm noticing something while looking at the earlier pictures posted of the keyboard from a dv6 vs the ENVY17 keyboard I have. Could someone with a dv6t measure the width of the keyboard?

It almost looks like there is a wider gap between the letter area and number keys on the ENVY keyboard. When looking at pictures of the dv7t on HP's website and elsewhere, the dv7t has that wider gap too, the dv6t doesnt seem to.

 

Just so you all know. The AUO B156HW01 V.4 is probably your best bet to update the screen to 1080p with 95% gamut. The tech sheet has the pin breakout. Just google "B156HW01_V_4.pdf"

 

I never throw anything away, so here's the service guide for the DV7Tqe-6000:
HPdv7tQuadServiceGuide.pdf


I renamed it to make sense in case I do a search for it.
- Qlippoth

 

I take it this is for the DV6T-6000. Anyone know a good screen for the DV7T? I"m debating if I want to swap the screen myself or return this DV7T and swap for the newer model... I can buy a better screen than that in the newer model, so am wondering what is good out there that will fit?

- Qlippoth

 

Appreciate it, thanks. I'll need it when I tear mine apart to try the keyboard

 

So I've had a thought with the backlight in terms of making it fit.

The white layer that you see on the back of the keyboard in the above pictures is actually the layer the backlights are in. Assuming the bottom of the original keyboard is not solid, this white layer I have found is actually glued on to the back of the keyboard.

The power connection is attached to the white layer only. If I cant make this keyboard fit, I may take a hair dryer to the back of it to loosen the glue, then transfer it over, thus making a keyboard with a backlight that fits perfectly.

 

um... i think you are forgetting the fact that the letters on a non-backlit keyboard is not transparent for light to go through...

 

Individual keys can be replaced cant they? I could transplant the entire set.

 

OK, so I know absolutely nothing about modding. I recently ordered a dv6t that is currently in production. It is really irking me that the screen is matte as opposed to glossy. Will I be able to change the screen to glossy? How would I go about doing that?