NP940X3G Hardware issue

Unfortunately my NP940X3G-K05US started experiencing hardware issues. While typing or if I have the notebook on top of my lags while sitting the case flexes a bit and I experience the left half of the keyboard backlight turning off. If I press on S or D keys I can get the backlight to come back and then it turns off again. I can also quite consistently reproduce while I have the notebook on the table by simply pressing harder on that part of the keyboard.

What is worst that quite often it will also cause the comp to crash with blue screen. I took it apart and I'm not able to pin point anything physically wrong with the components or connectors. I used compressed air to clean things out and tried to add some rubber pads on the inside of the bottom cover but all had no apparent impact.

I'm hoping it is the keyboard backlight or circuit board which is about $40 part on ebay but I do not want to gamble if that's not really it. Alternative is to find a service center and get it fixed through it or at least have the exact issue pinpointed.

Did anyone experience this issue or heard about it? Wondering if this is a known issue and attributed to specific component?

 

My first suspicion would be the connectors. Did you remove / replace each cable in the various sockets to ensure that they are OK and the contacts are clean?

If the case is flexing enough to repeatedly slightly bend the keyboard then it could be the keyboard unit itself which has suffered. You can probably find the bare keyboard at a reasonable price but you have to do some butchery to get the old one out and then improvise to fix the new one in (but a few people have done it). However, I wouldn't expect keyboard problems to normally cause BSODs.

John

 

I did not do it for all connectors. I will have to take it apart and try it out.

I agree that its a bit strange that I'm getting BSODs with this.

 

I've been experiencing the exact same issue as you have mentioned above with my NP940X3G-K03US. I have to resort to leaving it on a hard surface and tread lightly when pressing on the keyboard for fear of the system crashing. I've taken the back cover off and checked every connection to ensure it is on secure but still experiencing the issues.

I do recall in one of the BSOD, I got a message stating some issue with memory but it hasn't reappeared in subsequent crashes. Is it possible the memory could be the culprit?

Has anyone found the solution to this issue?

 

Sorry to hear you have same issue although its good for me to know that I'm not alone. I don't think memory has anything to do with this. It happens when the notebook case and or keyboard flexes. When notebook is on a flat surface and with no hard banging on the keyboard (I tend to hit the keys hard) it happens very rarely if at all. Problem for me is that I use it on the go, in the train etc. Very annoying when it crashes in the middle of working on something. I also worry that the OS / file system will corrupt and then I will have to deal with it. I have it syncing the data folders with my NAS at home so at least the data is safe.

I really think its a weakness in the design of some component where a lower quality part is maybe cracking after heavy use and causing some circuit path to fail. I just experienced my keyboard back light to fail effecting more keys to the right side over the past few days. Funny thing is that I hit some key and now all the keys are backlit fine, at least until I hit something the wrong way. The signal is not effected while the backlight is out as I can type normal therefore it eliminates the connector between the keyboard and the motherboard. I tried to have it laying on the opened screen with the computer section sideways and then pressing varies areas of the exposed motherboard and keyboard but while I was able to replicate the backlight as well as couple crashes I was not able to pin point anything. I think the battery was in the way. Other than that everything looked ok visually on the motherboard and under the battery. I will do a bit more research but I think I will send it for service or maybe try replacing the keyboard myself first.

 

So I ordered the Dell XPS 15 yesterday and once I get everything setup and switch to it fr my work, I will deal with this Samsung issue

 

I am also experiencing the EXACT same things you both are: intermittent keyboard back light issue (where the left half of the keyboard does not remain lit but will randomly light up upon keystroke); I've received the memory failure message that accompanied a few crashes; checked connectors, etc... I am now ever so careful when typing on my laptop -- fearful that it may crash and lose all work. Have either of you arrived at the root cause of the problem? Repairs? Cost? Any guidance would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.