How to fit new Dell laptop keyboard????

[Wacky Racer]

Hi Guys,

My son needs a new keyboard (only) for his Dell Inspiron 510M laptop..

He can get a new keyboard on e-bay for around £40, but are they easy to fit or is it a job for an engineer???

Thanks in advance

[PJLarge]

Quite easy so long as you get yourself a decent set of jewellers' screwdrivers and something like an egg box to keep all the different sized screws you'll take out. There is usually a facia panel that runs along the top of the keyboard that should prize off and there will be some screws at the top of the keyboard holding it down. Failing that, there will be some screws underneath that pass right through the laptop and in to the back of the keyboard. Looking at the new one you have will show you what type it is. Oh there's a third type as well which is pretty much a friction fit with some tabs at the side of the keyboard. A small flat blade screwdriver will flex the keyboard enough to allow removal.

There is just a small ribbon connector that interfaces the keyboard to the main logic board. These are fiddly little sods, but so long as you are gentle with the connector they're hard to get wrong. Usually there is a sleeve that will move forward on the connector that releases tension on the ribbon so it will slide out. Insert new keyboard connector and reverse.

Hope this helps,
Phil.

[Wacky Racer]

Hi, this is the son again (Really should get my own account)

That advice is perfect, exactly what I wanted to know, thanks a lot.

[GreenV8S]

There are detailed instructions with pictures on the Dell web site, although as with everything else there it takes a bit of finding.