Where to buy spare parts in NZ for notebooks? sigh, I wish we had ebay not Trademe.

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Where to buy spare parts in NZ for notebooks? sigh, I wish we had ebay not Trademe.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#248230 15-Mar-2019 16:44

My dell l421x 14 xps keyboard is non responsive. It got 2 drops of water in it and died.

I know where to find parts in aus, $22 plus $6 postage https://www.broadwaycomputers.net.au/view/productdetails.php?product=KDEL421X

Where on Earth do we find parts in NZ? Its bad enough I have to basically do a full tear down including re thermal paste which ive just done, but the fact it seems nobody in NZ stocks parts for notebooks is even worse haha.

If anybody knows where might have the keyboard please let me know, thank you.

RunningMan

8960 posts

Uber Geek

#2198916 15-Mar-2019 17:27

Ebay still works in NZ.

jpoc

1043 posts

Uber Geek

#2198945 15-Mar-2019 17:56

You can get pretty well any part for any laptop off ebay or aliX. Even amazon but at higher prices.

loceff13

1065 posts

Uber Geek

#2198946 15-Mar-2019 17:56

Might just have to order a third party one from hong kong off ebay and wait for it to arrive(ie use a usb keyboard for now?)

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-UK-KEYBOARD-for-Dell-XPS-14-L421x-15-L521x-Series-BACKLIT-Backlight/322269568578?hash=item4b08c35e42:g:aBsAAOSwOyJX45rX&frcectupt=true

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2203709 23-Mar-2019 01:55

Yep, Ive emailed a few local part suppliers but looks like ebay for me.

But some of them have a 2 month wait, wtf.

Its the same keyboard as the used in the xps 15 l521x, so plenty around.

Yeah Im using a wireless logitech keyboard but its noisy uggggh. Also miss the backlit keys.

You should see the strip down, ifixt it rates it difficult, its essentially moving everything inside the notebook to gain access to the screws holding the keyboard in lol.

Is thee an way I can try to fix the one thats not working?

I spilt maybe 2 drops of medicine and didnt think anything about it as ive spilt coffee on it before etc. Its only under a couple of keys but now nothing works including the backlight...... sniff

Still I paid $120 for it lol, some guy listed it to end at 3am. they go for $200-250 ish. But they aqre a great classy machine for the money. The old i7 was as powerful as any of the last gen dual cores, I got 16GB ram in it and it has an msata sliot if I wanted to use it and a 2.5 SSD craddle.

I sold my mac book 13 pro, wtf is pro about the MB 13. Not even attempting to put a graphics card in it for 10 years. Anyway got $700 for a 2011 model.

The dell has a gt630m, which im chuffed about more so for other graphic things. But it can run some modern games. I need to actually play the 5 or so PC games I havnt thrown out lol.

So, thats why I want the keyboard, its a great machine for the dollars.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#2203713 23-Mar-2019 02:30

Ive decided Im going to strip the keyboard out. Undo the logic board case on the back of the keyboard and rub with 99% alcohol. do the same for the keys side. let it dry for a couple days and just see if i can unclog the circuit break down.

dc2daylight

87 posts

Master Geek

#2205069 26-Mar-2019 12:07

TeaLeaf:

Ive decided Im going to strip the keyboard out. Undo the logic board case on the back of the keyboard and rub with 99% alcohol. do the same for the keys side. let it dry for a couple days and just see if i can unclog the circuit break down.

Good on you... Be aware though that the moisture can seep into and under BGA mounted chips and other discrete components. I would suggest putting it in a dry warm place a while eg a hot water cupboard with no clothes/towells present.

I find acetone more effective than iso alcohol, but you need to be careful as some PCB coatings for button contact areas can be damaged with alcohol or acetone. Giving them a good wipe with dry tissue paper might be more sensible.

I repaired a severly water damaged laptop only a month or two ago, and after wiping off lots of corrosion, cleaning under and around chips with acetone and a toothbrush while wearing an earthed antistatic band, plus cleaning and re-seating all connectors, and checking the main board was free of gunk with a close-up visual inspection, it worked like new again. It's a great feeling when it happens.