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Keyboard

Dell™ Latitude™ C400 Service Manual

  Removing the Keyboard

  Replacing the Keyboard


Removing the Keyboard

NOTICE: Disconnect the computer and any attached devices from electrical outlets, and remove any installed batteries.
NOTICE: To avoid ESD, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.
NOTICE: Read "Preparing to Work Inside the Computer" before performing the following procedure.
  1. Remove the hard drive.

NOTICE: The key caps on the keyboard are fragile, easily dislodged, and time-consuming to replace. Be careful when removing and handling the keyboard.
  1. Turn the computer right-side up and remove the center cover.

Center Cover Removal

1

center cover

    1. Open the computer all the way (180 degrees) so that it lies flat against your work surface.

    1. Press and hold down the <F4> and <F5> keys to reveal the left release slot of the center cover.

NOTE: To protect the keycaps, it may be helpful to place a straightedge (such as a short ruler) across the first row or two of keycaps, and press on the straightedge instead of on the keycaps themselves.
    1. Insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the slot. While holding the screwdriver, make your hand into a fist, brace your knuckles against the keyboard, and pry up the center cover.

    2. Repeat steps b and c for the right release slot, located behind the <F9> and <F10> keys.

    3. Lift the center cover up and away from the bottom case.

  1. Remove the four M2 x 4-mm screws that secure the back edge of the keyboard.

Keyboard Screws

1

M2 x 4-mm screws (4)

2

keyboard locator tab

3

keyboard securing tabs (5)

  1. Pry up the keyboard locator tab, lift the back edge of the keyboard slightly, and then pull the keyboard a small distance toward the back of the computer to release the five securing tabs located across the front edge of the keyboard.

  2. Rotate the keyboard toward the front of the computer and place it face-down on the palm rest.

NOTICE: Do not pull on the keyboard flex cable.

Keyboard Removal

1

keyboard flex cable

  1. Use the pull tab to pull the keyboard flex cable up from its connector on the system board.

The keyboard is now disconnected from the bottom case.

Replacing the Keyboard

  1. Replace the hard drive.

  2. Place the keyboard face-down on the palm rest, with the keyboard flex cable pointing toward the back of the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the connector pins, press the keyboard flex cable connector evenly into the interface connector on the system board, and do not reverse the keyboard connector.
  1. Connect the keyboard flex cable to its interface connector on the system board.

To aid with proper flex cable connection, a white locator line has been added near the end of the flex cable. Press the cable into the connector until the white line disappears and hold it steady while you snap the flex cable connector down. (The white line may reappear after the connector is closed; this should not indicate a problem with the connection.)

NOTICE: Position the keyboard flex cable so that it is not pinched when you replace the keyboard in the bottom case.

Keyboard Replacement

1

keyboard securing tabs (5)

  1. Carefully rotate the keyboard back and fit it into the bottom case.

Ensure that all five securing tabs are engaged in their respective slots before trying to completely seat the keyboard. Fitting the tabs to the slots may be easiest when viewed from above and slightly behind the front edge of the keyboard. Press down on the left and right <ALT> keys to help control tab/slot alignment.

When the keyboard appears to be completely seated, confirm that the front edge of the keyboard is aligned with the edge of the palm rest before proceeding.

  1. Replace the four M2 x 4-mm screws at the back of the keyboard.

  2. Replace the center cover.

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