Vortex III Keyboard Problem

[Rangs]

Hi Guys

I have a problem with my Vortex 3 keyboard. The minus or Hyphen button keeps coming off every now and then. I think the small lock that fits into a groove to hold the button in place is broken. Will I be able to get only that one button for my keyboard or will I have to send the laptop back to PC Specialist? I will be going back to India in a week or 2. So I am really not keen on sending the laptop to PC Specialist :-(

Regards
Rangs

 

[CEUOTC]

Hi Guys

I have a problem with my Vortex 3 keyboard. The minus or Hyphen button keeps coming off every now and then. I think the small lock that fits into a groove to hold the button in place is broken. Will I be able to get only that one button for my keyboard or will I have to send the laptop back to PC Specialist? I will be going back to India in a week or 2. So I am really not keen on sending the laptop to PC Specialist :-(

Regards
Rangs

Give them a bell and see if they will send you a new keyboard, it is very easy to fit.

Regards.

C.

 

[Rangs]

Thanks for the response. I ended up buying a new keyboard for it. Do you have a link to a video explaining the procedure to replace the keyboard? Thanks in advance.

 

[CEUOTC]

Thanks for the response. I ended up buying a new keyboard for it. Do you have a link to a video explaining the procedure to replace the keyboard? Thanks in advance.

Keyboard Removal

Regards

C.

 

[Rangs]

Thanks for the video C. That really helped. And the new keyboard is so much smoother. The keys don't make that irritating typewriter keys sound! The one I have has always been very rigid, I though over time it would get better, but its only getting worse!!! Anyway the new keyboard will fix all my problems.

 

[CEUOTC]

Np my pleasure.

Regards

C.

 

[Rangs]

I should have sent the the laptop to PCSpecialist for keyboard replacement. The screws used for the keyboard are so damn fragile and flimsy that the first screw I insert the screw driver and rotate, bam - the thread breaks completely!! Now there is a hole in the middle of the screw and I have no idea how to open it!!! I am starting to contemplate my decision of buying 2 laptops from here now

 

[Rangs]

Got the screw problem finally sorted!! Fixed the new keyboard and turned it on. It lit up properly, felt happy that the bad days are over, but then I see half of keys aren't working and the ones that are working are typing something else! Like Insert is doing backspace, button C is doing G!! Do u think the new keyboard is faulty? Also I noticed that the new keyboard has the Windows button and the Function button swapped. That's the only difference though.

 

[CEUOTC]

Got the screw problem finally sorted!! Fixed the new keyboard and turned it on. It lit up properly, felt happy that the bad days are over, but then I see half of keys aren't working and the ones that are working are typing something else! Like Insert is doing backspace, button C is doing G!! Do u think the new keyboard is faulty? Also I noticed that the new keyboard has the Windows button and the Function button swapped. That's the only difference though.

Try re-seating the keyboard ribbon.

Failing that call PCS.

 

[Rangs]

Tried it multiple times. Same problem. gave them a call today - they said the problem is with the BIOS. New keyboard have a slightly different patter, so for the keyboard to work I need to update the bios. The guys said they send me a pen drive with the laterst firmware on it. Fingers crossed. Will let you know how it goes once the drive arrives

 

[Rangs]

Finally received the pen drive. I was advised by the tech support to boot from the pen drive to start DOS to flash BIOS. When I try to boot from pen drive it says Invalid File System. I'm tired.

 

[Rangs]

Created a USB bootable DOS now. When I boot from USB it asks me UK English KeyBoard or the US English Keyboard. SO at least I am on the right track. But I have no idea in what order I need to run the files.

LOCALE
CONFIG.SYS
AUTOEXEC.BAT
autorun.inf
autorun.ico
05.BAT
220TPCS.bin
AFUDOS.exe
eW37ET02.09
fparts.txt
fpt.exe
GMSDM.exe
Meset.EXE
OAIDDOS.EXE
readme.txt
readme_EC.txt
W370ET.ALL
W370ET.bin
01.BAT
02.BAT
03.bat
04.BAT

 

[kruppsy]

If the readme.txt is something pcs put on the stick you could open that and see if there's instructions. If you haven't already seen it here's an AFUDOS tutorial on YouTube. I noticed you had the file so assumed you were going down this route.

[video=youtube_share;PBaxBHt616U]http://youtu.be/PBaxBHt616U[/video]

 

[ubuysa]

I agree with kruppsy that the README is a good place to start, but in situations like this you should open autorun.inf with Notepad. That file tells DOS (or Windows) which program to run if the drive is allowed to autostart. So execute whatever program is referenced in autorun.inf.

 

[Rangs]

My torment continues!! Tech support advised me to run 01 to 05 batch files in a sequential order to update the bios. I did the same. Even though some bat files threw errors, I was advised to continue. I completed the update, the bios displayed the new version number and then came the next wave of issues!!!
1 Even with the new bios the new keyboard still has the same problem
2 After the BIOS update the system won't SHUTDOWN at all. Yes, shutdown or restart!! It just hangs itself to death as soon as I restart or shutdown.

I tried to reinstall OS to see if that is an issues, but even the OS install went for a toss because the laptop wont restart or shutdown. And I am just a week away from going back to India permanently. I am unhappy.

 

[Rangs]

After an hour long discussion with the Tech guys we relaised that the BIOS that was sent to me was of wrong motherborad. Now my motherborad has gone for a total toss and needs replacement. And to add, the BIOS was never sent to fix the keyborad issue, but it was sent to improve the memory and CPU performance of my laptop. But this was never clearly mentioned to me! Now I am left with a faulty keyboard, a broken laptop and a week away from permanently vacating the UK! The tech support has confirmed that they will have my problem fixed and the laptop sent to me before I leave. Fingers crossed I should've simply sent the laptop for keyborad replacement. If I had, i woudlnt be in this situation now!!

 

[Rangs]

Got my laptop today! Even though the whole process was a bit painful, PCSpecialist did live up to its promises! I sent my laptop on last Thursday and got it back today - just as new! Will definitely recommend PCSpecialist for its exceptional service and reliable customer support. Also, on an off note - the new keyboard feels so awesome. I am not sure if it was only my old keyboard, but the new keyboard is smooth as butter and rarely makes any sound even when typing at full speed. People with an old keyboard should really look at getting a new one. This is undoubtedly an upgrade.

 

[Myrm]

Good to hear that it all worked out in the end. When my keyboard was faulty when I first received the labtop, I was offered to have a keyboard sent out to me and for me to swap them, but I was too nervous about letting my clumsy hands at it and returned it to PCS. It came back within 5 days as good as new.

 

[Boozad]

Great to see PCS coming through yet again and that you both got your issues sorted. Enjoy your laptops.