Question Lenovo laptop broken

[Soulkeeper]

I just purchased a lenovo A485 laptop and got it 2 weeks ago. Some keys on the keyboard were not working sporadically as soon as I took it out of the box. I thought maybe it was a software issue at first, but now the entire keyboard don't work.
Has anyone here dealt with lenovo repair/returns before ?
Did I void my warranty by installing new memory and hard drive last week ?
Will I have to remove the ram/hd I just installed before sending it back to them ?
I've tried reconnecting the keyboard a few times, but it seems that the connector itself has a broken solder joint or something.

Should I call one of their support phone numbers when they open on monday ?

tbh i'm not impressed with this laptop, the build quality is poor and they just cut the price $200 ... adding the mem/hd and taxes I prolly spent around $1500 for a 1080p laptop.
my 10yr old $200 HP laptop has a better keyboard and build quality.

 

[mikeymikec]

Why would you need to deal with Lenovo repairs? Just talk to the company you purchased it from and they'll swap it out I'm sure.

I don't know what it's like in the US but in the UK I think there's a reasonable chance that if you approached the seller with your malfunctioning laptop within a couple of weeks of purchase and said "can I get a different laptop instead?", they'd be willing to oblige provided you pay the difference.

If by "build issues" you mean a faulty keyboard, then I think you're being a bit overly pre-judgemental here, it would have been like me judging Toshiba by the one DOA Toshiba laptop I've ever had. I've bought plenty of Toshiba laptops before and since and a multitude of Lenovo laptops, and it's pretty rare in my experience to experience issues that suggested shoddy workmanship.

Admittedly I don't buy laptops very often at the high end, plenty of i3 workhorses.

 

[killster1]

if i broke the laptops keyboard ribbon when upgrading the ram i would buy another keyboard and replace it.. (hopefully with some kinda nice upgrade touch but not likely) maybe its 20 at most to get shipped to you compared to waiting and wondering dealing with this and that. i would also definitely remove the ram and hard drive before sending it back (but would never send it back anyway)

 

[Soulkeeper]

I didn't break it, the problem existed before I got around to upgrading the ram/hd. I just can't prove that.
I wish it was just the ribbon cable, but the block it connects to seems to move on one side. the light on the esc key goes on/off if I press on the right side of the connector.
I'd love to order a replacement keyboard and just plug it in, but this looks like a bigger problem.

I ordered directly from lenovo.com and they shipped from china.

 

[killster1]

I didn't break it, the problem existed before I got around to upgrading the ram/hd. I just can't prove that.
I wish it was just the ribbon cable, but the block it connects to seems to move on one side. the light on the esc key goes on/off if I press on the right side of the connector.
I'd love to order a replacement keyboard and just plug it in, but this looks like a bigger problem.

I ordered directly from lenovo.com and they shipped from china.

sorry i was joking about you breaking it.. ordered what from china? the keyboard replacement or the laptop itself? so the cable slot is coming off the board? so yea sounds like more than a ribbon.

 

[Soulkeeper]

the laptop itself was ordered from lenovo.com and shipped from china.
Now it has developed another problem, it turns off immediately when not connected to AC
which makes no sense because it has 2 batteries in it.

 

[Soulkeeper]

now the touchpad don't work ...

 

[Soulkeeper]

Here is an idea of the build quality of this thing:

I've thrown away tupperware that's more sturdy than this

 

[Soulkeeper]

fellow lenovo user having a similar touchpad problem ....

I mean really ? $1400 paperweight, is this what customers accept these days ?

 

[killster1]

1400$ ryzen laptop???????! wow yea id be sad too if i broke it.. kinda looks like you did something to it to me. wonder how hard it will be to fix. just ship it back whats the big deal? Oh i re-read first post, you added a hard drive and ram stick maybe that was the same price? 400$ hd and a 200 stick of ram? starts at 650 for the lappy.. maybe some upgrades too but not likely upgrade the chassis or anything. i guess thats why people always prefer business class laptops.

 

[mrblotto]

1-800-IBMSERV

Did you purchase 'accidental breakage' coverage?

 

[Soulkeeper]

No, I didn't purchase extra coverage.
I went ahead and resoldered the keyboard connector back on.
The keyboard now works.
the trackpad works after unplugging/replugging the tape connectors.
2 buttons still don't work for the trackpoint mouse, I suspect I scratched the white tape connector from unplugging/replugging it too much.
So I went ahead and ordered a new keyboard.

Before:


After: excuse the flux mess

TOP:


I won't be returning it, the original box is in my trash can for tomorrow's service.
about half the pins for the 36 pin connector had come off their pads, I'm convinced it was loose from the factory.
I was able to move the white bloick back and forth 1-2mm with a tooth pick.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I've got the backlit keyboard coming (what I thought I was getting in the first place anyways).
When I get more time i'll prolly change the thermal paste and probably the heatsink as well.
It got to 82c while compiling some code.
I should be able to fix the tore plastic case somehow too.

 

[Soulkeeper]

here are two pics of the inside incase anyone is curious:

 

[Drassx]

If It was me I'd try to restore the laptop to original condition, contact support and act stupid, and push for them to replace the board or to replace the product entirely(ideally). It just sounds like there's issues with this board(obviously) and that's the OEM's responsibility, you shouldn't have to deal with this as a consumer, regardless of your ability to repair issues, especially having to solder a connector on the board. I mean really think about this from the stance of a consumer, who cant even open their laptop, let alone dealing with the issues you've dealt with, this is unacceptable. Also my experience with lenovo is much like other OEM's which overall isn't bad but you'll be on the phone for a bit, but don't be surprised if you have to pay for shipping into warranty service.

 

[pcgeek11]

I think the warranty is trashed at this point seeing as to what has been done to it by the owner so far. It will be obvious when they opened it for repairs.

 

[bluwing]

You Never should Have Taken it Apart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should have gotten rma and ask for a full refund!!!!! Lenovos Suck!!!!

 

[C1]

You're "in it now" so you need to work it thru.

In general, keyboards are easy to replace and as an individual part, they are not that expensive.

There's a site (dont have the URL handy) that has videos on how to repair you're specific model of laptop. Just do a google search.

The main thing really, is that you love the model that you've chosen and thus are motivated to fight for it to "bring it about".

Good Luck

 

[JustMe21]

If you put the original memory and drive back in, you can send it off for repair and see what they say, but yeah, after taking it all apart like that, they may not do any warranty work on it. If they won't warranty repair it, they should indicate how much they would charge to repair it.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I got the replacement keyboard for $60 from china.
all the keys/touchpad/touchpoint work

The only issue now is that it's a backlit keyboard and the backlighting won't turn on. ohh well

 

[killster1]

I got the replacement keyboard for $60 from china.
all the keys/touchpad/touchpoint work

The only issue now is that it's a backlit keyboard and the backlighting won't turn on. ohh well

yea i was wondering if the keyboard would have a extra connector for the backlight. of course you would have noticed a extra wire. Glad things working out, funny how many people are scolding you. 60 is a bit much for the keyboard but i guess it included touchpad too. nice post and this kind of thing happens alot with the ribbons on things possibly tape them down and use tweezers.

 

[C1]

Different ways to energize Lenovo Keyboard lights dfepending on model are:

- Fn+Space Bar
- Fn + PgUp
- Ctrl+spacebar

It looks though that if the keyboard is lighted on a Lenovo, then there is an extra power connector for it (at least in some models).

https://www.microcenter.com/tech_ce...e-keyboard-backlight-on-a-lenovo-ideapad-z400

 

[Soulkeeper]

Thanks everyone.
I dunno why fn+spacebar isn't working, it's supposed to.
But atleast everything else works. I have to move so I can't deal with it right now.