Notebook - Samsung Keyboard Dock AA-RD7NMKD (Disassembly)

It's been sometime now since my last posting, it was due to my heavy workload at that time and coincides with the hand-over exercise to my replacement (I've moved to new company) :)

A friend of mine recently requested my help on checking his Samsung Tablet/Notebook (XE500T1C) and the Keyboard Dock (AA-RD7NMKD), he told me that the keyboard & the touchpad no longer works after an upgrade to Win8.1 version. Now based on my understanding that any OS upgrades will usually breaks the original drivers, however this was not the case even after I've reformatted it thus my troubleshooting went hardware side.

1) This is the how it looks like (before disassembly).

2) At the bottom, remove those "Rubbers Stand-Off" as circled in the picture.

3) After removing it will reveals the hidden screws as shown here.



 

 

4) After removing those hidden screws, you will need to "slowly peel-off" the cover, try not to breaks any of the inter-lock mechanism.

 

 

5) The inside view of keyboard docking unit.

 

 

Upon checking the hardware and cables, all components was in working condition. It seems nothing is wrong here but once I go in-depth diagnostics... I've found the I/O chip is faulty as shown below here.

 

 

With this chip malfunction, it have affected the following components :-

 

• Keyboard
• Touchpad
• USB ports (all ports)
• Lid Sensor

The only components that is still working is the charging module, due to lack of tools and resources to get a replacement chip, I was unable to repair/replace that faulty chip..... sadly.....

 

I've no choice but to inform my friend to either use an USB or Bluetooth Keyboard & Mouse for his daily use and since the tablet is still in good condition (albeit the faulty docking unit) he can still use the touchscreen and the stylus for his work.

 

Note : Always be extra cautious when performing disassembly of an aging notebooks/tablets etc. As over the time those covers, inter-locking mechanism, rubbers etc. will tends to break-off or cracks easily due to hardened & aging plastics.

 

 

!!! HAPPY COMPUTING !!!