How to Upgrade to a Backlit Keyboard

[KulunuKM]

Hey. I recently bought HP Pavilion 15-CC141TX. It doesn't have a backlit keyboard. I'm still a student, I have so many assignments to do. I mostly do those at night. And it's really frustrating without a backlit keyboard. I've been searching for backlit keyboards, I found few compatible ones. The thing is there is a separate ribbon to power the lights to the keyboard. So totally there's 2 ribbons, the normal ribbon and the other for the lights of the keyboard. And I'm not sure I have the port to plug the ribbon which powers the backlight. And I'm afraid to open it up myself and see, plus it avoids my warranty. Does anyone of you know whether my laptop is compatible with a backlit keyboard?

[iomare]

Hi,

Yes it should be possible. However it is not easy and will be quite expensive. The keyboard and top cover come as one part and to replace you need to remove the bottom cover, display assembly and all the other devices from the top cover and place into the new cover.

At the moment you have this keyboard with part number 928437-001 Keyboard/top cover in silk gold finish with speaker grille in natural silver finish

and this is the top cover you would need with part number 928438-001 Keyboard/top cover in silk gold finish with speaker grille in natural silver finish with backlight (includes backlight cable and keyboard cable) which is available in HP parts store:

https://parts.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Results.aspx?mscssid=C758EEB36AD440A3A51E4673412AFE4A&SearchIn=P...

Here is the service manual which you can use to perform the replacement:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05493762

Hope it helps,

David

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[KulunuKM]

Yeah it's expensive, in a month my warranty expires. I'm going to oder a 3rd part backlit keyboard, only the keyboard without the metal frame which is less than $50. You are 100% sure right my laptop (HP 15-141TX) is compatible with a backlit keyboard? I mean it has a port for that extra cable that comes in backlit keyboards, yeah?

[iomare]

Hi,

Yes, some third parties sell only the keyboard which can be installed. You might need to cut some plastics rivets which are holding the keyboard in place and the use some strong glue to keep the keyboard in place.

Now the motherboard should have the backlight cable slot as if we look at a list of system boards on page  52, they are not differentiated on the basis ok backlit keyboard or not.

However, before buying the keyboard you could always remove the bottom cover (page 37 of service manual) which is not too difficult. Remember there are screws under the rubber feet, so you can peel them back a little to get to the screws.

In the picture on page 53 of service manual you can see where the slot should be.

Hope it helps,

David