Studio XPS 16 - Keyboard Issue / Duplicate Characters

Nice story, shame about Dell inability to fix this problem which has been that problem for nearly two years now.

Seriously I agree, my old Dell Dimension 4600 Keyboard, does show these symptoms but that is because of a spill. But for something new to already show symptoms of a bad  build quality is horrible.

I am really tempted to send a  message to a CEO or even a CFO and ask them to get a contract with a better keyboard micro-controller manufacturer. It is so upsetting, that I did not even look hard for this thread and I found it.

I like the turnaround time at the depot, but this is in fact the only Depot in Canada for Dell, unless I am incorrect.

Except for this issue, Dell has been a great company for laptops/notebooks.  My notebook (Inspiron 1470) would be just about perfrct were it not for this multiple-keystrike problem.  If the only fix was in hardware, then Dell would indeed be in a tough position.  It would require a motherboard redesign and a recall, like the Xbox Ring of Death problem, i.e. very expensive.  That said, the cost in reputation can spiral upward very quickly and badly, which is the very reason why manufacturers issue recalls in the first place.  That said, there are a couple of points to be made to the decision makers at Dell:

1) Their current MO (modus operandi, mode of operation) is to have customers go through their standard support system (repair/replace at service centers or on-site).  This is already costing them a lot of money - a lot.

2) I believe that a tweaked keyboard driver release could fix the problem.  I already have a script-based utility that goes a long way to eliminating the problem, at least eough that my laptop is usable again.  All they have to do is to increase the gating time for the keybounce filter.  I don't know what expertise Dell has in-house to develop a custom-tweaked keyboard driver, but in my experience as a developer, it would be a tiny fraction of the cost of their current path of option 1).  By attackign the problem at the source, they would simultaneously increase their profits and make their disgruntled customers happy about their Dell laptops again.

Seems like a simple decision to me.

It really would be simple to address this at driver level, probably about 5 lines of code required.

Perhaps we should try to escalate this somehow - who's a prominent figure at Dell that we could all try to personally email / telephone?

Shurely we can make it cheaper to address the problem at driver level by all insisting we're going to get them out to replace motherboards / keyboards / cancel future Dell orders or something?

I agree - a few lines of driver code would probably do a lot to fix a number of these issues.  The strange thing is that I don't get duplicate characters - I get dropped characters - sometimes even entire dropped words!  I type fairly quickly and something in this system just can't seem to keep up with my typing.  I've tweaked all kinds of setttings, to no avail.

I have had the keyboard replaced twice and I'm still having these issues.  Furthermore, the last replacement was needed because the entire multimedia bar went dark - so it was impossible to eject a CD, for example using the multimedia control.

Now the outermost covers for the hinges are separating!  These are pieces of metal that extend from the bottom of the LCD panel and cover the back-lit hinges.  It appears they are only held on with glue which weakens over time.

Oh....my...goodness....  I paid close to $1,800 for this laptop.  Service has been great - no complaints there.  But this must be costing Dell a fortune in service calls!  I never had these issues with other manufacturers and I've owned lots of other laptops.  I think Dell is being very ill-served by their suppliers. I hope someone higher-up reads these forums.

Hi!

I have also the repeated keys issue, but i solved with a software. I wrote a program and now I solved the issue.

I'm Italian adn the software is for Italian Keyboard (and is in italian language), but I think is very simple to modify for resolve the issue for every keyboard!.

If someone need this piece of software please write here and I give it.

Best Regards 

I'm having the same problem of duplicate characters with my brand new XPS17 (L701X)  (value: US$ 2800, in Argentina)

I can't believe DELL isn't able to solve this problem since 2008.... really a shame.

This is my LAST DELL purchase EVER.

If You want i send you the software i wrote for solve this issue. I need only a picture of your keyboard, in this manner I try to personalize my software also for your keyboard.

If You want i send you the software i wrote for solve this issue. I need only a picture of your keyboard, in this manner I try to personalize my software also for your keyboard.

Grazie mille Falessi!!

I'll like to give it a try.

Please find a picture of my keyboard below (it has spanish Latin America layout)

You can send me the software to the email on the picture.

<ADMIN NOTE:Email Id removed per privacy policy>

I'm having the same problem of duplicate characters with my brand new XPS17 (L701X)  (value: US$ 2800, in Argentina) I can't believe DELL isn't able to solve this problem since 2008.... really a shame. This is my LAST DELL purchase EVER.

A new remedy was recently posted here. Look near the middle of Page 2.

It uses a keybounce filtering feature built in to Windows, so it does not require any new software. To enable the feature, you will need to know how to edit the Registry (use regedit). But it is a known method that could work for you today.

Hi Boys (and Girls)!

for the Admin: Is possible to attach a ZIP file (i think the file not have virus or any other unwanted software, I have McAfee antivirus from DELL) to give the possibility to try the software?

As soon as possible I remap the software for  spanish Latin America layout!

N.B.: I'm not responsible fon any issue, any failure both software and hardware, lost of data, and every event the software will cause. The software was tested only on my PC, and you use it at your own risk!

best regard!

Hi Boys (and Girls)! for the Admin: Is possible to attach a ZIP file (i think the file not have virus or any other unwanted software, I have McAfee antivirus from DELL) to give the possibility to try the software? As soon as possible I remap the software for  spanish Latin America layout! N.B.: I'm not responsible fon any issue, any failure both software and hardware, lost of data, and every event the software will cause. The software was tested only on my PC, and you use it at your own risk! best regard!

Thank you very much!

If you want I can host the file on my server and share the link.

Ok, I think that I solved the keyboard issue editing the register like that:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\Keyboard Response {

AutoRepeatDelay: 500

AutoRepeatRate: 1

BounceTime: 0

DelayBeforeAcceptance: 18

}

If you type faster than me, you can decrease the DelayBeforeAcceptance.

P.D: I activated the FilterKeys before edit the register.

Excuse me for very long silence.....

have You solved the issue editing the register? at this moment for me is not simple modify the software, i hope to do it in about 2 or 3 week.

Follow these instructions:

http://forum.eeeuser.com/viewtopic.php?pid=364796#p364796

I changed AutoRepeatTime to 15, it works fine for me.