Comments for Tidy Chaos

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by lct

lct — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:23:14 +0000

Dell required me to return the old palm rest as part of the warranty agreement. Is there any way to just purchase the silicon nipple? I use this laptop in class, so a mouse really isn’t convenient.

Thanks for the info and response.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by tidychaos

tidychaos — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:39:33 +0000

The same thing happened to me (and I authored this page). This is a low priority fix on my todo list at home, so I have started to use a wireless mouse, and I love it. The button on the laptop still works, but it does not work like it used too (nice and squishy).

Others have suggested using the rubber nipple from the previous button (the old palm rest). I kept mine, so I have a spare to tinker with. If you did not keep your old part, then you are out of luck and need to buy a replacement.

Sorry this happened to you. I would hope that Dell would fix this problem, it seems to be a big issue.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by lct

lct — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:29:15 +0000

I replaced the palm rest a year ago because of the rubber nipple problem, and now the nipple has failed again after only one year of use.
Wish I could just replace the nipple. I won’t go through the expense of replacing the entire palm rest again.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by Rich

Rich — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:13:52 +0000

This page was awesome! Only thing I’d suggest is to buy the part. My mouse button rubber spring thing was simply worn out so I had to put the computer back together and wait for the replacement part to come. Kudos for making it as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Thx
Rich from PA

Comment on Finding Friends Online – Intelius Review by Jearl

Jearl — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:18:45 +0000

I got the basic Intelius report today, and they do something really cheesy: they give you the old adress, even though they have the newer one too, but then ask you to buy the $50 report to get the current address.

That’s a pretty bad trick.

All I wanna do is send them something from Amazon… which costs half as much as the full report they wanna cheeze me into.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by Victor

Victor — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:04:50 +0000

I had this same problem a while ago. I superglued the nipple that broke and it was good as new and has been working fine for about 6 months.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by Nigel

Nigel — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:42:59 +0000

I feel everybody here, because the same thing happened to me. The rubber/silicone nipple that serves as a spring is astonishingly cheap looking for something so vital. And it’s completely buried within the laptop.

Trying to service mine, I inadvertently screwed something up (methinks the motherboard, because the system wont do a Power-on Self Test, or “POST”)

Now I have to decide how much money I’m willing to sink into a computer that fits my needs but is not worth very much in general. The build quality on Dell laptops has not impressed me, but it’s probably industry standard, sad to say. Might have to try a Thinkpad next time.

Comment on Intelius UI Design by Peter Domeika

Peter Domeika — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:40:19 +0000

Scott, although I agree with your suggestions, I would refine it a little further. Each region has it’s own set of controls, so (if in .Net) I would create a user control to use (re-use) with each section. In addition, I would include it immediately after the text inthe table cell on the left….not in a table column on the right. By doing this the user has very little mouse or eye movement, and you have clean code-re-use.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by Turnbuck2

Turnbuck2 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:45:20 +0000

The toothpick (pointed end down) (although I blunted the end just slightly to take off the point) makes the contact and just pushes two membranes together to make the switch contact. I lost the nipple so I didn’t have a choice of re-gluing it in. Amazing stuff, adhesive silicone -black, stays flexible yet very strong adhesive. I got it at an auto parts store. ( or walmart.) (Don’t use too much around the toothpick or you might need super strength to push the button down- just apply around the side and top of the toothpick) Just a touch of silicone on each side of the spring holds it in place, but you have to let this stuff set up 24 hrs. before you can use the button. The top cover holds everything down with tension by the spring until it dries.

Comment on Fixing a Dell XPS M140 Palm Rest Mouse Button by BillyHoyle

BillyHoyle — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:13:57 +0000

Hi Turnbuck,

I might go your route, since I have the same problem. Can you tell me, though, what is the contact with the sensor? Is it the toothpick or the nipple? Also, how did you keep the spring in place?

Many thanks for your helpfulness.