I have a Framework Laptop 13 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7640U DIY configuration that I bought last Fall.
Everything has been going smoothly up until today, where my University did not clear the sidewalks of ice after an overnight freeze, and I ended up slipping and falling onto my backpack.
My Framework 13 was in the backpack, in the laptop pocket closest physically to my back. A couple hours later, when I went to go use it, I noticed the touchpad physically no longer clicked, and in software seemed to be stuck clicked down.
I tried opening up the laptop to fix the issue, but even after re-seating the input deck multiple times and adjusting the trackpad itself, it did not improve.
The trackpad did physically click when the input deck was not attached to the chassis, but not when I put it back on. There appears to be a slight bend along the long side of the bottom chassis now.
Ultimately, I need to figure out how to proceed with repairing the laptop. Would I need to get a new input deck, touchpad, or bottom chassis? Is there anything else I could try? I would really appreciate any advice, as I need to be able to use my touchpad for navigation without an external mouse.
Thanks for any advice!
Laptop Specs:
Mainboard/CPU - Ryzen 5 7640U
RAM - 32GB Crucial DDR5-5600
Storage - 1tb Crucial P3 Plus
Display - Matte 2256x1504 60hz panel
Camera - 1st Gen Webcam Module
Input Deck - International English (Linux)
OS - Fedora 41 Atomic Desktop + Windows 11 Dual-Boot
Pressing the chassis down with significant pressure right below the Touchpad surface allows the the touchpad to click freely again. I am now fairly certain it’s a chassis bending issue, but still want some outside input before proceeding.
Pressing the edge of the top frame right below the touchpad?
Without handling it, that sure sounds like how a bent frame might behave. Or even just the arm over the button being bent a little. You can see the button in the replacement guide. Step 9 is removing the arm over the button. And the button is the silver circle underneath.
If it was me, I’d disable a little to see if the arm seems bent or the frame seems bent. Placing the top frame on a flat table and looking at it edge-on to see if it sits flat. Presuming it doesn’t seem like just a bent arm, I’d remove the touchpad, then gentily bend the top frame just a smidge, checking how it sits on a flat surface before doing more.
It sounds like the FW13 has been in the wars a bit.
Have you verified that everything else about the laptop works. All the card slots. Screen, keyboard etc. and the only problem is the touchpad ?
I guess the difficulty is finding out which bit is bent. The input deck or the bottom chassis.
It might be both that are bent.
At least a new chassis and input deck is not expensive, and you won’t be paying a repair shop labor time if you do it yourself, that is what FW laptops are designed for. Self repair.
It is probably worth contacting FW support. They might let you buy both items, and then return the item that you turn out not to need.
All other functions of the laptop appear to work properly thankfully. Screen, ports, audio, keyboard, and fan.
I compared it to a flat surface, and when the Framework is on a table, there is now a noticeable arch to it when looking from it at a side angle, small but enough to affect the touchpad. I think either the bottom chassis frame is bent, or both it and the input deck. Potentially might just be the chassis since the touchpad works when the input deck is detached from the chassis.
I have bought a Bottom Cover kit to see if it’ll fix the issue. Didn’t want to risk manually bending the case to fix it. Will report when the case comes in.
