Asus G73JH Keyboard Light Failure After BIOS Flash 209

I did it. No go. i have a spare keyboard now though....good $20 (+ $5 S&H) investment

 

Do they have the matching G73 grey ones?

 

If so, I don't know the exact part number for it.

 

What is their link?

 

By "they" I'm referring to Asus

Linky

 

Oh, them. Takes forever for them to restock.

 

Yeah it always says out of stock. They were out of stock when I bought mine and they sent one anyway LOL *shrug*

 

Hard to do that if there is no "BUY NOW" button

 

Ouch...oh yeah, I forgot - the Chinese bought them all up to sell for $70

 

oh damn, just bought a new keyboard! i was hoping that it would fix the problem?

i just don't understand, if it's the KEYBOARD firmware's problem, why the hell it won't work?


obs: i haven't received the keyboard yet...

 

Because the keyboard controller is on the motherboard?

It doesn't hurt to try if you have the means - you get a spare keyboard out of the deal. I have yet to see success posted anywhere however.

Good luck!

 

@Chastity

Do u know the function of the 3 buttons at the top left portion of the G73 laptop?Can you please enumerate the functions of it?

 

The left one cycles the lightings on and off, the secone one is the Twin Turbo option, and the third is for cycling through Splendid's color modes

 

I see.Thanks for the response.The left one is used to switch the lighting on the lower portion of the LCD?And the Twin Turbo option for the on-demand overclocking?

 

Just wondering, has anyone put a ruined keyboard onto a working G73 with the keyboard lights working? Would the lights still be gone or would it light up?

 

I didn't do that, but I did switch the keyboards between my G72 and my first G73 after losing the keyboard lights on the G73. The keyboards are the same other than color. The G73 keyboard worked on the G72, but the G72 keyboard didn't work on the G73. The keyboard is fine after losing the lights. The problem is on the motherboard.

 

My question is why doesnt F*cking ASUS send a cheap $20 keyboard to the customers who have this issue (myself)? Wouldn't they do the same thing as Dell and send the brand new/refurbished keyboard which works, and you replace your broken one in there box with the return shipping label they provide and send it back? I would think this is more logical? I did call them up with this suggestion and I was able to talk to a supervisor but they can not make this exception I explained to them that it was there fault, and my computer is functioning fine and there should be no reason to send the computer out for weeks. I also explain to the supervisor I use my computer for work along with school, and they cant do anything about it... ASUS needs to realize that they F*cked up somewhere and they need to make it better. If only 35 people have this issue, it should not be a big deal on whether or not to send these keyboard out for free? Come on lolll, 35 x $20...and there a big company making loads of money... who is jewish now =P

 

....the fault is not the keyboard...replacing it will not do you much good as a you would have known if you bothered reading a bit in this forum.As I have understood it there is something which needs to be reflashed in the bios of the keyboard lights to work again, and this particular S/W is not available to the public yet.

 

The reason is that Asus has no idea what service is. They still think that the user can only do harm but the mess up with the 5870m heatsink and the general low quality of the RMA department more or less means it's the other way around.

BIOS 211 is the last feeble attempt at preventing a recall or a lot of RMA's between year 1 and 2 of the warranty period.

On the 2 largest computer related websites in The Netherlands I left a rather negative review. It's their own fault.

 

Hello all,

I m another victim of this issue, and I did not see this post until I encountered the issue!!:s

But what surprises me is that Asus did not removed this **** bios from their web site and let people damage their keyboard and send it to their famous RMA!!

I had different gaming laptop before and never had such bulls*** problem!!

I hope that Asus release a new bios to fix this issue without sending the laptop to their RMA

 

I agree. Can't believe Asus hasn't officially addressed this issue with a proper fix ... an issue they caused by posting the flawed update tool and bios update for consumers to use.

They told me they had no record of this issue...hard to believe.

 

Actually, they did, and posted a warning for using WinFlash 2.29. You need to use 2.30.1 or later to avoid the issue, or just use EasyFlash in the BIOS. Tho, in retrospect, maybe using EasyFlash if you have anything older than 2.06 may be a risk. It may have the same bug if it's based on the same codebase as 2.29.

 

No disrespect, but if I had seen a warning that my bios update using Winflash (older version) may cause me to lose you keyboard lights...I may have thought twice. For me, this issue was a complete surprise.

However, Asus did add more of a warning since I downloaded my bios though. But now I know to come to this forum first before just adding what Asus posts as updates.

 

Lick your wounds, and move on, I say

 

BIOS 209 Please use EZflash or Winflash V2.30.1 to flash this BIOS. You can get Winflash V2.30.1 from below link: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-
Firmware change

Must have been put in after-the-fact.

 

If you got the BIOS 2.09 from the ASUS Website you should have seen the following message:

"BIOS 209 Please use EZflash or Winflash V2.30.1 to flash this BIOS. You can get Winflash V2.30.1 from below link: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-
Firmware change "

As seen here: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-

You might have to select your product/model/version but it's quite evident that ASUS - though not in BIG BOLD RED LETTERS is trying to make sure that users need to use the right WinFlash or EZFlash to update the BIOS.

Granted, maybe they wouldn't get your attention without the big RED letters, but that's not their fault, and they certainly have no obligation to do more then what they did.. Just My Opinion..

In Christ,
Trav...

 

This notice has been placed later on. It wasn't there from the beginning when I got BIOS 209. Hell Winflash 2.30.1 didn't exist then.

But then again. I will never Winflash anything Asus again. I will always use the ezflash utility. Learned that on a motherboard a while ago.

 

Just my two cents it may help better understand what is going on here.

After I RMAed my comp for a Bad LCD they said they also replaced the mobo (for reasons unknown to me). When I got it back the keyboard lights did not work.

Before I RMAed it the bios version was 206, I just recently flashed it trying to see if 209 would fix my lights.

Also out of the 3 buttons on the top left of the keyboard only 1 works. The turbomode button does not anymore and the button to the farthest right does not either. The button on the farthest left requires me to hold it down for 10 seconds before it will simply shut all three of their lights off. Whoopdy do!

Ive never been so disappointed in a company.

Not sure if this gives insight into the problem people are getting when they flash.

 

I did that and still lost my backlighting using WinFlash.RMA'ed to ASUS Indy and I have a sick feeling its going to come back with other issues that it never had.It was a great running lappy before it was sent out.

 

bobj,

You used the correct version of WinFlash and still got the issue with the keyboard lights?

That's really uncomforting - sorry to hear you had this problem - I wonder why we haven't seen others reporting the same? Maybe everyone has just decided to use the EZFlash option regardless..

Wishing you blessings and the best of luck with your repairs..

In Peace,
Trav...

 

Got a call tonight from FEDEX saying they will be making a delivery on Friday with a tracking #. Its my G73 coming back home,I called ASUS to find out just what they did and was told they reflashed my bios (funny I did that and my backlighting still didn't work)I marked all internal parts I'll have to see if anything has been swaped out. The time was not that bad,I dropped it off at FEDEX 0n 8/2 and should have it back 8/13 and thats from Central NY to Jeffersonville ,IN(they signed for it 8/5 but wasn't in their system until 8/9)

 

Correct, this note was never there until Asus started hearing a butt load of complaints from those that started to have the lost of keyboard lights. NOW, they post up a warning to use the updated version when this never even existed when Bios 209 came out.

I still can't believe they just can't make a quick updater program that would flash the keyboard bios. Would save so much money on their part, and keep us happy and relieved.

To the one that has his laptop coming back, please do let us know if they in fact replaced the motherboard or other parts. Thanks and hoping you the best .

 

Hey all,

So today I updated my BIOS to 209 from 206 and low and behold I've got no keyboard lights. I followed procedures outlined by a few people I know with the laptop who had no problems. Using EZFlash...

I updated, started my computer up and it worked just fine. Lights and all. Shut my computer down, went out, came back and now they are off.

My questions is (sorry for not reading all the pages, it's late and I am selfishly just asking if anyone knows already) can you use the new Winflash that ASUS advises us to use for updating BIOS and fix the problem or is the keyboard now FUBAR requiring replacement or something?

My lights flick on when the computer starts up, but don't come on again when windows opens up.

Thanks for any help anyone has.

Cheers!

 

I'm not an expert on this issue since I didn't have a problem when I updated. However, I don't think you have the same problem these people do. I don't think their lights flash on during the boot process anymore. It sounds like your lights are just turned off. Did you try turning the back on while you are in Windows using the Fn + F4 key?

 

The lights flashing on during post shows they are working. You will need to use Fn+F4 to turn the lights on. On a flash, they are reset to zero luminance.

 

What is the latest advice regarding Bios update, should we turn off or leave on the keyboard lights before updating Bios with EZFlash?

If it is better to turn it off, does it matter when? Like right before we start the update already in Bios, or it should be turned off when we are still in windows?

One last question, the thumb drive should be formatted to FAT (16) or FAT32?

I just really want to get it right and have working keyboard lights...

Thanks in advance!

 

I just flashed mine to the 211 BIOS. All went fine. Keyboard lights are still working. I used a 1GB FAT (FAT 16) stick. Checksum of BIOS file: 3F04D66B
Hope this helps you Mr Whiteshadow

iemie

EDIT: Nope, I didn't turn off the keyboard lights before flashing the BIOS.

 

Thanks, yes it helps! One more thing though, did you turn off your keyboard lights before flashed bios?

 

I am smacking myself in the head. Thank you for clearing that up for me!

In that case, I went from 206 to 209 using EZFlash, didn't turn my lights off before or during the update at any point and it worked a treat.

 

You're welcome. That question has been asked here many times so you are not alone. It is a little confusing. The button on the upper right corner just below the screen will turn off all the lighting, but you have to use Fn + F4 to turn them back on. It's a little strange.

 

Flashed to 211 Bios without losing anything. KB lights are still working. Interesting bit of information there, I turned off all my lights during flash just in case, LOL!

 

Got my G73 back tonight backlighting is on ,all marked internal components still there ."Repair Result:Reflash or update BIOS(no components used)"They have the new WINFlash utility with the new bios download.I was reflashing with the old and only utility they had with the 209 bios.From what ASUS Indy Phone Support told me all you have to do now is to update or reflash your bios with the latest bios and winflash utility and it should fix the backlighting problem.
The only problem I had when it came back is it wasn't seeing the second HDD ,I pulled the cover off and it looks as if during shipping the HDD moved off the connector(held in place with foam)just pushed it back and it works.

 

Can anyone confirm the method above for fixing the KB lights? About to update to 211 myself but I was planning on using the bios flashing method instead of winflash.

 

That is what they told me,now they didn't say that they restored the keyboard firmware.I still think there is more to this story than ASUS is letting on.If you reflash ,good luck!!

 

You mean to tell me that they added a kb reset to WinFlash?

 

Like I said ,I think there is more to this story than ASUS is letting on.I think they did more than reflash or upgrade my BIOS.I don't think flashing the BIOS with the new bios and new winflash utility is going to solve this issue(I could be wrong and hope I'm wrong)When I called to find out what they did to fix this backlighting issue they told me the BIOS was reflashed or updated to the new one(I've not checked which bios is installed yet)It came back cleaned no scrapes or scratches and packed fairly well.

 

Speaking of packing fairly well, did they send it back to you in the same packaging you sent it in? They did with me and I thought that was strange.

 

Yes they did,minus bubble wrap with anti-static bag and more peanuts.All in all I am happy with the service they did.I did hear some horror stories about ASUS Indy service other people had and I was beginning to think maybe I should have just waited longer before RMA'ing it,(maybe a fix we could do)

 

Where can you download the latest winflash? I'll go ahead and give it a shot.

 

ASUSTeK Computer Inc.-Support-