Beta BIOS - Possible Missing Keystroke Fix

--mod edit--

A new BIOS version 213, ATK driver package 1.0.0008, and Synaptics driver 15.2.11 seem to have resolved this issue according to users in this thread.

The BIOS and ATK driver package can be downloaded here: http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?model=G73Jh&os=30&SLanguage=en-us
The Synaptics driver can be found here: http://www.station-drivers.com/telechargement/synaptics/synaptics_touchpad_15.2.11(www.station-drivers.com).exe

Alternatively see directly below:

This file can be found here: http://pcaudio.ath.cx/stuff/G73_KBTP_Fix.zip via http://www.asusrog.com/forums/showthread.php?1150-G73-Series-Driver-and-Application-Reference

- ALLurGroceries

--/mod edit--

01/07/11 Update - Please download and use this file for the missing keystroke problem - https://www.yousendit.com/download/RlRyZm1ha0RvQnRjR0E9PQ -
(use the DOS or Win7 method with the latest utilities on our website and on AC power only)
This BIOS should fix remaining problems, based on latest test reports. Please updated to the latest ATK, AMD Catalyst, and Touchpad drivers. Please use the system and if the missing keystrokes problem is still present please follow the instructions in the Synaptics diagnostic PDF and send the output file to me at [email protected]-(remove the hypens). We will then contact you for additional information or service.



12/25 Update - New BIOS Link - Please follow below Instructions as Before

The BIOS file and related flashing utilities along with a Synoptics diagnostic reporting utility are available here - http://www.mediafire.com/file/tb5wes98jja966x/G73JhASb.rar for download. All driver download links are based on assumptions that Windows 7 64-bit is the OS choice, please adjust accordingly on the driver downloads if this is not the case.

We highly suggest you visit the G73Jw (having G73Jh page updated) download page here - ASUSTeK Computer Inc. and download the following files and install them prior to flashing the BIOS.

ATK - Version V1.0.0007
TouchPad - Version V15.0.11.0
Others - Intel Engine Management Interface - Version V6.0.0.1179
Others - Keyboard Device Filter - Version V1.0.0.3

I realize there are later drivers available for these programs but at this point we need everyone on equal driver sets based on our testing with this beta BIOS.

After updating your BIOS (use the DOS or Win7 method with the latest utilities on our website and on AC power only) please do the following -
1. Update to the latest VBios if you do not already have it installed - file download and instructions are located here - G73Jh GSOD Vbios Update
2. Uninstall the Realtek Audio and HDMI driver sets and then reinstall with HD Codec version 2.55 and ATI HDMI 2.55 driver sets if they are not already installed. The download link is here (need to accept the license first) - Realtek
3. Do a complete uninstall of the AMD Video drivers and then install the 10.12 driver set that is available here - http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/radeonmob_win7-64.aspx?type=2.4.2&product=2.4.2.3.36&lang=us&rev=&ostype=Windows 7 - 64-Bit Edition
4. Also, please ensure the latest DirectX update is installed - Download details: DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer and all important Win7 updates are installed.

Please use the system and if the missing keystrokes problem is still present please follow the instructions in the Synaptics diagnostic PDF and send the output file to me at [email protected]-(remove the hypens).

We have noticed a significant amount of systems returned for the missing keystroke problem have been fixed with the above procedure in early testing and this new BIOS has solved further problems. However, it has not been perfect so we need to collect further information from those users still having problems.

 

Downloading at the speed of light!

 

Way to go!

 

I just flashed mine without issue, make sure to use a freshly formatted FAT USB stick if you're using Easy Flash from the BIOS setup utility. I'm going to sticky this post for a few days, so that it doesn't get buried.

 

I have been waiting and waiting for this. I worked and worked on this problem. I tried everything. Now a possible fix comes out and my laptop is away on RMA. It's been out for RMA for several weeks.

Oh well. Please post results. I've got my fingers crossed for you all!

 

I tried messing with the touchpad in any way I could and it wouldn't mess up, could it really be fixed? I call blasphemy.

Edit: It doesn't mess up no matter what, I tried using it with every finger, every gesture and a lot of abrupt actions and it works perfect. Oh lawd I think it's finally fixed with some magic. When I type it feels different now though.

 

Mines always worked, and I've only had one GSOD.

 

I haven't had keystroke problems I don't think, but every once in awhile my touchpad goes crazy and tries to scroll down pages instead of move the cursor. Does this bios fix this problem or only the keystrokes?

Thanks

 

Just did a straight bios update, touchpad feels better already, and there were no missed keystrokes typing this post. Will do more testing, but so far, even without messing with any of the drivers as mentioned in the first post, it works a lot better (as far as I can tell anyway).

 

ATI removed the 10.11 driver for download becouse some conformance tests havent been done (not that i want it though, im sticking with 10.8a until something better comes out). A download link can be found HERE though if you still want it.

Let us know how the testing goes, im not at my laptop atm so i cant help out there.

 

No idea why but didn't work for me.... I did everything and still I have missing key strokes (I hit the key and it does not "hit").

Maybe there was some kind of change... Well, it's not 100%, but at least 90% better.

 

While the touchpad doesn't go nuts anymore, whenever I try to scroll with it, it doesn't want to work now. Well randomly. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

 

Ok i finally got to my laptop and flashed to the new vBios, doing the driver updates to the appropriate versions before (except the ATI and Realtek drivers).

Still missing keystrokes with touchpad enabled the same as before... On top of that the touchpad seams less responsive as before.

Ill try updating ATI and Realtek too, but it just doesnt seam likely to me that it would solve the problem.

 

Well so far it has not fixed mine, I am still having keys stop working on some software and browsers . And the only way to get them back is by shutting down and then restarting the software and then it works. At least for awhile. There is no set items causing this that I can see. It is random on when it quits . And when it does there is no way to get it back , one thing I see is when the (s) key quits I can use the Cap (S) and that will work, but the small case (s) will not and will not come back.

The scrolling on the touch pad seems to have a mind of it's own. I try to scroll and it will go and not stop ,or it will not even see that I am trying to move .
I will keep trying and see how it works as time goes on but so far it is not working on my machine.

 

For those of you not confident with the flashing process, see this link: YouTube - G73JH GSOD FIX, follow the instructions closely and you'll be fine. Will try when I get home!

 

Hey guys,

Does someone have an alternate link for the bios? For some reason mediafire is declining me access to download it. Thanks.

 

My current findings:

1) BIOS listed in BIOS screen as "G73Jh 210.T02", but comes up as 211 in Windows

2) My amount of double-shifted characters when I capitalize has dropped to zero.

3) Idle temps are the same.

FYI: I'm on Intel MEI 1.0.0.0 ala Windows Update and Synaptics 15.1.0.9

http://pcaudio.org/stuff/G73jHBetaAS211v2kbfix.rar

 

Gary, just wanted to say "thanks" for doing all of this for us. Really appreciate it. I just did my first fresh install of the G73 last night, so I'm highly considering trying this out.

I was certainly having some dropped keystrokes, especially if I typed quickly (made it a bit awkard whn gaming and sme of my mssages wre bungled lke this, haha). I haven't installed any drivers yet (not even the Catalyst ones) so when I get home later tonight, I'll decide if I want to try this new guide now, or wait till some more advanced users report good findings. I can be adventurous, but not something this new (or expensive), haha.

In the meantime, I have flashed the BIOS to 211 and the vBIOS to the one Chastity provided a little while back (thanks!) so it's at vBIOS version 012.020.000.032.038352.

 

I have had this "double-shifted characters when I capitalize" problem for a while but I thought it was me. Will try the beta bios when I get home and report back. P.S never had any missing keys.

 

Upon further use, I'm finding that I -am- still experiencing dropped keystrokes, but not nearly as many as before. The touchpad seems to be fine though.

 

Well so far I am still losing the ( S ) Key in my browser and write software!
I have got the rest to work as it should, at least it seems so .
One thing I found was that when I flashed the Bios I had the UEFI set to Enabled , And after the flash nothing changed, and the touch pad was not working and was unstable.
I reflashed the Bios and I turned off the UEFI and set it to Disabled, Now the touch pad is working and seems to be working fine . But the ( s ) key is still going away for some reason and is random when it does. I can use the Cap ( S ) key and that will work. But it will not work for writing as you cannot have a Cap where it should not be.
As to the lag , it has gone away . I can type and the key strokes do not get behind and they all seem to work even when I type fast. All but the random ( S ) key that is. And the same still works and has to be done, I have to restart the software , like FireFox that I am using now to get the ( s ) key back when it drops out. And this is on any software that I type in. So it is not just FireFox that the (s) key goes away in while using the Touch Pad.

So at this time it does seem that we are making progress and the Touch Pad seems to working as it should.

I do not know why the UEFI setting has anything to do with the Bios upgrade and Touch Pad not working, but I have two more Units on there way over to me to Flash the Bios , I will see if the same happens when I Flash there Bios . So if you have this on, the UEFI then you might set it to Disabled just in case this is an issue.

Thanks Gary for the update and the help!

 

For those still having a keypad problem, please email your Synaptics diagnostic results to me. It will assist us, AMD, Synaptics and Microsoft greatly.

 

Updated ATI and realtek and also tried a whole bunch of different Synaptics & ATK drivers combinations just to be sure.
This Bios does absolutely nothing for me, infact it just made my touchpad become less responsive.
Will send you the diagnostics report as soon as i get all my drivers back to the versions i had... these newer versions are just worse than what i previously used (GPU is hotter, two finger zoom doesnt work as it used to...).

 

Hey everyone, send in the files to Gary so he can see what is going on.
It will be easier to get this fixed and they need the data.
It only took about 3 minutes to get this done.

It will save the file in your Documents folder , zip it up and attach this to the email.

IF you have a mouse plugged in pull that out in till you get the data saved from the Touch Pad software, in my case the mouse was working and the diag software would not see the touch pad.

 

I would also like to say thanks for the beta bios. So far I have not had any issues with the touchpad or missing key strokes. I will report back if otherwise. Thanks again.

 

i always thought that my keyboard missed keystrokes cause i was bad at typing turns out its the computers fault!!!!!lol....trying this now

 

Official Report:

This BIOS only made things WORSE!!!

Missed keystrokes are immediate upon bootup (didn't even have to wait for a sleep cycle) and the touchpad freakouts happen more times than not now.

This was a step in the WRONG direction.

Result: Rolling back to 211 and waiting for someone to do thier job. This is REALLY sad that almost a year after the laptop is introduced we have a hacked "beta" attempt that only makes things worse. As a FYI, I have at least 6-8 friends that ought Asus laptops of many different models in the last year and at least 3-4 of them have described that the trackpad freaks out for them as well. This is a systemic problem and Asus needs to start putting the resources out there to deal with it effectively. This small-scale attempt is not even a good start, but mere subterfuge. Tell the higher ups in Asus to put people on the problem and get it fixed, lest a class-action lawsuit be the only way for us consumers to get satisfaction. It would be really sad to let it come to that, but ideally I have spent over $5k in Asus products in the last year alone, and in the past 2 months I spent $3300 on more equipment that I would have loved to have purchased Asus products, but until they take responsibility and fix thier defective engineering and development work, I refuse to spend more money on Asus products. That $3300 went to eVGA, MSI, Gigabyte and Dell. And sorry, it doesn't take 4-6 months to fix this stuff, it is OBVIOUS that the management at Asus doesn't care to utilize the resources on hand to support a defective product. They woudl rather use those resources to work on newer products and make more money of of other customers, as they obviously feel they already have ours so we don't matter.


And for the record, a fix that requires certain drivers (ones that won't allow for future updates if there IS ever a fix) isn't a real "fix" at all, but a stop-gap measure. Just like the vBIOS that was required so that we can us standard ATI video drivers (not the special-cooked Asus version), whatever fix this is shouldn't require a specific driver that will never be updated. I understand the "controlled environment" attempt towards this BIOS release, but, honestly, if you have to run all specific versions of something to get it to work, it is not a fix.

 

TallRed, we want to just know if it works or not. Sheesh.

 

It seems to have gotten better, will test more to see.

 

While I secretly feel similarly as TallRed about the amount of woe that has happened over ASUS's product(s), I don't want to detract from everyone's amazing efforts to get things to where they are now. Yeah, it does kind of suck that the community had to step up like this instead of it working out of the gate, but that's the hand we're dealt.

Imagine if this was rampant, though. What if it was even worse. What if game systems that sold millions of the same unit all had major issues that were slow to be corrected, or impossible to correct due to the flaws being in the hardware.

Oh wait.



Point is, we're kind of lucky here in that (hopefully) things CAN be fixed with software updates.

 

You mean hopefully it will get fixed with a software update...

 

Thanks for the link. I will download it and try it out later on today.

 

worked for me perfectly in the european version of the G73-A1. I also have X-FI working perfectly with 2.55 now. no keystrokes missing at all, the touchpad seems to be like a kitten compared to the tiger it was!

10.12 working fine also. my system seems actually more responsive!

thanks for this fix. it actually makes this system workable on again, rather than sitting doing nothing bar playing movies and music in my living room.

i'm on chasts vbios.

to get X-Fi working i used the software CD from my X-Fi USB 5.1 external. i wasn't expecting it to recognise the realtek, but it supports both!. and it updates properly from the creative site also I get the choice to pick cards, from the MB or the USB. sound is nice.

Alchemy also works better with the cd version, it doesn't lock up now.

 

Hi all,

Just curious about whether the missing keystroke and touchpad issues were on folks machines when they got them or whether they cropped up after all the BIOS and vBIOS updates? I'm trying to figure out what things I specifically need to focus on for my machine. I've never had ANY issues except the GSOD, which were fixed by going to the catalyst 10.1 driver. My computer has been running like gold since; however, I need to install some software from work (ESRI's ArcGIS 10.0) and it won't work. I've worked with Tech Support and the last thing they have to try is to update the video card drivers....which I can't do because only 10.1 is stable for me hehe.

Soooo, I'm working up the courage to just reformat my machine (to get rid of all old drivers and all remaining bits of the ESRI software that I tried installing/uninstalling 10 times or so), update the BIOS to 211 and flash the vBIOS. If I'm understanding correctly, at that time I should be able to install Catalyst 10.12 and all should be well. I'm getting a little confused about what OTHER drivers I should be updating on top of that. If I'm NOT having these keystroke/touchpad issues, should I refrain from messing with the updates you guys list at the start of this thread?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! I'm very nervous about all of this

-Tara

 

Mine has had the touchpad issue from day one. It shipped with the 209 bios. I installed all of the drivers asked for in the keystroke / touchpad possible fix thread including the 10.12 video driver prior to updating the video bios. The 10.12 drivers installed without a hitch and the machine was fine. I did not game with it though, I think that is where the problem will happen, having the latest drivers with the older vbois.

Like you I was fearful of bricking my machine. I really want to get my touchpad working correctly though so I felt I had to do it. I must say it was very easy. Read the guides and you will have no problems. Like I said I did all of the suggested driver updates then the bios and lastly the vbios. I used an old 128 meg jump drive, formatted to fat 32. It was all good. Good Luck

 

is it necessary to update the vbios or can i just go ahead for the 211v2 bios?

 

You could do one. The main bios is the biggest risk though, if it fails your done. A failed vbios can be recovered from. There was an article on the forum somewhere about doing a blind vbios update.

I am not sure what the software is you are trying to install, but I would bet it is not a problem that will be cured by having the latest software.

 

You can do the system Bios first if you want.
The reason for the Vbios is they are trying to get everyone on an even field so it will be easier to find any issues.

On my system the new Vbios let me use the video drivers from AMD/ATI .
I use Chasity's Vbios but you can use either one and be fine.

So far my system and Touch Pad are working fine. It was a rough start on my system but after redoing some of the installs and the sort all started working fine.
I am typing while using the Touch Pad, I could not do that before as it was just about impossible with the lag and missed key strokes .
My ( s ) key has dropped out once but after that it has not happened again. And I have been trying to make it come about.
So for me this has been a gain , I'll keep on using this and if something drops out I will send in another diag file and let them try to work out what happened.

 

Thanks for the update My g73 has being a little iffy and this helped a lot!

 

Just for the record... I installed all of the suggested drivers and both the vbios and system bios and the touchpad problem still persists on my JH machine.

 

Morecoffee I had the same thing happen to me when I first installed all the fixes.
In fact it was worse than before the Touch Pad was all over the place, I could not really control anything with it.

I do not know what did it for my machine but when I re installed the Bios beta from Gary and the other files, all started working. The Touch Pad works fine now, and the lag and missed keystrokes have stopped , or at least slowed down to where I am not seeing them as I type.

I should have checked each time after each install but I did not.
You might make sure your Notebook Bios are set back to the basic setting and then do a reflash and see what happens.

But I can say that I am stumped as to what part caused my system to start working but it did. I was about to just give up on the fix and move on till they came out with something else , I am glad I did not.

 

It helps out a bit, but I still have some lag and missing keystrokes, which REALLY sucks as it makes music games completely unplayable (and they'll be unplayable until there's a fix that works 100%, not just 99.999%, which this isn't either).

It's nice to see some progress, but I'm going back to the old bios and disabling the touchpad again.

 

Uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers may have helped by the fact the system sets up the hardware with the new BIOS configuration. I do not know what they changed, but having the hardware redetected may help out.

 

Chastity - Are you suggesting I reinstall the driver list Gary suggested? I did the bios flashes last when I did it. So what you are saying is... The drivers may install differently depending on the environment changes made by the new bios.

 

The trackpad drivers would probably be the one to have reinstalled, and also the keyboard filter driver. I'm sure there are other drivers that could, and should be updated. I'm beginning to think that a maintenance guide is in order, but I am too tired to write one up right now. That one will take awhile to do.

 

I know that when I re installed the Beta Bios and then re installed the drivers and software that Gary had posted all started to work.
It did take a little while as I rebooted each time I did a install, to make sure all the resources where taken by the driver , that way when the next installed it would not use any that was already used.
The last that I installed was the new driver for the Track Pad. After I did this all worked and so far it is working great.
Before this I could not get the Track Pad to work and the Keyboard lag and missed keys made it to where I could not even type a short text.

 

My keyboard has always been fine. I have reinstalled the drivers and the touchpad still goes flaky. It will work well for a while and then it starts to become unresponsive. Usually the first indication is a missed 'tap to select'. Then it will not move properly... then it will do the quick horizontal glide all the way to the right side of the screen, usually after a tap. If I happen to have blinked at the same instance I have to refind it... then I go back to using my trackball.

 

Just to update, reinstalling all the drivers AFTER updating the BIOS seemed to do the trick. I played four full games of DJ MAX Trilogy (kinda like Stepmania for those who don't know it) and didn't get any missed key presses. Given the sheer amount of keys you have to press in that game in a short period of time, and how strict it is with timing, I'm willing to say that the issue is fixed for me.

I also opened a Word document and typed "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" twenty times with no issues either.

Now if only there were a way to make the damn mouse button less stiff I'd find it COMPLETELY usable, but that's a bit beyond a simple BIOS update.

 

I just set up the Touch pad so I did not have to use the buttons. Now it works great.

 

Does anyone else get an annoying Security pop-up window on every reboot after installing the recommended Synaptics drivers in the original post?