Keyboard Lag Debugging

I modified the DLL that touchfreeze uses to ignore wheel events too if you start using touchfreeze. I think it is a page or three back in this thread. Assuming you can't use Synaptics because of the missed keys like me.

 

Thanks Chastity - I am trying to keep my laptop synaptic-free for the time being while I evaluate the keyboard on a clean windows install. So far so good, actually. I haven't had any long documents to type (or long posts for that matter) but since installing touchfreeze, the keyboard appears to be functioning okay with the default MS PS/2 driver, latest keyboard filter driver, and the most recent ATK package from Asus. Just out of curiousity, which package enables the special function keys? I thought it was the ATK driver but I have it installed and can't disable the touchpad with FN F9? Thanks!

 

Thanks - may check it out but so far so good with touchfreeze installed.

 

If you don't have synaptics installed the Fn+F9 key won't work.

 

Well, interestingly, after the most recent clean install (the first one was after getting the laptop in February), without Synaptic drivers installed and using the latest keyboard filter and ATK drivers from Asus (as well as the default MS drivers for the touchpad), I have been able to complete a multi-page report without noticing any missing keystrokes while having the touchpad enabled in the bios. There are a number of possible reasons, not the least of which being remnants of earlier drivers in my previous install of Windows coupled with a few previous bios updates. Whatever, the reason, I am very reluctant to load any Synaptic drivers until I do a full system backup. If I have the time this weekend, I will do just that and report back.

 

1.0006 is out

 

That's what I used in this clean install.

 

http://pcaudio.org/stuff/INF_allOS_9.1.2.1007_PV.rar

Download and extract, and run the setup with the following commandline:

"setup.exe -overall"

This will force overwrite the Intel drivers with the ones contained within the package. You need this, else it will not update anything that is not flagged as critical. This should help, as perhaps help with game stuttering.

I just typed a full page, and didn't have one dropped character.

 

Chastity - how did you stumble upon this? Also, which Synaptic package are you using? I am currently using default MS touchpad drivers and, if I install this, I want to make sure I use the same touchpad drivers are you. Thanks!

By the way, I have not noticed missed keystrokes since reinstalling windows 7 and am wondering whether I installed this same intel inf updater...

EDIT: Nope - it appears I used 9.1.1.1025

Thanks!

 

Chastity, sorry, what is this in regards to? Is this a missed keystroke fix? Also, how exactly do you run setup with the -overall command line?

 

Extract the archive to your desktop - Ctrl-Shift-right click on the folder that contains the setup file and a command prompt window will open up. Then type:

setup.exe -overall

The intel inf updater will then run - just follow the prompts.

 

how do we know if it's successful or not? Which device should I look under in device manager to find the new version?

 

Thank you! So this fixes the keyboard lag issue?

 

According to Chastity on her rig. I'm waiting to hear what Synaptic driver (if any) she is using for the touchpad. Keeping fingers crossed!

 

It's successful if you no longer notice missing keystrokes. Most of the devices updated are under System devices in device manager.

 

Where's Jody when you need feedback...

 

If you can let me know which touchpad driver you are using, I can let you know how it works on my rig. Since updating the inf package, things are still good here.

 

Mine all say like 9.1.1.1022

 

v15.0.11 03/05/10

 

Got it - thanks!

 

It works for me! Chastity, you deserve a prize. Not one missed keystroke! I can actually take notes in class now without having to go back and filling in 20 "e"s and "a"s. This needs a sticky!
v14.0.10 09Oct09 here and everything is typing wonderfully!

How did you ever come up with that solution?

 

I'll test it later. For now I'm avoiding it. The inf is installed though, I just need to observe it for about a day.

 

I am all over it. LOL.

Was doing laundry today and haven't been on my lovely G73 since yesterday.

Will begin testing immediately. I'm really good at testing this so it won't take long. I hope I hope I hope!

Dangit! I am still missing keystrokes.... just missed an S in MISSING... then I missed an N when trying to retype it. I had mising and missig. Well it was worth a shot. It seemed like the chipset update replaced a lot of things, though... my screen went blank for a minute, bluetooth went off and on again... lots of things happened.

Still missing keystrokes.

I did get an RMA number yesterday. My laptop does the screechy white noise crazy sound thing after I exit games sometimes. I asked them to replace my touchpad to try to eliminate the keyboard lag. I don't know if I am really going to send it in, but I do have an RMA number that is good for thirty days.

 

not sure how can help to the touchpad, but I'll try because I trust you


I'll give my report later (tomorrow)

 

It does no harm that I can see. Everything works just fine. I am pretty sure I'm still missing keystrokes, though. Chastity started another cool thread where she indicated that she thinks it began with the release of BIOS 209. I am now typing this with BIOS 206 installed to see if I can eliminate lag that way. I have never tried going back to an older BIOS and I don't know if I noticed this issue with the laptop the day I got it or if it showed up later... I just don't remember now.

 

Hey Chastity...is this an even newer version?

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=y&dwnldid=18180&lang=eng

 

My touchpad problem persists even with this beta (from Mar 2010) INF drivers. So, the system still perform good, but the touchpad remain with problem. Now i have 3 important question:

How do you go back safely to bios 206 from 211.

You use the 206 from asus website?

Where in the heck is this "cool threat" from chastity???


As note, I stated the same in my touchpad debbuging threat

 

hmmm i might have the wrong one....wierd newer date older version....someone tell me if it seem like the right one

 

ThreaD. It was a cool debug thread. She just started it. I downloaded 206 from Asus. I probably have it laying around somewhere but it was quicker just to download it again. I threw it on a USB flash drive, booted into BIOS, ran EZ-Flash and chose the 206 file from the USB drive.

It didn't help, though. I think I'm still missing keystrokes. I was running 211 and went down to 206. It didn't make a difference.

I just went and looked. It wasn't Chastity's thread. It was yours. Oops.

I don't think downgrading the BIOS helps. I am pretty sure my laptop has done this since I got it and I've had it since before 206.

 

Tried it, makes no difference for me either. Still missing keystrokes in every sentance...
If only i had the cover with the new touchpad to try out, but my Asusparts G73JW Top Cover order is still marked as "waiting for parts" .

 

Am I the lucky one or something? I'm currently in lecture (clearly paying attention) and keeping up with notes at around 80-90 WPM. Any errors are on my own part, and if they're not, the problem is definitely 99% fixed. It would be around every other word if I wasn't looking at my screen and typing before, now it's almost at 100% accuracy.

 

You're not the only one. I never had keyboard lag but my touchpad is still working since installing the beta inf.

I honestly hope it breaks again soon though because I'd hate to have it act up again after the 6th, my last day in warranty.

 

I also still have problems with missed characters and the trackpad flaking out. The chipset update did make the system more snappy, but did not fix the keyboard/trackpad issues.

 

The point is that the INF installer doesn't update every component when an older version exists unless it's flagged as critical. This can lead to a sluggish, or stuttering response from your system when it gets overlaid with different builds of it's libraries.

Using -overall will force the installer to use all the components from the same build, which should have optimal performance interacting with each other.

I wasn't sure if this would fix everyone, but it should serve as a good tune-up for your install.

I would also recommend doing the same with the RST drivers.

EDIT: Drivers listed as for X58 chipset only. May or may not have issues. NVM, link removed.

 

Well I installed the latest synaptics drivers from the asus site (for the JW) and just typed a page of text and didn't have a single missing keystroke that I could not attribute to my own typing. Granted, a clean install of windows 7 (the second clean install) with the latest inf's posted on intel's site may have fixed the problem. However, installing these using the -overall command certainly didn't hurt!

For the first time since I purchased this laptop, it appears as though I can keep the touchpad enabled in the bios and use the laptop as intended!

 

I asked this in one other place, but in case you guys aren't checking both threads...

Is anyone experiencing lag with a stock Asus install? I am running a clean install and I have lag. I never used the laptop with the Asus install. I wiped it the day I got it and put my own setup on there.

 

I never used stock either. In fact I'll never get to use stock Asus because Cowboom.com didn't send me recovery disks and they sold me the laptop with no recovery partition installed. Sorry I can't help.

 

When I first got my G73 and prior to a clean install, I was getting missed keystrokes. That was one of the reasons I did the first clean install. However, if memory serves, I used the driver disk on the first reinstall which would have installed the same inf updates as on stock. It wasn't until this last install that I decided to only use the drivers and updates from the Asus site and the latest inf installer directly from intel. It would be a surprise if chipset drivers made that much of a difference but that is one of the only differences in my case.

 

Thank you for the reply. I have done two different clean installs so I'm pretty sure doing that again won't help either. I guess I'll either wait or ship it back on the RMA number I obtained yesterday.

 

I recently tried what a user over the Asus forums did... I cut the end of the keyboard connector off (only where the dark contacts were showing), then began slowly peeled back the blue cover to reveal bright and shiny METAL contacts. I cleaned that up, cut it straight, and put the kayboard back in. I only shortened the length of the cable by about a half of a centimeter at most. My typing is now super responsive and doesn't have that laggy feel.

My theory here is that with the black electrical contacts, there is a low level of resitance. The electrical current/voltage may be shared between the touchpad and keyboard, such as that when the touchpad is drawing power, the voltage drops and then encounters a bit of resistance in the default keyboard connector. Revealing a cleaner metal to metal connnection between the keyboard and motherboard seems to allow a solid lag-free connection despite the draw from the touchpad.

 

I saw this elsewhere. I pulled the keyboard and cleaned the black paint-like material from the contacts revealing shiny copper. It made no difference at all.

 

Same here - though I didn't physically cut the cable. However, I did get a new keyboard with a new ribbon which made no difference. The only thing that has made a substantial difference (short of disabling the touchpad in the bios) was a clean install of windows and installing the newest intel chipsets drivers.

 

I just pulled my keyboard out of desperation/frustration and trimmed back the cable to where there are shiny metal contact surfaces showing. It made no difference at all. Still missing keystrokes at exactly the same rate. Now I have to buy a new keyboard because you can never RMA it like that. If they see the ribbon cable trimmed back they will not want to work on it. Stupid move on my part. It's not ruined. It works like it always did, but that is something that would alarm an Asus tech.

 

Chastity hits Jody with an angry porcupine in heat.

 

Oh Jody! I feel your desperation but... Words escape me.

 

Bad Jody! No cookie for you!

I ordered a replacement keyboard from ebay. Managed to find an actual G73JH keyboard so the color won't be "off". At least I don't have to deal with the excitement and anticipation of it fixing the lag problem. I already know it won't.

The same seller has a used palmrest from an X1. I was tempted to buy it and see if that fixes the problem. I decided in the end that if HellCry finds that the new JW palmrest fixes the issue, I'll buy one of those. No sense it taking a chance on a used palmrest/touchpad and going through all the work to take it apart for a 50/50 chance of getting a touchpad with the exact same problem.

 

Ouch - well, maybe you can't RMA the keyboard, but what is the problem RMA'ing the laptop in that state... is there a warranty void sticker on the ribbon cable for the keyboard or something?

Too bad it didn't fix your issue - remember that those black lines on the original cable ARE the contacts, so if you rub those down, you are just making the connection worse. Perhaps not all G73jh keyboards are equal, but trying this (rubbing the black connectors away) is what made my keyboard not work right in the first place, prompting me to cut the cable and pull the coating back. It works great now at least...

 

It's not supposed to be under the two-year warranty? Why just not RMA for a new touchpad and palm rest more than to finish with a frankstein laptop. At last they can install the right keyboard and (hopefully) the right (and working) touchpad.

 

I hear you. I don't disagree. I have a keyboard on the way. They are easy to pop in and I won't have to explain to Asus why I was screwing with the ribbon cable that way.

I was thinking it might be worth shipping in a palmrest so I don't have to be without the laptop for a month or longer while they chase a problem they don't even have a good fix for. A motherboard or palmrest might fix it or might not. I think something around half the laptops have this problem. If they change the motherboard, my ICD7 repaste is gone and I'll have to do that again.

If the palmrest fixes it, I can order one and throw it in there at my convenience. If the laptop dies, I can always put the old one back on before shipping.

That probably sounds stupid, but I'd rather pay $60 for a part than be without a laptop for a month. I see people on eBay getting $1000 for this thing. I have even considered selling it and getting something more dependable. In the end, I decided I would be willing to spend a few more bucks to make this one perfect rather than taking a $500 loss and starting over with a different laptop with a different set of problems.

 

Under this arguments, I totally agree with you.

The thing now is, if is a hardware problem, your new part can carry the same problem since, in my opinion, since my troubleshooting about the touchpad, the problems seems to be hardware controllers more than the hardware itself. In my case, the touchpad work perfect for a while before to became choppy.