Keyboard Light Fix (Gary Key)

LOL
Well, chances are ziddy was being unprofessional and the mod booted him for saying something inappropriate.

As much as I love ziddy's comments (and I hope he makes a new account and comes back on.... or gets un-banned), I wouldn't take any abuse as a mod either. It's not abusing power, it's not dealing with stuff you don't have to.

 

How do I boot off the USB? Trying to fix the lights but with no luck.
This is what I've done so far..
I've used the HPUSBDisk app and pointed to the win98boot file. I then unzipped the the fixmykb 'patch' onto the USB. I restart my computer and enter the BIOS, where I add a boot option. I try to go to the listed USB and hit enter but that doesn't add it to the boot options. I've typed several different things into the 'add device' like USB STICK, USB DEVICE, etc but I'm not sure what the correct name is (or even if that's what I need to do). I hit 'create' and place the name I've added into the #1 boot spot then save and exit. When it reboots, all I get is a cursor. I'm sure I'm missing something.
BIOS 211

 

First, you don't have to configure a new boot order just to boot to a USB device once. Just hit ESC while booting and select the USB device as the boot device.

Aside from that, it sounds like your USB device isn't configured properly as a boot device.

 

I appreciate the help! I hit ESC and booted to the USB running the fix (again and again) but still no lights. I read Gary Keys step by step for about the 20th time and finally 'noticed' the bit about 2 systems needing their ATK drivers reinstalled... I now have lights Give it up for reading comprehension. ..

 

I have followed all the steps but I cannot get it to boot the the usb drive.
G73JH
When I do boot to the USB drive, i just get a black screen with white cursor and cant do anything.

Really want to get this fixed. Any ideas that i can double check

 

When I use the HP program to make the startup disk and point it to the Win98 files, when it is done, should I see those win98 files on the USB drive?

OR

SHould the only 2 files be the fixmykb files

 

You will see the files only if you have enabled Windows to show hidden files, folders and drives under folder and search options. These files are hidden by default.

 

Thanks, I just got this computer so I have not enabled show hidden files yet. THANKS. I will rerun the HP tool (Since I tried a few other things after) and put the fixmykb files on.

 

OK, I have come under the same issue with the keyboard lights not coming on (other lights are though).
I took it on myself to upgrade/repaste my laptop using Tunix-MX2 I believe, and inserted an OEM i7-920xm into the socket. Everything went fine, with my multipliers being 25/25/27/28 sofar. After a reboot or two, my keyboard lights no longer function, while everything else is perfect. I made sure my lights were completely powered down (All Off), then I tried running the fix on Post One, and Chastity's link, with the hex code of 7C popping up as the result. Neither one gave positive results, nor borked anything further.
What is the hex code supposed to pop up as when you run fixmykb in dos?

Like I said, everything else is 100+% in terms of stability and functionality, my keyboard even types perfectly (minus the mousepad), it is just the lights that will not turn on, not even on boot up. My last bios update (via winflash even), was when 211 came out, and I had no issues of loss then either. I have repeatedly checked the connector for the lights also, and it is seated in there firmly and correct positioning.

**EDIT**

Just to verify:
* Ribbons are connected firmly, no damage to ribbon connector.
* ATK Acknowledges that I am doing Fn-F3 or Fn-F4, but no response from the keyboards lights.
* The 3 buttons, Caps/Num Lock, and the bar under the screen light up as they are supposed to.
* Keyboard types wonderfully, no missed keys, only if synaptics pad is disabled.
* I have applied the update to the keyboard, registers as 7C.

 

The exposed gold part faces up on the ribbon. Common mistake.

If you incidentally pulled the ribbon out w/o unlocking it first, you may have bent the pins internally, like I did.

 

The ribbon connectors (gold side up) is good, always been face up.

As for being pulled out, I did that the first time, but it has booted up fine each time afterwards. Now, as you said, you bent the pins internally, is there any way to rectify it without a new motherboard?

It only started malfunctioning since last night, and I have not touched the internals for atleast a day prior.

 

I haven't come across a good solution yet, other than a RMA.

 

RMA is going to be hard since it is a BestBuy model.

I guess I am going to have to power it down and take a magnifying glass and try and space the pins back out if they are moved.

OK, looking closer at the connector and connection part of the strip/cable...
* The cable appears to have a few rather sharp folds on it, 90* elbow type bends, impossible to straiten the wires out completely, appears to be no breakage.
* Looking into the connector port on the motherboard, I see nothing out of position, it looks normal.

With this information, could it still be a bad port, or could it be bad light/wires on keyboard?

 

Has this fixed been used on the g73jw? Is it a full bios flash? Wouldn't want to flash my jw with a jh bios. My laptop has all the same issues described by these threads. I can place my hd in a identical jw and the lights work on that machine. This would be great if it worked because i really don't want to rma the machine for just this. Thanks for the help.

 

I got my keyboard light wworkin again, but the cable ribbon isn't fully seated in, its about 75% in, with a slight bend that I made in the connection part, its only because I opened it, not a software issue on my behalf.

I am not sure what others think, but I would not cross-flash Bios across models, there are a few minor differences and one major one, the videocard, so who knows what may happen.

Also, what is the last thing you did before the light stopped working, and Fn-f4 don't raise the keyboard lights?

 

Yes, applying a BIOS fix to a model it's not intended for is (at least) a risky idea. It has nothing to do with the display adapter, however.

When mine stopped working (way before the patch was available - I was one of the first to go through RMA for this issue) it was after flashing the BIOS from the stock version to 206.

 

I used the fix on the g73jw and it worked perfect. After reading and looking at the files i could tell it wasn't a bios flash and just a program to change a couple bits in an eeprom, the keyboards im assuming.

What took my lights away was reinstalling the os right after i got the machine to get rid of all the bloatware. Everything on the machine is perfect now, im loving it, especially with the new graphics drivers that recently came out. They took care of a few visual glitches in wow.

Thank you for putting this out, saved me the headache of a rma or living with no lights.
cheers

 

Howdy Gang,

First Post! just wanted to thank everyone here for their help in resolving the keyboard light issue. Very happy to be comfortably typing this in a dark room

cheers

 

Will it be working with Asus G53Jw as well? :\

 

No. Did your KB lights die when updating a bios?

 

I sent it in RMA, they changed my motherboard and the laptop went back with no backlit working.

 

Good chance they put the ribbon cable for the lights upside down.

 

I checked it and it was, but it doesn't work by plugging it in the correct way. :\ I don't want to arrange another RMA T_T

 

Well then, this "fix" likely won't repair your problem, since it addresses a different cause for the same problem.

Example: My car won't start, and your car won't start. My car is out of gas, your car has no motor.

Adding gas to your car won't fix it, even though it fixed mine.

 

Why do you think it's a different cause?

 

lol, thats an interesting way of putting it. but still, they did a sloppy fixing job then

 

Yeah, but what's the reason? -.-

 

A) You've got a different model, so the chance of you have the same problem on a different model is slight, and ...

B) Different cause.

 

I tried this fixmykb thing and it fixed my fn+ f3 and f4 buttons. but didn't get it to light on. restarted 2 times. maybe it's the wiring?

I got this when i redid the fix.

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu306/AsILayDaing/IMG_0821.jpg

 

I'm getting the same thing as AsILayDaing, anyone know what we're suppose to do?

Scratch that. Got it to work, I can see the increase/decrease brightness on my screen when i push fn+f3/4, but the light's aren't coming on at all.

Guess I'll have to send it back after all...

 

Tried doing it the boot way, I think I must have done something wrong. RMA mean remote assistance? Could someone do this for me or am I stuck sending this into Asus and being laptop-less for a while?

 

RMA means return merchandise authorization, when someones says RMA it it means send it back to asus to have it fixed.

EDIT: My asus RMA experience has been pretty much flawless in Canada, hope it goes as well for you if you opt to RMA since not all of us were so lucky.

 

Which i did since this fix didn't work for me. now its working again!

 

How long did it take Asus to get the laptop back to you?
And how/where can I check my warranty? I'm pretty sure the laptop is still covered either by Best Buy or Asus or both, but I bought the laptop used.

 

got mine in best buy CA. (i'm from the PH). i sure did a lot of tweaking and fixing before i got it to work how i wanted it to.

check the bottom part of your lappy, there's supposed to be a

"Check Number: XXXXXXXXXX
Warranty: 3M"

if you got it from BB.
Asus doesn't cover any refurbs that are sold by BB AFAIK.

since there's no BB here in the Philippines i brought it to a local Asus Center. it took only a day for my lights to be fixed.

 

Thanks a million for this fix. It works like a charm and I can type in the dark again after upgrading the bios.

Well done!

 

My lights work fine while logged into windows.

My only issue is that they are not on until after I log into windows. Which means I have to type my password in the dark.

Not a big deal but does the fix described here fix this or is this something totally different?

Should I stop whining and just deal with the typing my pw in the dark?

TIA

 

Lol there is a service in the background which controls the keyboard lights, that only starts up after Windows does completely (ergo, after you log in).

There isnt a "fix" but if you use hibernation mode or sleep mode, the keyboard lights will come on at log-in because the service that controls them is already loaded into memory.

 

Fair enough.

Thanks for the info!!

 

If you know the name of the service, you can change it's setting to start-up before login.

 

Yes, somebody done this and it worked. I will try to find this.

edit:
Keyboard light at login screen

You have to start the "HControl.exe" with the task planner.

Some points are translated in abstract manner.
Make a new entry in system->management->task planner.
General:
- independent from user login
- highest priority

Trigger:
- Systemstart

Actions:
- start program: "C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Package\ATK Hotkey\HControl.exe"

The keyboard light will go on after 1-2 seconds.

 

sweet nice little mod

 

Cool, I must have missed this one.

So I can go to task scheduler? New Entry = Create task?? Lol otherwise I seem to be able to find Trigger and Actions...dont know what to do beyond that

+1 to you @tilla

 

read cskx2001's solution so trying that now

 

Agreed +1 @tilla

I got it to work - login with admin account -
open task scheduler libary and create task
general tab - run whether user is logged in or not & run with highest...
Triggers - At startup
Actions - Start a program "C:\Program Files (x86)\ASUS\ATK Package\ATK Hotkey\HControl.exe"
conditions - uncheck everything
settings - allow task to be run on demand & Run ASAP....
History enabled (I do not think this matters, but It helped me to troubleshoot.
BTW I have UAC on at the second highest level.

 

I wonder if anyone still checks this? Just got my G73Sw Back from RMA and now the keyboard lights don't work (got a new motherboard, assuming BIOS was updated). Made boot drive according to Gary Key. When I typed fixmykb into the DOS prompt, I didn't get a successful flash, rather a "Can't write data" message.

Any suggestions?

 

stephywephy AFA I know this only works on the G73JH... If the lights worked
B4 RMA my guess is the cable for this may be loose or not hooked up. I assume you have already done the Software fixes such as the ATK driver install.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Despite the "Can't read" message, I went ahead and installed the ATK package anyway because I noticed upon reboot, my backlight flashed (hadn't happened before).

After ATK installation, the backlight works! Could be that it does work for G73Sw, could be that some combination of cursing and button mashing helped (I kid).

Problem solved.

 

Great!!!


Only an info: I used GlaryUtility to fix the problem of KB backlight. Now it works. But the light doesn't turn on/off automatically when I "overflight" my hand over the keyboard. It's so normal or am I forgetting to set something??

P.s.: sorry for my english

 

That sound normal. Once in windows 7 the lights can be turned on, and made brighter with fn f4... and brightness is turned down with fn f3.