This fixes the issue in this one case : '7C' replaced by 'FF' in the EEPROM
http://pcaudio.org/stuff/G73JhFixKBLights.rar
make a usb boot drive, set your bios so flash drive comes first at start up, put bt.exe and fixmykb.bat to the usb key, run fixmykb.bat
Asus computers with a backlit keyboard come with the flag '7C' writen in the cnfg page of the EEPROM.
It's a small stiky memory on the motherboard. Apart from the BIOS.
The flag address is cnfg DD (and not 27 as writen in many forums)
Reading for weeks forums looking for a fix I learned that this flag is erased to 'FF' value :
- when flashing a new BIOS (mostly from windows and rarely from the startup utility)
- when reinstalling windows from the recovery partition (what I did)
- may be in fewer cases when reinstalling windows from the recovery DVDs
It seems, again reading forums from all over the world, that not all Asus RMA centers know that !
Some replaced, the keyboard, the mother board (!), send the computer back without fixing it, but in most cases, fixed it without any explanation.
For months now, ASUS does not release a patch. A very simple app from windows could write this back to EEPROM. But here's the Asus problem : one flag in this eeprom (27) tells windows installer what version (like pro or ultimate edition) of windows to install... So may be some guys overthere just dont want the BT.exe utility to be spread around.
In most cases, if you flashed the latest BIOS available, the latest ATK drivers and have your backlite keyboard not working, this fix will give the light back to you !
At last, some few users had the keyboard power rubbon unplugged. Before doing the hardware work to pull it out and risk dammaging this fragile plastic stuff, try this fix.
WORKS ON G73 and U80V (just begining the list). Brings also the light back to U80V illuminated trackpad.
U80V backlite keyboard & pad issue FIX
Discussion in 'Asus' started by fbiancon, Sep 7, 2010.