Disable XPS lights on screen hinge?

Yeah, I know it's kinda dumb but it's annoyingly bright when I've got the computer on at night and it's busy converting video or doing other work. It's also less power used.

It can't be done through software but has anyone physically unplugged them? I've not opened up the case yet so I don't know how practical that would be, thought I'd ask around first. This is on an SXPS 1640 model.

Thanks in advance.

 

I'd like to be able to change how they react. Like when im using them i'd like to have them fad in and out. Or be red or amber. Just me though

 

This isn't Alienware lol

 

You could ! Just buy some colored translucent paper and paste it there

 

I think cutting out some black electrical tape would be a better idea than opening up your LCD just to turn it off.

Also, I highly doubt it uses much power to affect your battery life significantly.

 

Yeah disabling them so that they never turn on might get you, what, like an extra minute at most?

 

haha i know its not alienware but darn i wish i could. it be a cool sleeper custom touch!

 

Hey...hey....I heard from someone (i.e. random person here) that the AW team designed the SXPS 16.

Just saying...LOL.

~Ibrahim~

 

OK well maybe they locked the light effects in the BIOS or something then.

And if they did that might be interesting.

 

They are really easy to unplug. Just unscrew the base of the laptop and then the screws to remove the palm rest and keyboard and you can simply unplug them at each corner underneath the keyboard.

 

Great! And this has no effect on the power button led, the media & bluetooth control lights or anything else?

 

Nope they each have their own power connectors.

 

maybe it has hidden color LEDs that aren't used but for some strange reason were placed there by the designers ( anyone remember colorpearl on the blackberry pearl? )

if i grew tired of those lights i would just put in some colored plastic to change them to red, that would be cool...

 

well i just opened it up and pulled the light plugs. not too tedious, just lots of tiny screws. i've noticed that in sleep when i close the screen lid, the media lights come on. if left open, they stay off. not a big deal i suppose but i don't remember it being like that beforehand. other than that, everything is 100%.

 

I tried to do the same thing, but got too scared after removing the two top screws for the palm rest. The palm rest just didn't want to come out. Then the clear sticker that protects the hinges started to get ripped, it was at that point that I said forget it. The tech will be coming on Tuesday to fix some things, among which to replace the LCD assembly, so I'll have him fix it > . . . for me the left light is just unplugged for some reason.

 

Whats wrong with your LCD assembly? Mine is all jacked up too..

 

I got it fixed. The entire LCD, frame and all, was replaced. What I had found out though, prior to the tech replacing it, is just that the left ring had been unplugged from the motherboard. Oh well. Now my once all plastic black is now the Alpine White w/leather!

 

The hinges do start flashing red when you reach the critical battery level in Windows 7. So the color can be controlled software wise (at least to red) somehow I would think.