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    M1330 Media LED Hack?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Mikeoo17, Oct 17, 2008.

  1. Mikeoo17

    Mikeoo17 Notebook Deity

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    Does anyone know how I could hack my media button LED's to stay on so I can see them in the dark? I have an XPS M1330


    Edit: I found this link where someone did find a way to control their LED's on an XPS 1710

    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/DLL/XPSLightFX.aspx
     
    Mikeoo17, Oct 17, 2008
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  2. ampedxpinoy

    ampedxpinoy Notebook Enthusiast

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    i have asked in other threads and the answer is no. maybe there is a hack that is not popular lingering around, but so far i have only seen negative responses.
     
    ampedxpinoy, Oct 17, 2008
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  3. Mikeoo17

    Mikeoo17 Notebook Deity

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    It's not impossible, just difficult. Anyone who figured out how to do it would get mega rep points.

    I found this link describing the method to control the LEDs on an XPS M1710 notebook.
     
    Mikeoo17, Oct 17, 2008
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  4. Dizzious

    Dizzious Newbie

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    Mike; I came across this thread looking for interesting hacks for my M1330 (which happens to be in pieces anyway at the moment) and I agree, a way to keep those lights on would be great. I think I might have some info that could help here.

    A problem that I foresee is possibly not being able to control the lights via software means; it might have to be done via hardware-only mods, and it might be something semi-permanent that you can't just turn on & off at will.

    I have the power button strip to mine here; and the circuitry belonging to those leds & touch-sensitive "buttons" looks incredibly simple. I don't think it would be too hard to identify what-needs-to-be-soldered-to-what in order to get the LED's to stay on all the time.

    It looks like changing the color of the LED's wouldn't be that difficult either, the solder joints holding those on aren't so small as to be impossible to work with.

    I still can't figure out how those touch-sensitive buttons work. Strange little buggers. Perhaps the sensors are built into the LED's?

    Pics -
    "Inside" side of the button strip - [img=http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9943/dsc03084oe7.th.jpg]
    Black tape taken off - [img=http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8850/dsc03085fg5.th.jpg]
    PCB removed from plastic & flipped upside down - [img=http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3838/dsc03087yr1.th.jpg]
     
    Dizzious, Feb 12, 2009
    #4