Dv6-6XXX backlit keyboard?

Alright, I just got my DV6 and it's a wonderful machine, but the lack of a backlit keyboard kinda makes it a pain to type in low light.

So I have a couple questions: Was the backlit keyboard for the dv6-3000 offered in CTO rigs or was it an aftermarket part? (i.e. would there be a chance that HP would offer a backlit keyboard as an aftermarket part for the dv6-6000 as well)

Would it be possible to put the backlit keyboard for the dv6-3000 into a dv6-6000?

edit: oops, just saw the modding thread. Guess this is kinda redundant.

 

Not sure if you found your answer, but I was looking on ebay for the same thing for my laptop and I actually saw a backlit keyboard for your model number. Just search for "hp backlit" and it should be near the top of the results.

 

How much did you pay for this machine? You can get an Envy 17 with a backlit keyboard for as little as $920 when there is a 30% coupon available like there was last week. Not sure about this week...

I returned my dv6t and got the Envy 17 because of that deal.

 

Sorry for bumping a dead thread but I didn't think it necessary to create a new one.

Question is this; will a dv7000 keyboard fit in a dv6-6135dx?

Edit: Working keyboard found see thread.

 

If there is another thread as mentioned above, please point me to it. Has anyone found a backlit keyboard that will work for the DV6-6000 series?

Will the 3000 or 7000 series work?

Any others work?

Anyone actually have one working and can comment on battery life, etc. Does it blind you in the dark? Can you turn it off?

Thanks!

Chris

 

I have a dv6 6170sl and I am also interested in changing the keyboard with a backlit one, is it possible in this model? Is the whole dv6 6XXX series not compatible with any kind of backlit keyboard?

How many connector does a backlit keyboard has in comparison with a non backlit one?
Is the only problem the lack of a connector to power the keyboard?
Isn't there any possible workaround?

Thanks, any help is appreciated!

 

Most common is a tiny, extra connector; backlight is a separate device. Example:
NEW For HP ENVY DV6-7200 DV6-7300 Keyboard Backlit US

Spoiler: keyboard with backlight

The cable is not just for power; you also need a way to turn it on/off and, usually, control intensity. Connector is hooked to bios or EC, so this too needs to accommodate a backlit keyboard (specific driver/app).

DV6 series has about 10 million different motherboard configurations (maybe a bit less ...). So even "6170sSL" is not enough to tell whether your motherboard has that extra connector or merely some soldering pins. Easiest and fastest is simply to look.

 

Spoiler

Top left for the fingerprint, central for keyboard, right for the touchpad, bottom left it's for the USB and the three on the right are for the display, power button and.. something else is there a way recognise the backlight connector on the motherboard? Is the photo of any help?

I think the motherboard should be a "HM65 DSC HD6770/1G DUO", not that sure (I'll look directly on the motherboard asap, and maybe take another photo)

Thanks for helping!

Edit: the something else is the fan connector

 

They'll be labelled on the pcb; so keyboard would something like "KB". Backlight connector will be small; 4, maybe 8 pins. Easier to remove top cover, also consider that top cover might be different with a non-bl model; could obscure a connector simply because it wouldn't be used.

Finding the diagrams of that motherboard model would also do it (or high-res photos).

Still need to find a likely candidate for the keyboard; from that photo it'll be a model with a U-turn cable or a straight cable. As long as it terminates straight-down at the bottom and middle (some fold back). Find one like that, only with backlight will tell you where the backlight connector should be on the motherboard. Number of pins of the kb cable also need to match your current keyboard; so 24 -> 24, for instance (different types exist).

 

I've taken several photos of the mobo but hopefully this is the only one needed

Spoiler

(If that is it) is soldering a zif connector enough to get it working or the fact that simply isn't there means it is not supported?

Thank you for the response!

 

Yup, that'll be it. And no; there are tracings leaving the pins, so at least there's a connection. Gotta remember that manufacturers are lazy/economical; it's cheaper to mass-produce a single type of motherboard and simply leave out the parts that won't be used. Whether it functions; if you can manage to start it up with the solder blobs exposed, then a multimeter will tell you if they're powered. One or two will show voltage.

Connector would be nice, but might be difficult to find one for cheap. Maybe check junk heap of discarded pcbs? Otherwise; solder four small wires to the pins and attach their ends to the kb cable. Or solder directly, but that would make it non-detachable.

Don't limit search to Pavilions only; anything HP might fit. Law of the big numbers again. Do take care that kb cable is 32-pins/wires wide:

 

It seems there is no voltage... I guess the problem is in the bios, do you think there's a way to get it powered via software (bios patch, or something else)?

P.s. does the two big soldering points on the sides of the four pins have only a mechanical purpose (making the connector more stable)? (Anyway I also tested those two for voltage)

 

Possibly the default setting upon boot is powered-off? In that case you could try a HP driver that controls the kb backlight, some sort of flashy app-thingy (bloatware, usually) or there might be a simple Fn+key combination (look for Fn markings on HP backlit keyboards). And yes, has to be controlled via the bios (or EC). But here, too, there's simplicity; same bios on many systems. That there's no backlight option in bios doesn't mean it isn't there, could very well be hidden. Cross-flashing another bios is possible, yet not without risk.

The large blobs are indeed mechanical only.

 

Found nothing in the bios options, with a rapid search I found this
http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?swItemId=ob_111429_1&swEnvOid=4060#tab6 I'll try to install it and see what happens


Edit: no luck with the program, some error pops up and the installation cannot be completed...

I'd rather avoid doing stuff to the bios, unless someone has done it first What if I take the power for the backlight from somewhere else? Could be from the HP logo on the display lid, or, even better, the touchpad ring (I could directly turn it on and off with fn+spacebar)... what do you think? Do you know the voltage required for the backlight of the keyboard? So I'll know what to look for, (I'll also check if the light ring cable is on its own)

Spoiler

Thanks again for helping, if I'll sort something out I'll do a guide

 

Think 'unsupported platform' or the like? That's expected, normally an .inf mod would help, but there's no such thing with this installer. Can intercept the files needed though; during install it'll extract twice and place 'HPBLKB64.msi' in a temporary folder. While the install window is open it can be copied somewhere else and extracted. All the dll's and exe's will be there with some padding to their filenames. Remove the padding and they're exactly the same as with a normal install. Might need more work to make them function, though; registry keys, service install etc. ...

Kb backlight on my system is 5V and so is the LED logo in the display lid (non-present, but the solder blobs are powered). Practically every laptop component is either 3.3V or 5V. Touchpad should be fine too, perhaps even easier if it has an identical 4-pin socket (separate); plug in kb backlight connector and you're done. Keyboard may take more mA, but shouldn't be an issue; all very low power and they're on the same 5V rail.

Think the logo's the best solution; already has long wires, only need to disconnect (or split-off) from logo and reroute to the keyboard area (plus it's pretty useless, anyway). Might splice in slide pot to have variable output.

 

The error was strange, translating from Italian "La finestra di dialogo SetupError ha il bit dello stile impostato, ma non è una finestra di errore" it's something like "The dialog window SetupError has the style's bit set up, but it is not an error window"...don't know what it means



I noticed it extracting the "HPBLKB64.msi" too. As for working with registry keys and dlls I am not very skilled, and at the end it might even says simply that backlight is not supported by the BIOS... I'll try with the touchpad (which should let me turn it on and off easily, without the switch) and then the logo (and find a place for the switch on the case )... or maybe both


Edit: I'm having some difficulties in finding a compatible keyboard, I can't find the ones with u turn cables, any advice for where to look?

Spoiler

If it's with italian layout it's better, the ones that I've found have all a straight or curved cable
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/Italian-Layout/1317085_501095351/1.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-HP-ENVY...809?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item25a49c5921
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-HP-...574?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aadb37976
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-HP-M6-1000-M6-1205DX-US-Backlight-Keyboard-698404-001/151718473757?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=29979&meid=6f1fdc1711f543dfae4688a44e6cad73&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=252022323574
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Envy-M6-1000-Silver-Black-Backlit-Laptop-Keyboard-698404-001/371371932992?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=1&asc=29979&meid=6f1fdc1711f543dfae4688a44e6cad73&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=252022323574

http://www.amazon.it/Tastiera-Itali...id=1438161079&sr=8-6&keywords=hp+dv6+tastiera
http://www.amazon.it/Tastiera-Itali...id=1438161079&sr=8-3&keywords=hp+dv6+tastiera

any help is really appreciated

 

anything?

 

Just in case, the extracted files from the msi:
HP Backlit Keyboard Controls v1.5.6.1.7z

Ignore the U-turn; the cables can fold. Only need to make sure it has 32 pins and that it can physically reach the connector.

These will most likely run:

• HP Pavilion DV4-3000 DV4-3100 DV4-3200 GK Keyboard Greek PK
  
• HP ZBook MP-12P23USJ698W PK130TK2A00 US backlit KEYBOARD

Question is whether they'll fit nicely in the DV6 base. Easiest method is to inquire with the seller; ask them to measure their exact height+width. Once you know which HP 32-pin has the right size you can look for an identical keyboard, except Italian, this time.

Mind, though, that you can make any language kb into any other language kb using a sticker set ... :

• ITALIAN NON-TRANSPARENT KEYBOARD STICKER BLACK
• Italian LARGE LETTERING keyboard sticker black
  
• MAC ITALIAN KEYBOARD STICKERS BLACK COLOR

... and switch keyboard language in the OS, then use a keyboard remapper to alter any that are still missing/erroneous.

Hmm ... thinking of sticker sets:

• Fluorescent keyboard stickers

 

Would it be possible to Tap into the power supply for the LED around the mouse/track pad? Then have 3 LEDs under the keys?

 

Sure, they're the same leds, only extended in a strip. Power draw is so slim, a few more shouldn't be a problem. Difficulty will be fitting them underneath the keys as there's usually not much room to spare. Don't think something like this will do, perhaps a thread-like type may work ...

Hmm ... glass-fiber? That way you can place the light source wherever there's room and thread the tiny strands between the rows of keys. Super glue should suffice to hold them down.

 

After reading through a 75page forum today... I found this(literally the last post!)

kevin38423198Newbie
Finally, i have got keyboard backlight working on my dv6!!! I used the connector for the fingerprint reader, because it's a nice feature but I can live without it. It's not optimal, because it seems like it's not getting the full +5V, but it's something!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gxn3mrj6fhb6kk7/AACA6NszygdvnBbcaOOnnx1Ba?dl=0

Here is a link to pictures of it. One picture is made while it's not in the laptop, but connected to an external +5V source. You can clearly see that it's brighter in that picture.

Mar 22, 2015

This was on his
HP dv6-6b41ed

Now if I get the dv6 7000 backlit keyboard http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-for-HP-Pa...top-keyboard-backlit-/161413942583?nav=SEARCH

Just to make sure, I can fold the ribbon cable? Will it be backwards if I fold it tho (like the connections)??

The next thing is idk where the fingerprint scanner input is, is it too far from the end of that(backlit) cable?

 

Could you send me more pics on your mobo(mine is very similar, but don't trust myself to take it apart quite yet. Lol)

 

I found a used keyboard for 14 bucks I'm gonna order it. In the previous thread in mentioned(75pg) I read that somebody said it might be possible to take the back-lit backing off of the keyboard, if that's possible then transfer it onto my existing keyboard. Then pop off my keys and put those keys on(mine are not semi-transparent but the other ones should be) then I wouldn't have to worry about the folding making the pins line up backwards or anything. 1st step, order the board


Edit: also picked up a spare keyboard for my dv6-6145dx (9bucks on ebay) I'm gonna play around with the 2 before I go in and take my computer apart( never took it apart before lol) but I'm relatively confident I can do it. I worked on many Xbox 360s and a couple ps3s. With their rrod and ylod

 

The best way to disassemble the PC is to follow strictly the maintenance guide of your computer, which you can find here

http://support.hp.com/us-en/product...ebook-PC-series/5082212/model/5169542/manuals

Manual direct link http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02842252

Just follow the instructions under the menu "removal and replacement procedures"

I found the manual incredibly helpful, if it isn't enough feel free to ask any help, and I'll send you some pictures if still needed

P.s. I can't open the dropbox link, seems dead... And I'm really interested!
Keep us updated

 

Confirmation of both shipped today
HP dv6 7000(back-lit) ETA is Monday the 4th
Hp dv6 6000 ETA Thursday the 7th.

Yeah I've read through it many times anlong with watch many videos to help familarize myself. I would like to combine with the ho logo light but I fear it's not long enough and I don't want to solder(definatle not good with that lol)

 

,

HP dv6 7000(back-lit) came today. it actually came off really easy. it was put on with adhesive. you can see the sticky part as the shiny parts on the black lines. i bought it used, so there is some discoloration. i dont know if it lights up, but it lines up perfectly on top of my existing keyboard.
i was doing research and it looks like the fingerprint scanner is an 8 pin zif connector, vs the 4pin zif that i need for the backlit cable. when i take my keyboard off to add the backlit to the keyboard, can i plug the computer in to figure out which pins i need to put the backlit cable in? basically is it safe to not have the keyboard in while the computer is on(i know i need parts of the back off to remove the keyboard) ?

 

My order for the dv6 6000 keyboard was canceled...
However on a much better note I was on Craigslist and found a parts laptop for 20 bucks. Dv6 6190us

This has a full HD display with the proper display cable... According to some research the part numbers are the same:

6145dx:
http://www.laptoppartsexpert.com/i-...isplay-screen-replacement-15-6in-full-hd.html

6190us:
http://www.laptoppartsexpert.com/i-...isplay-screen-replacement-15-6in-full-hd.html

The 6190 also has the proper display cable. So I will attempt a full HD upgrade on my 6145dx

I'm going to work on it a bit with my brother tomorrow. He knows more about computers than I do. I will take pics and everything.

 

It worked!!!

 

It worked!!

 

Hi,

could you tell us some more detail? Did you really use the fingerprint sensor connector? And which of the 8 pins?

Thank you

 

My finger print scanner has 6 pins. I connected the 4pin backlit to the bottom 4. see pic and video here:
https://goo.gl/photos/yfto1KpLp9po9YjS6

 

Thank you

You 've been more than helpful!

One last question: you used a dv6-7000 series keyboard and you didn't have to swap the back plates with the original keyboard, is that right?

 

That is correct. However once you pull the old keyboard out they have small mounts for screws on the back(to help hold it in place). Once you look at the 7000keyboard, you will notice that it also has these mounts. However they don't line up to the same spot. You will have to break the mounts off(not too hard) and use double sided tape to hold it down. The clips all along the edge of the best keyboard match to help hold it in place, but the keyboard feels "squishy" it can move when you type. Double sided tape should help that.

Hope that helps.

 

Hi,

the keyboard arrived and happily lights up on the dv6 chassis.



You've been more than helpful. Thank you very much!

 

Just wondering, now that you have done yours, were you able to get the finger print sensor to work also? (I couldn't get both of mine in the connector). also do you notice any "squishy" feeling in the keyboard(due to the fact that it is not fully screwed down to the chassis)?

 

Actually, I was too excited to try to make the finger print scanner work. In the past, I had searched online for 1 to 2 zif converter but found nothing. The best solution would be to connect with the touchpad border light, which is controlable, but did not have time to spend on that as I'm using the laptop for work.

As for the "squishy" feeling of the keyboard, mine feels quite firm and solid, even more than before with the original one. I used double sided tape as you advised, but, to take it further, two layers of it at every clean spot of the base surface. I thought I should raise the keyboard a bit to compensate for the folded underlying cables.

The result is very good. I'm not missing the finger print scanner (yet) as I started using the PIN feature of win 10.

 

Thank you for providing the tutorial. My laptop looks great now.

 

I would like to thank Brandon because his idea made me try to upgrade my DV6 6120ez.
I was looking for a backlit kexboard since I bought this laptop some years ago, but never found an appropriate answer. Also try the HP forum but the answer was simple: with this model is not possible to upgrade.

I finally bought on ebay a keyboard for 30$ and made some mechanical changes. I read on a forum (forgot which one) about using the fn+space key to turn on/off the light. That is what I did. I also add a 100ohm potentiometer and can dim the light.

Great result.
Once again, thank you Brandon for show this was possible.

 

8down, Hello
I have my backlit keyboard working in my dv6-6047cl but it is using the fingerprint reader socket. I would like to know how you setup your keyboard to use fn+space bar to turn the backlight on or off like the touchpad? Also some info on the potentiometer mod as well. Could you provide links to the forum you mentioned?

Thanks

 

Hi,
Here are some photos, and a video:






- I had to make some mechanical changes on the keyboard. (ebay 172275463593, 35 EUR). I don t know if a model which fits perfectly this PC exists.

- Then I thought it could be nice to add a dim feature. I first thought about using a digital potentiometer and use the "web" button to activate the dim function, but i finally choose the easiest way for that: a simple 500 Ohm potentiometer. Because I don't need 4 USB ports, I sacrified one of them (not a high speed one!).
To be honest, I don't think this dim feature is a "must to have" function. I set the potentiometer to max resistance in order to have the minimum keyboard light, and it fits perfect for me. I never used it anymore.

- Because I don't like the illuminated touchpad at all, I isolated the flex pcb pin with ahesive tape (kapton), so it never lights on.

- I also decided to add 4GB Ram and a 250GB SSD Disk. I retired the CD player and put the old 500GB HDD in a CD caddy. (ebay 321499624752)

With the backlit mod, a SSD disk, 8GB memory, and 750GB storage, it seems to be a new PC for less than150€.

I also bought a wifi module Intel AC7260 but could not installed it. Maybe because of the BIOS whitelist. I don't feel confortable modding the BIOS, so... I guess I will keep the Ralink RT5390

Regards.