More backlit keyboard software

I'm not sure if I was the only one who was a bit disappointed with the keyboard back lighting on the newer laptops(I have an Np9150). I mean there's only 8 options, and if you compare it to Alienware it doesn't stand a chance. Plus there's only a few options for effects which aren't even customizable. I decided to play around more and did some coding. I have created a piece of software that takes cpu and gpu temperature and changes keyboard color based off of that. The left zone is for cpu, right is for gpu, and center is for which ever color you choose. I decided I would share it with you fellow Clevo/Sager owners if you're interested (links below). I'm also open to feedback on the software and/or the concept.


For ease of access:
outdated:
Solid Center Color
GPU Based Center
newest:
LedKB Replacement

For all new users:
If your temperature is actually changing but the keyboard color is not, make sure you are running the program as administrator otherwise it is impossible to read the temperatures. If you want to have it run at startup, look farther through the forum thread for an explanation from some of the other users.

 

So no need to install hotkey?

 

Very Cool! Great idea

 

Will this conflict with the hotkey.exe?

 

I just did a bit of playing around with it, and it seems to work whether or not hotkey.exe is running or not. It will override whatever you set using the built in program so if you want to have it solid or one of the built in effects you have to close my program and reset using the fn+/ menu that the computers ship with. I think the next goal is to use my friend's old Alienware to see if we can make a translator from alienfx to our Clevos so they work with games that support alienfx.

 

Awesome! Thanks! I usually don't care for the different colors, but this is pretty useful. Awesome. It would be nice to be able to set the center one to change color depending on which GPU is active +REP!

Like leave it blue for Intel and Green for nVidia and even red for AMD

 

@HTWingut: By which gpu is active do u mean like integrated vs. dedicated? I could quick make you a special build with that if you want.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing that special build too!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Yes sir, that's what I mean.

Rep this guy, only a few posts an has already contributed more than I have

 

Rep as well. Can you include instructions on how to get running?

Also, as an aside, anyone know of a way to have the machine start up with anything other than blue default keyboard?

 

Read his Readme file. I tested it and like it a lot. Going to create a task for it to have it boot up silently.

If you use default hotkey it should auto switch to your personal profile. Mine does each boot.

 

Fn+Esc should open the control center, from there if you press the back light button you can choose colors, it should boot up with the ones you selected from then on.

 

Alright I got that special build made. I didn't know what colors people would want so I let you pick. Here's the new link (although the other still works for the other build). I have an Nvidia GPU so I'm not sure if it will work on ATI GPUs or not. If someone has one and tries it out it would be great if they would tell me how it works.

 

Thanks, but the "center color - integrated" works, but it seems to change only to that regardless of which GPU is active. "center color - dedicated" doesn't seem to do anything when dedicated card is active.

 

Have you tried running a game to make the GPU actually get used?

 

7970m here, center color works great. Set black for intel and red for ati. Really cool.

 

Cool I'm glad to hear it works with both manufacturers.

 

Oh ok, it works with full screen only, not windowed mode. That's fine with me, thanks!

edit: hmm, now it seems to work regardless. Don't know what happened the first time. But thanks!

 

Hmmm I didn't expect that behavior. Doesn't seem too critical to pursue it further.

 

Nope. I'm a happy camper. Out of curiosity how often does it poll for changes?

 

Every two seconds. I emailed Clevo earlier in the year about any possibilities to get more colors, but they never responded

 

Meh, Clevo doesn't like to support third party development too much, and it's too bad. But thanks to users like you it gives us nice little features like this!

You might as well put up a PayPal donate button and get a few bucks.

 

Could someone please tell me how I can get this to work ? I try open TemperatureKeyboard.exe but nothing happened. I am on Windows 8 x64 btw.

 

Hmm, I'm running Windows 7 x64. Do you have .Net framework 4.0 installed? I would have packaged it myself but I have no idea how to make installers. Also do you have admin privileges and are trying to run the program as admin?

 

The .Net framework 4 is already packed inside Windows 8 I think. I also tried running the program as admin but nothing happened either. btw, I didn't install the hotkey program from Clevo, do you think that might be the cause ?

 

I really wish I had Windows 8 so I could try a couple things. What I need you to do is go to task manager, then processes, then show all processes. Check to see if one by the name of PowerBiosServer is running. Alternatively you can check in services to see if that same process is running there.

 

Any idea why I get this? The application stops working, with pop-up error, the instant I start it. Running in Administrator Mode makes no difference.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: CLR20r3
Problem Signature 01: temperaturekeyboard.exe
Problem Signature 02: 1.0.0.0
Problem Signature 03: 51ad1734
Problem Signature 04: System.ServiceProcess
Problem Signature 05: 4.0.0.0
Problem Signature 06: 4ba1e143
Problem Signature 07: 80
Problem Signature 08: 57
Problem Signature 09: System.InvalidOperationException
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 3481
Additional Information 2: 3481b59cddf5a0c879762397ddff1685
Additional Information 3: 9779
Additional Information 4: 977925950f9c8af5e1a2693e07c1d4a6

Read our privacy statement online:
Windows 7 Privacy Statement - Microsoft Windows

If the online privacy statement is not available, please read our privacy statement offline:
C:\Windows\system32\en-US\erofflps.txt

 

Well that looks scary. Windows 7 64bit? I think that one falls under the whole PowerBiosServer thing I was talking about a couple posts earlier. Check in services to make sure that is running.

Edit: turning that on may require a restart.

 

I don't have that process running. I think I saw it before, maybe it went with the Hotkey driver. Hmm, I will try installing it and let you know the result, though I don't really like that driver.

 

It works, saw it change, just not the gpu/right side since i wasnt playing a game.

 

Now your program worked after installing the Hotkey driver. So it did need the driver then . Thank you for your work

 

Oh thanks for the discovery! I had just made the assumption because I can have hotkey.exe not running and it will still work. There must be some other component to that driver. I'd be willing to make other programs that utilize the keyboard if you guys come up with any suggestions.

 

It doesn't seem to remember the inputs from the last time you used it. Is it possible to have it default to the last used input? This way I can just have it autostart and forget about it!

 

That, and also what would be the easiest way to have it auto start at boot and minimize too? Those features and this would be perfect

 

I suppose I could create a save file thing. One thing I noticed is that it was creating some input issues; I think I may have resolved those, but I'm not completely sure. I'll reupload with a patch once I get the save system working.

 

I was just going to update my post to request that. Autostart minimized with last input numbers and done.

 

Pizza you deserve today's daily award for being awesome. First post to contribute, wonderful!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Alright I'm back. I have both programs saving, and they start minimized to the tray. Here are the new links: Solid Center Color, GPU Based Center. Both should have fixed input lag if it was there. I'll be sure to go back through the forum and fix any previous links. I'm not sure how to make it start on boot. There might be a folder around windows somewhere for it.

Edit: Found this on Microsoft's site about startup programs.

 

Heh I had already moved the other to the startup folder just hadn't tested it yet. Awesome man can't thank you enough!

 

No problem. If you ever want anything else for it don't be afraid to ask.

 

Hmm honestly can't think of anything else to make it better. Maybe if you could make a button remap for our steel series KB

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Hmm, it shows and saves the values, but it doesn't execute the GPU center colors on startup, it defaults to 0 (black) and doesn't change color until you actually switch GPU's.

Also I noticed it requires admin to start now, is there a reason for this? It will ask at startup every time. If it's possible to make it so you don't have to do that (like the original file), users can set it manually to run as administrator if they need to.

EDIT: It seems it won't start at startup at all in the Startup folder if it requires admin privileges, I have to start it manually.

When all is said and done I can write a script to automatically host it as a service so you don't even have to throw it in your startup folder. Although the shortcut icon click and drag is the easiest and most convenient and will keep the icon available in the system tray.


Thanks!

 

Its working for me dragging it to startup folder. There is about 20 seconds after boot where it fights with hotkey but it does take over. Loaded furmark up and watched it switch to the correct colors.

I also have UAC turned off, so it doesn't ask or give me errors about that.

 

That's why, because you have UAC turned off. With UAC on, it won't load. I even tried through registry entry and still no go.

 

Alright so I reuploaded the gpu monitor one so it just takes the highest privilege it can get and I also fixed that bug where it stays black in the middle until you do stuff. I'm struggling with the admin thing for the solid color center version.

Edit: I got both uploaded again and should just take whatever level of user you are.

 

I take back my last post. Rebooted to double check and now it seems to have nullified both itself and hotkey. Keyboard is stock blue and both programs won't open but are in tray and task manager processes. Ill try your new upload now!

 

Thanks. Link?

Nevermind you updated your earlier post.

Awesome, looking great now! Will test at bootup.

 

TemperatureKeyboardWithGPUMonitor.zip

Its also a few posts back from him. He just reuploaded with the same link, the file size is different.

Also, with new version, first reboot working perfect. Going to reboot a few times and just see if its stable now.

Edit: Pizzadude when you get some time you should also edit the first post with new builds so we don't need to try to dig through and find your post.

Second Edit: Okay so first boot was good, second boot gave me my hotkey settings and didn't switch until I opened your app and deleted the color and reentered it. However, this is a very minor issue and I am 100% with it as is. Thanks again!

 

I agree, was going to suggest he just updates the first post.

Rebooted twice using shortcut in startup and works great.

Readme is missing from this download.

One minor thing that would be on the "nice to have" is if you hover over the icon it shows you the color legend, i.e. blue=50C, yellow=50-60C, etc.

 

Are you keeping hotkey in startup as well? Or any other way you had it to auto start?

I tried removing it but then this app wouldn't do anything. Seems like the hotkey app needs to be running, not just installed.

Edit: Third boot was good, fourth gave me another stock blue and frozen both apps. I see an every other boot pattern here ha. Anyway to remove the dependency on hotkey app?