Disable 2013 series 7 chronos keyboard backlight?

So has anyone been able to find a way to disable the keyboard backlight on this device? This is the 15.6 BestBuy version.

It is very hard to read the keys in certain light with the backlight on, as the lit part of the keys blends with light reflecting off the shiny plastic of the keys themselves.
I've read various posts from people experiencing the same issue, but haven't found a solution that works.

I can override the current brightness of the backlight with the function keys, but then it it seems to just revert back to some random or brightness controlled value.

I have tried setting the auto dimming off -> seems to work for the screen, but has no effect on the keys.
Also tried disabling "Sensor Monitoring Service" in services and rebooting -> no effect.
I don't seem to be able to find a "light sensor" in any obvious spot, there is no visible part like the older version next to the power light, so I haven't tried covering the sensor (anyone know where it is?)

Any insight at all would be appreciated

Edit: Ok it seems that the sensor is located just to the right of the webcam, and covering it does allow any setting via the function keys to "stick". I'd still like to find out how to disable the sensor altogether though if anyone knows that?

 

Seconded. I would love a utility to turn the keyboard backlight on or off manually and it would be great if the function keys allowed you to set the brightness level (and have it stay where you set it).

 

You probably already tried this, but just in case: There is a Keyboard Backlight setting on the General tab in Settings (Fn-F1).

 

Yeah, that allows the level to be changed, but then seconds later it reverts to whatever it *thinks* it should be at, regardless of that setting.

Covering the sensor (to the right of the webcam) seems to work, but a software solution would be infinitely better than having to stick tape on the screen

 

Got it. So we're back to the usual issue of how to kill the sensor. You're not the first who want to do that, so make sure you check this thread. Also try googling site:notebookreview.com samsung adaptive brightness to find earlier discussions of this subject.

 

Thanks Dannemand, I did read that thread and tried everything suggested. Unfortunately none of the solutions seem to work for the keyboard backlight (I don't have an issue with the adaptive brightness, disabling that did work for the screen, which does stay at whatever value I set it at).

Disabling the sensor altogether via device manager doesn't seem to work either, it re-enables itself! I even found the driver and renamed it, but it just recreates the file in the background and it continues doing its thing.

I think the keyboard backlight is probably supposed to be controlled by the same setting as the screen, but isn't working properly, leaving us with zero options to control it.

Hopefully they will put out a fix for it or an option in the Samsung settings like on previous versions, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

Got it. Yes, hopefully Samsung will address that.

Just know that many people have had issues with adaptive brightness and/or automatic keyboard backlight on various models and for a long time. That's why I suggested that Google search. Others (like myself, using an older Z3A) find that it works as intended, both in Win7 and Win8: I disable adaptive brightness, and it lets me control brightness manually; occasionally my keyboard backlight refuses to come on after resume, but I can fix that in Settings by adjusting it all the way down, then up again.

My point is that, since this is not a consistent bug/malfunction for all models and all users, Samsung may or may not have a fix coming out soon. Let us hope they they do, though

Update: I believe a big part of the problem you are seeing stems from Samsung's choice to use silver keys and the resultant lack of contrast. My old HP HDX18 is the same, and I noticed it clearly when checking out NP780Z5E at Best Buy recently.

Series 7 used to have all black plastic keys with white letters, and backlight shining through the letters and around the keys. It is one of the best (and coolest looking) keyboards I ever used in my 30+ years of computing. I am sure Samsung chose silver metal keys to improve durability and high end appeal, but it may not have been as functional a choice on their part.

 

I absolutely agree. It's a shame they haven't been consistent across models with this stuff, would be much easier for everyone all round.
The new keys do look great, but functionally either a slightly darker silver, or brighter keyboard backlight would have been better.

 

Backlit keyboard has a mind of its own. Great innovation Samsung.

 

Just keep in mind that many users (myself included) really like the backlit keyboard on their Sammies, and 99% of the time it works as intended. This is not to say that I don't appreciate the frustration of those for whom it doesn't work!

An no, I don't work for Samsung

 

This really depends on your usage. Try using it in the evening on your lap while sitting in a recliner. If you look at the keyboard at too deep of an angle, the light reflecting off the screen blends with the lights from the letters and makes it impossible to read.

There is no option to force the backlight settings. Adjusting the levels up or down using the FN keys is completely useless because the settings will automatically change at the first shift in available light. I don't know how you can say this works as intended 99%. I don't think Samsung intended for the backlight keys to do absolutely nothing.

I'm trying to make the best of the situation and use it to practice my touch typing skills.

 

Actually, I meant 99% of Samsung PCs with backlight - not specifically the 2013 model. Admittedly, that is the thread topic, so I should have clarified that. The post I responded to was overly general, that's what I tried to address.

If you read my posts just before (and elsewhere on this forum) you will see I acknowledge the issue with the 2013 Series 7 keyboard, particularly on models with silver keys. I believe the NP770 models have black keys, like previous models, which works very well.

Update: Just checked, it appears it's only the 17" NP770Z7E that still has black keys. All of the 15" seem to have gone silver (with the resulting contrast issue). That's too bad. I was warming up to the idea of a NP770Z5E myself, now that I can get 1920x1080 in a 15". But I may not if it means silver keys.

 

The Ativ models seem to come in black (but has anyone ever seen one?). Alternatively, Samsung may realise the error of their ways and put the black keys in the silver chassis like this.

John

 

Oh yes, you're right, I hadn't noticed that (about the Ativ models).

If I could choose, my next PC would have EXACTLY the same keyboard as my current Z3A (which is really my wife's ) Black keys with white letters and white edges through which the backlight glows. It's also a silver chassis, although I wouldn't mind magnesium. I won't be in the market till late this year, at earliest, but hopefully that choice will be there. Looks like the Ativ Book 8 might be it.

 

I've just run into this problem myself on my newly bought series 7, I assume there's still no fix in sight?

 

I'm afraid not, unfortunately. I don't know how good/bad Samsung is about pushing updates for this kind of thing.

 

I wonder if it would be possible to snag an ATIV keyset once they roll out, pop open the case and swap the silver keys for black ones.

 

We won't be sure until someone tries, but most of these separated key keyboards seem to be bonded to the keyboard surround, so to replace one you have to replace both.

John

 

It's false to say that 99% of the time it works as intended. It only works as intended if your intent is to have a useless backlight that is impossible to turn off. I highly doubt 99% of users actually want this.

 

Well they haven't given us a fix for as long as these laptops have existed, and now they're discontinued. You really think they care now that they have our money?

 

I clarified that statement in my next post: I was referring broadly to Samsung models with backlit keyboards.

Before the 2013 models, the Series 7 had some of the best keyboards ever - incl backlight and readability. The auto adjustment was still a bit funky, but easy enough to fix.

But as I ALSO acknowledged in my clarification (literally just a few posts back, and now for the second time), that the topic of this thread says 2013 model, and the issue on those keyboards is indisputable.

Edit: I understand your frustration about this issue with the silver keyboard and automatic backlight on the 2013 models. As I and others have posted many times now, it is poor design and your complaint about it is legitimate. But the members and mods on this forum didn't have anything to do with that design. We're not affiliated with Samsung. We're all just volunteering time here to help each other get the most out of our Samsung laptops. That's all we can do.

But as an actual owner of one these models, you can do something more: You can contact Samsung and keep asking them for a solution. I strongly encourage you to make that call - if you have not already done so.

 

I worked around this issue by sticking a label over the sensor from the inside, so it isn't noticeable from the outside, and described the process here, should anyone want to do the same:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...p870z5e-np880z5e-post9229720.html#post9229720

 

Hey! I was thinking of that, but can you explain it more details? Is really necessary to remove the touchscreen?

 

Yes if you want to put it internal, so that from the external you don't see anything. Otherwise, you just need to put a piece of black electrical tape on the light sensor: same result, much easier procedure, but much uglier solution

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

You don't have to remove the touchscreen entirely, just pull it out a little from the surround along the top, it is flexible enough to do so without damaging it.

There really isn't much to it, you just pry it away with something plastic and it pops right out.

I will note though that even after doing this it still has some "quirks". When you wake the laptop from sleep, the backlight will still come on full. I think it goes and gets values directly from the sensor, sees that it is "dark" and so it comes on. Then for some reason you have to fight it a bit, keep turning it off a few times, and then it will stay off. I have no idea what kind of people they hire to code this stuff...

If it wasn't so easy to do I'd say don't bother, but it does help once you can actually get it to stay off.

I've attached a (bad sorry) image of the sensor (red). I stuck tape over the sensor, and also on the inside of the touchscreen where the transparent hole is through to the sensor (green), just to make sure no light can get in..

 

This is so annoying when I'm trying to watch a film in the dark.
Every time the screen darkens, the keyboard bursts into life and I end up paying more attention to that than the actual film.
Covering up the sensor doesn't work for me. It makes the keyboard brighter, obviously because it thinks it's dark and I'm going to need to see the keys
And when I press the backlit keyboard buttons and turn it down or off, it just springs back to whatever it likes.
So I guess I'm just going to have to find something to cover it up with, which is okay when you're not actually using it, but I agree the contrast between the lights and the actual keys is minimal and it's very difficult to type sometimes.

 

Hi Emily, welcome to NBR.

I believe that members in the Owners Lounge thread for your model found several months ago, that a BIOS update solved their problems with controlling the backlight.

I don't know if that also includes the situation you describe with movies, but definitely check out that thread. It's one if the most active here in the Samsung forum, you can't miss it.

Edit: I'm on Tapatalk now, so linking is a bit more difficult, but here is that thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...unge-np770z5e-np780z5e-np870z5e-np880z5e.html