Samsung laptop hotkeys not working. Easy Display Manager needed?

Since loading Windows 7 onto an NP550P7C, the hotkeys (volume, brightness, etc.) have not functioned. I have loaded all the drivers listed for the PC, and looked at all the Windows 7 software listed for it on the Samsung support site ( NP550P7C - DOWNLOADS | SUPPORT | SAMSUNG UK), but nothing seems appropriate.

From some other posts, it seems that the hotkeys are usually driven by the Easy Display Manager. Although this utility is not listed for the NP550P7C under Windows 7, it does have a listing under Windows XP. I've tried to download it (hoping that it would work under Win7), but the zip file appears to be corrupted or empty! (I recently reported to Samsung that a couple of the listed files were corrupted or empty, and they responded that all that they could do was access the same site as I was accessing, and I should instead take my PC in to a service centre for repair!!!)

So my question is, does anyone know where I could download a suitable Easy Display Manager (if, indeed, this is what I need)? Or would anyone be able to upload a copy as an attachment?

 

The Easy Display Manager functions are embedded in the Easy Settings installer (more on the finer details here).

So find Easy Settings and install it. There is a version 2 embedded in the installation package of V2 of Settings (the Windows 8 equivalent). Try this in SW Update: Find Model > United Kingdom > Series 9 > NP900X4C-A01UK > Windows 8. Then Export. You should find the exported file contains a Windows 7 folder.

John

 

Brilliant. Thank you very much for the reply, and for the extremely interesting link. I now have the function keys working, and am going through the other points made in the link.

 

Hi, again!

I've now followed through the recommendation to copy the Easy Settings folder, and to uninstall the program. Running dmhkcore.exe in the new location works - except that in the case of the 3 volume keys (mute, decrease and increase), although they do change the volume, the images showing what is happening do not appear. (The images for the other hotkeys do still appear.)

Can you suggest what the problem could be?

 

The volume Fn-keys are handled by Windows, that's why they behave differently. You'll find they work even without Easy Settings.

Do note that the latencies thread is a bit long in the tooth. Sideloading EasyDisplayMgr (dmhkcore) only works with Easy Settings v1.x, not the (otherwise more well behaved) v2.x. But for ultra trimmed installations, it's still the best choice - assuming you can live without the missing features.

 

That makes sense of it. Thank you for the clarification.

Do you know if there is any way to enable the visual feedback for the volume controls, without going to the lengths of having Easy Settings installed (which I otherwise don't want/need)?

 

I don't think there is a way to get that without loading Easy Settings.

Since your original problem was non-functioning Fn-keys, not latencies, I would suggest you try a regular installation of Easy Settings 2.0.0.48 which you will find under NP880Z5E-X03CA (download from Win7 driver list). That will give you full functionality (including Silent Mode, OSD icons, control of Bluetooth power etc) but with less latency and general better behavior than v1.x.

The only thing I would say if you do this, is to make sure you disable Boot Optimization and make sure to reclaim the tasks that were snatched by it. I noticed you already discovered another thread where we discuss that.