Keyboard-Backlight in Device Manager?

8

3

I have an Asus N550JV, and right after buying it, I installed Windows 8.1. I downloaded all the drivers from the Asus-Homepage and installed them.

My Problem: I can't activate the keyboard-backlight anymore. Usually, I have to press fn+F4 to activate it, but it doesn't work (it's the same with some other key-combinations).

I know that the backlight still works, because it is shining for a second during booting.

My Question: What kind of driver is responsible for the keyboard-backlight, and where can I find it in the device-manager?

Does anyone know which driver I need for my Laptop?

maja

Posted 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Reputation: 328

Make sure to install the following utilities: ASUS InstantKey Utility (V1.1.3) / ExpressCache (V1.0.100) / ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities (V1.0.0030) / Keyboard Device Filter Utility (V1.0.0.5). You can get all of them from the official support page: http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=N550JV&p=3&s=529

– and31415 – 2014-01-28T11:16:34.473

@and31415 Thank you! This solved the problem :). Please post your comment as an answer, so I can accept it – maja – 2014-01-28T13:41:17.713

Answers

7

Solution

Install the latest available version of the following drivers/utilities:

  • ATKACPI driver and hotkey-related utilities (V1.0.0030)

ATK ACPI is ASUS tool key of Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

It's the driver to make BIOS and OS communicate with each other to manage the power configuration.

Source: What's the function of the driver ATK ACPI?

  • Keyboard Device Filter Utility (V1.0.0.5)

Adds additional features to standard keyboard functions such as enabling multiple key combinations.

Source: Asus Utility and Bloatware Guide

  • ASUS InstantKey Utility (V1.1.3)

ASUS-branded programs include the Instant Key utility, which lets you assign one of 10 specific commands to the Instant Key, such as Mute, launching the Web browser, or a specific app.

Source: ASUS N56VZ-DS71 Review

  • ExpressCache (V1.0.100)

ExpressCache software, when combined with a small SanDisk SSD, will provide significant boot up and application performance increases. A high-performance SanDisk SSD drive serves as that flash-based cache, while ExpressCache manages the data across the SSD and the HDD.

Source: ExpressCache Software from SanDisk

­

If you would like to upgrade your OS from Win 8 to Win 8.1, please upgrade to ExpressCache version 1.0.100 or above and follow below steps to update ExpressCache:

  1. Uninstall older version of Express Cache before upgrade.
  2. Download and install newer version of Express Cache.
  3. Reboot your system.

Source: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. -Support- Drivers and Download ExpressCache

Note While ExpressCache has nothing to do with the keyboard, ASUS recommends to install latest version when upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

You can get all of them from the official support page by selecting Windows 8 (yes, not Windows 8.1) as operating system.

Further reading

and31415

Posted 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Reputation: 13 382

Perfect - just redid this myself with only the first item. It was indeed under the Windows 8 tools on the Asus support site, instead of 8.1. – brichins – 2015-04-26T05:54:09.560

Where did you get the descriptions from? I already searched for some additional information, but the official homepage doesn't add such detailed information. – maja – 2014-01-28T14:14:01.330

@maja I've updated the post. – and31415 – 2014-01-28T14:29:26.013

0

Does hitting F4 by itself activate the backlight? I have a hunch that 8.1 or the Asus drivers are prioritising the media keys over the traditional function keys.

disposedtrolley

Posted 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Reputation: 74

1No it doesn't. And maybe I just forgot to install the missing driver/utility - there were dozens of drivers. – maja – 2014-01-28T07:32:07.097

-2

Maja, after upgrading my ASUS n56vz to Windows 8.1, I installed the free version of IObit's Driver Booster, which proceeded to install, among other things, several ACPI drivers. Pressing fn + f4 turns on the keyboard back-lights, pressing fn + f3 turns them off.

user295029

Posted 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Reputation: 1

-2

My ASUS N550 uses

  • fn-F4 to brighten the keys progressively.
  • fn-F3 to dim the keys progressively.

The shortcuts work like this out of the box.

Robert

Posted 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Reputation: 19

Correction ASUS 550 – Robert – 2014-10-09T21:28:48.550

2Not an answer to the question asked, and if you'd bothered to read even two lines of the question, you'd know this is not working for the asker. Your post is bad, and you should feel bad. – HopelessN00b – 2014-10-09T22:15:03.227

The user stated: – Robert – 2014-10-11T02:22:56.450

The user stated: " My Problem: I can't activate the keyboard-backlight anymore. Usually, I have to press fn+F4 to activate it, " – Robert – 2014-10-11T02:24:29.827

But you should note in the line before that he changed the OS right after buying, and it no longer worked. I agree with @HopelessN00b this is not an answer to the question asked, and YOU didn't read the question completely. – Tyson – 2014-10-11T02:34:00.203

I also changed my operating system on my ASUS N550 right after buying it to Windows 8.1. The user stated: " My Problem: I can't activate the keyboard-backlight anymore. Usually, I have to press fn+F4 to activate it," -- I stated that I too have an ASUS N550 and had upgraded to Windows 8.1. For my system pressing fn+f4 - brightens the keyboard. fn f4 does not supposed to Activate the Keyboard as the poster is stating it should. Further, the graphics on the ASUS keys indicate the functionality that I am describing. – Robert – 2014-10-11T02:39:51.870

I did some additional testing. 1. both the fn f3 and the fn f4 keys have 4 increments. the 4th decrement on the fn f3 key totally turns the lights on the keyboard off. 2. Upon powerup, the setting return to there settings as they were at power down. There fore, it is possible that the user had always left his fn f3 set to off -- and he then hit fn f4 (the first of 4 brightness levels) it would appear to "turn on". But it would then stay ON when he booted down and return to ON when he booted up. He would not have to hit fn f4 IF he had not previously hit fn f3. – Robert – 2014-10-11T03:13:40.827

Asked: 2014-01-28T07:15:13.420

Viewed: 64 018 times

Active: 2016-09-22T21:50:20.133