Asus GL551JM backlit keyboard

[technomancer]

Does anyone have information on how to get the KEYBOARD backlight working on this darn thing ?
I understand it is software driven. I had the idea of just wiring the leds to a 5v or 3.3v header on the
MB, but would prefer not to. I could just wire in a switch to turn it down with a resistor in line i guess
But a driver would be ideal. 8)

[gold_finger]

Have a look through these links:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/backlight

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.ph...27#p716495

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.ph...20#p791270

[Wirezfree]

What about this:
http://datab.us/s0bRrXKM7Nk#How I Solved...nux Laptop

[rokytnji]

See if this works

on

Code:

sudo xset led 3

off

Code:

xset -led 3

Just guessing. I can't guarantee it will work. ALSO. If the backlight comes on and off. Try it without using sudo. As a user instead.

Oh yeah, if it works as user without sudo.

Create file /etc/xdg/autostart/backlight.desktop

In the blank file you will put

Code:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Asus GL551JM Backlight
Exec=xset led 3
Icon=system-run
X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true

Hopefully. That will light up your keyboard right after you login. I am no coder. Just a Linux using Biker/Scooter Tramp. You might also need to make the /etc/xdg/autostart/backlight.desktop executable also before it will work.

Code:

gksu thunar

will be your friend in doing this under file permissions.

[technomancer]

Thank you for the replies. I had hit/miss luck getting it to work. So here is what i did

The keyboard backlight is driven by Asus drivers, ATK package, and isn't available
for linux.
-I opened up the laptop and found the keyboard flat cable and next to it was a 2 wire(4 pin) connector.
This secondary flat cable is the power for the backlights in the keyboard.
-I put the battery in, put my meter leads on the contacts and measured the keyboard at boot when it turns on momentarily.
5V is supplied, then it is completely software driven.
-So i found the transistor that controls the keyboard backlight (2 actually, high/low)
I figured out the in/out/ trigger pins. Then i just soldered a wire from the transistor trigger
on the power led to the KB backlight trigger.(avoiding power issues since this will just turn it on, not supply 5v)

Now the backlight stays on no matter what OS I run while the machine is on. I may put in a manual switch just in case
but it is so hard to see that i don't mind it on all the time.

*Solved with hardware hack -- (i have pics of the mod soon to be uploaded.....)

Thank You again guys, best responses in a forum I have ever had. 

[technomancer]

I am working on getting the pics, but file size uploads on the forum are just too small. I dont have a site to host them on.

[altman]

Can post pics here : http://postimage.org/

[technomancer]

Here are the pics of the hardware Mod I did- (Altman thanks for that site, awesome)---

http://s17.postimg.org/krv250lb3/SAM_0224_2.jpg

http://s12.postimg.org/6zhvws58d/SAM_0220_2.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/qipibq37b/SAM_0223_2.jpg

Resized with Paint and was able to upload.

[altman]

Wow , great looking mods in there ! ( pro job in there )

What it does to your system .

Must be a wize kid right !

[technomancer]

I have been testing the hardware mod, and all is well across all OS;s. Hardware functions normally.
I am trying to find a very small switch to put on the top of the keyboard that will match the case.
I have unjumped the pins temporarily and am going to try the suggestions to get it working on the os level.
However i will put it back since it is convenient to just have on at all times.
I'll post pics of it all finished and update if i get it working at the sw level.