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backlit media buttons always on?

post #1 of 28
4/5/05 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
I really like the backlit CD/DVD media control buttons on the 9300. When you touch a button the cool blue lights come on. There has to be a way where we can configure the lights to stay on at all times… This would look really cool. Anyone go any ideas on how to do this?
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post #2 of 28
4/5/05 at 3:47pm
This wouldn't be a good thing for the battery life. To lose 10 or 20 minutes just to keep the buttons lit? hmm... nah I'd rather have the extra 10 or 20 mins
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post #3 of 28
4/5/05 at 3:48pm
It would be nice to keep them on while it's connected to AC power. Having the option of on or off would be cool.
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post #4 of 28
4/5/05 at 3:50pm
I highly doubt those tiny little led's would cost you 10-20 minutes on your battery. LED's use barely any power.
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post #5 of 28
4/5/05 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 
I understand your point as for the battery life but I mean, I never really unplug mine and when i do i certainly would not want those lights on wasting battery life, even though they would probably not use up much. when I plug in my mouse with a led I don’t really see a difference in battery life...There has to be some way to keep these on...it would look so sweet
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post #6 of 28
4/5/05 at 6:53pm
They won't have any real impact on battery life...
A standard red LED draws around 0.03 watts... the LED's behind the buttons probably draws more, but it is still absolutely nothing compared to the rest of the laptop.

I highly doubt you can change the timeout for those LED's without modifying the electronics controlling them... not that it would be difficult to modify, but you would loose your warranty if you do... that is, if Dell can see it
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post #7 of 28
4/5/05 at 6:55pm
id love to see it lit all the time.
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post #8 of 28
4/5/05 at 7:00pm
maybe if someone does a request at dell site .. could be added to a future bios update. (if it can be bios controlled)
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post #9 of 28
4/5/05 at 7:02pm
so ... no one knows how to keep them on?
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post #10 of 28
4/5/05 at 7:55pm
Well... I'm certain that I could make them stay on by modifying the hardware... that's easy, as the worst-case scenario calls for a connection to the LED's to be broken, and at resistor to be soldered on... it might even be easier than that, depending on how the controller circuit is made.

Yes, it might be controlled by the BIOS, but that would not really make any sense, as it has a fixed function; when the user presses a button, turn on the LED’s and keep them on for x seconds... that’s much easier to do entirely in hardware.
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post #11 of 28
4/5/05 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 
See, thats exactly what I was wondering....if it's controlled by the bios or the hardware...I really dont know if dell would respond to a message or even tell us how it's hooked up.. it's worth a shot. I am sure there is someone here that can figure it out...I would really like to see tp get these LED's stay on.
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post #12 of 28
4/5/05 at 8:38pm
You know, the buttons on my 9300 don't light up at all, pressed or unpressed. Is this a defect on mine or is it the norm?
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post #13 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:02pm
Definitely a defect
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post #14 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:03pm
they should light up. must be a defect
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post #15 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:19pm
Thread Starter 
If his media buttons down work... I wonder if it could be something with the software.. there has to be something that controls it...I am gonna keep researching.. this is gonna be my goal of the week
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post #16 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:33pm
I uninstalled Dell Media Experience because I've installed Windows Media center edition. The buttons now operate Windows MCE just fine. I wonder if the Dell Media experience controls the lights somehow. Do all of you with working lights have the Dell media experience still installed?
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post #17 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cliegal
You know, the buttons on my 9300 don't light up at all, pressed or unpressed. Is this a defect on mine or is it the norm?
Do you have all the Dell software, drivers, utilities, etc. installed?

The easy way to know if it is controlled by software: Do thay light up if you press them during boot?
If so, it's either hardware or BIOS controlled... (and you, cliegal, have a defective notebook)
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post #18 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThDa
Do you have all the Dell software, drivers, utilities, etc. installed?

The easy way to know if it is controlled by software: Do thay light up if you press them during boot?
If so, it's either hardware or BIOS controlled... (and you, cliegal, have a defective notebook)
It figures - my screen was ok, no dead pixels, great color and only a little sparkle, which doesn't bother me much. Now, I am going to try to exchange it and hope to get working button back lights and at least as good a screen as I have now. I'm beginning the tech support phone odyssey as I type this reply.
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post #19 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:46pm
Blue LEDs Blue LEDs Blue mother****ing LEDs!
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post #20 of 28
4/5/05 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
try to ask them what controls the lights....I know they probably will give you a dumb reply...but cant hurt to ask...I cant wait to see what they say.. prob some bogus answer....
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