rwcoover

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R

rwcoover

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October 23rd, 2019 13:00

E6430 Backlit Keyboard Not Constantly On

I want my backlit keyboard to automatically come on when I boot the computer and remain on until either I turn it off or until I shut down the computer. Is this possible? Or can I set a longer period of time for it to remain on. I am in a dark location and I need it to be constantly on as I really dislike having to  have to hit a key to turn it on when it was on 15 seconds ago.

  • Techgee

    2 Intern

    623 Posts

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 02:00

    On a different Dell laptop I was able to change the keyboard backlight timeout from an annoying 10 seconds to 12 hours.  I only needed to change it once and then didn't need software anymore unless BIOS was reset.  Had to create a bootable Ubuntu thumbdrive to do it - seems Dell or someone made sure Linux versions like Ubuntu have keyboard settings support.  There's reason to believe this would work for the Latitude E6430 as well, although you may have to play with the setting to see for how long you can set timeout (I'd try settings like 1, 5 and 15 minutes first).  I put together a tutorial detailing how to change the timeout on Dell's forums here.

  • Dell-Parnoshree C

    2 Intern

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    Posted October 23rd, 2019 21:00

  • U2CAMEB4ME

    6 Operator

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 10:00

    Welcome to the Dell Community @rwcoover 

    This option only has a max of 5 minutes but I am hoping that they upgrade it in the future.

    Keyboard5minmax.PNG

    Dell Feature Enhancement Pack Application:

    https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=MHVWP&prg=1&VEN1=12578053-8158472-k24zxycl5802gais006cs&AID=8158472&cjevent=f5b28268f68511e9826600ae0a24060b&dgc=CJ&DGSeg=DHS&cid=198375&lid=45846&acd=12309198375458460&VEN3=810704837227161064

    At least you do not need to edit the BIOS.

    Best regards,

    U2

  • rwcoover

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 19:00

    Thanks, I'll try this...I'll let you know if it works. 

  • rwcoover

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 19:00

    The computer definitely has a backlit keyboard. It works fine. But after a few seconds of non-use, it turns itself off. 

    In the BIOS, there is an option to keep it off, or options for brightness if it is on, nothing else. There is no option to keep the keyboard backlit, that is, to not alow it to turn itself off. 

    The webpage did not discuss that option for my Latitude. 

  • U2CAMEB4ME

    6 Operator

    6245 Posts

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 19:00

    @rwcoover 

    I tested it on an E6430 this morning and it worked just fine.

    The laptop is at the warehouse and I can't remember but it was in the Control Panel!!! 

    Something I can't understand, WHY not have the option to turn it on or off???

    Regards,

    U2

  • U2CAMEB4ME

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 19:00

    @rwcoover 

    Did you install the program???

    U2

  • rwcoover

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 19:00

    I find Keyboard in the Control Panel, but no settings like shown here. Going to Windows 10 Settings, the only Keyboard Settings i can find is on the "Ease of Access" and then "Interaction", but there are no settings here regarding the backlit keyboard. Are you using settings from Windows 8 or Windows 7? 

  • Dell-Parnoshree C

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    Posted October 24th, 2019 22:00

    Hi rwcovver,

    We advise downloading the Dell Feature Enhancement Pack. Once installed follow these steps:

    1. Go to Control Panel

    2. Depending on your setup;

    a. If you have a Category view selected choose Hardware and Sound then Dell Keyboard Backlight Settings and change the 'Turn off Backlight in' option to your desired setting. Click Apply.

    b. If you have an Icon view selected choose Dell Keyboard Backlight Settings and change the 'Turn off Backlight in' option to your desired setting. Click Apply.

    The Backlight will then only go out depending on your setting.

  • rwcoover

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    Posted October 25th, 2019 01:00

    Techgee ... YOU THE MAN !!!!!!! This is exactly the type of answer I was looking for, though I did not think I would have to go to the Linux Terminal to solve it. The keyboard has been lit for the last 10 minutes without a keystroke, and there is no reason to think that it will not continue to be lit for the next 11 + hours (if i do not shut it down as I actually intend to do). Thank you very much. This may have been designed for XPS 15 9550, but it works with the Latitude E6430 and probably other machines, too. 

     

    By the way, in case it is important, my BIOS is the A23 version from November, 2018. 

    More information about the laptop ... the CPU is the i7-3740QM and it has 16 GB RAM.