Beta BIOS - Possible Missing Keystroke Fix

[gadzooks64]

I held off on actually flashing the BIOS in hopes that all the other steps would correct the problem with my keyboard - I don't know if I have any issues with the touchpad since I turned it off to alleviate my keyboard problems.

While I did notice a lot of improvement, the problem wasn't completely corrected so I went ahead with the BIOS flash.

So far so good. I notice a distinct improvement in the keyboard. I supposed I should use the trackpad for a while and see if there are issues with it.

As someone who had to do the VBIOS flash in order to be able to update my video drives AND also had the crackling sound issue on top of the keyboard problems, I'm glad to say I think *fingers crossed* that all my issues have finally been resolved.

I was beginning to think I had spent all this money for this machine only to end up with nothing but a pile of problems that would never be resolved. Kudos to ASUS for coming through.

That said, I'm pretty sure I will never again spend this much money on a laptop again.

[DCx]

Did the the beta bios permanently fix the touchpad or keyboard for anyone?

My touchpad is pretty much back to the way it was, it might even be worse, now it will stop working completely at times. I think this whole exercise has proven that it is a software issue though. I am really disappointed in this laptop, I have tried everything I can think of, and everything everyone has thought of, and the touchpad is no better. We need a fix from Asus, what is the hold up?

If I RMA it would they be able to do anything? I have tried what Gary indicated worked for their repair facilities, it seemed to work initially and then failed. Would the repair facility just do the same thing and send it back to me? I think Asus should send out new laptops to those of us who have this problem. Charge us for the new one and reverse the charge when they get the malfunctioning one delivered back to them. They need to do something...

Although I'm satisfied with my laptop, I would have returned it for a refund (and bought a different brand) if the problem had happened within my return window. As happy as I am, having to deal with a bunch of annoying problems on a $1800 laptop leaves a sour taste that'll never go away so long as I use it. That's right, it's a strong, negative association between asus and suck. They've started fixing the problems, but simply getting me a working laptop isn't "fixing" my feelings about their brand, even if it is fixing my current problem. For example, if my GPU dies outside of warranty and they fix it anyways? That would make me feel a lot better. Or sending it in for some small problem and getting it back, upgraded? Again... asus may have fixed my problem, but it took me 2+ months of shipping costs and wait time to get the thing I paid for in the first place.

I'll probably still buy asus in the future, but not on a high end laptop.

As for the touchpad ... well, I use a mouse so I couldn't tell you if it's fixed. As for the keyboard dropping keys ... I *do* think it worked, but the touchpad is so big that I'm sure I'm brushing it with my palm - which makes me drop keys while typing - but I havn't noticed any glaring missed keys. So kudos for that, Gary!

[Chastity]

Last night I helped a fellow in #asus-rog who flashed to the beta bios and still had keyboard / trackpad issues. What worked is uninstalling both the keyboard buffer driver and the Synaptic touchpad drivers, rebooting, and then installing them back. (we used 15.1.0.9 and 1.03 respectively)

He now has a stable system.

[Morecoffee]

Well hopefully the guys machine is fixed, I thought mine was as well. It was good for almost 2 days and then it reverted back to its old ways.

I will try your suggestion though, remove, reboot and then reinstall.

[Chastity]

I think the issue is that after the BIOS update, the hardware needs to be redetected afresh in the OS.

[kaiten]

I been running for the last couple of days. I can type on most of the other keys without too much issue. It is the stupid spacebar that is giving me the most problems.

[skygunner27]

A few days ago I sold my M11x R2 and have a serious buyer for my M17x R2. I've been contemplating selling my G73JH also, but because of it's well know out of the box issues the offers that I receive are based on potential buyers Google searches that result in a ton of negative info from various forums plaguing the G73JH's resale value.

When the new M17x R3 with Sandybridge is released I'm soooo jumping ship and not looking back.
I appreciate Gary & Co's attempt at fixing this problem but I feel that with all the problems out of the box with the G73JH, Asus owes it to "US" to do more in a timely manner. It is so annoying reading about the new G73JW/3D, G53 etc.... and they haven't even fixed the G73JH!!

What's so lame to me is that other forum users here are like be patient blah blah blah. I've owned this G73JH for over 8 months with out of the box problems. How's that for patience?
What I can't understand is through reading Gary's post he's obviously a busy guy flying here and flying there. Why has this task fallen upon him?
Shouldn't Asus's entire R&D deptartment be handling this?

Does Asus(not including Gary) pretend to believe these problems do not exist?
I don't know about China/Taiwan but in the States word of mouth goes a long way. In my neck of the woods many people look to me as the go to guy when it comes to PC purchases.

I have lost count of how many people I have detoured from buying Asus products based on my personal experience with Asus Hardware/Asus RMA/Asus Customer Service.
In the meantime I'd still like a fully functional touchpad.


I think Asus should offer G73JH owners a buy back or upgrade offer as a Goodwill measure because at this point it's the right thing to do.


Thanks for reading.

[Morecoffee]

Once again I am going to try and fix this thing. Can someone tell me how to uninstall the keyboard buffer driver. I have the driver, but to do it as advised I need to remove it first, reboot and then put it back. I can't see it listed in the program list. I even installed it without removing it so I could see which one it is by date, but that did not work either.

Edit: I found the keyboard device filter. It is in System > Keyboard. I removed the device and driver in there and then reinstalled.

[HeavenCry]

Ive tried reisntalling the recommended, newest, older.... pretty much any synaptics, keyboard filter, ATK, ATI & Realtek driver i have. It still doesnt work, this Bios is NOT a solution. After some reinstalls things worked for a while, but not for long.
Sorry Gary, but how can it be so hard to solve this if youre really cooperating with Synaptics, Intel and ATI? Somehow every other brand has a working touchpad and keyboard...
And i cant begin to understand how this problem can still exist after YEARS on your laptops...
Thank god they make decent porable mice nowadays so i can actually use my laptop.
Yes i know its a BETA, but that still doesnt comfort me one bit.

[skygunner27]

Gary, is there anything we can do as customers to get Asus more envolved with finding a solution?
Is there some kind of procedure that we can start to bring a sense of urgentcy to the issues at hand?

In the past I've owned the G51, G71, G72 & G73. Most of these units had problems straight out of the box. Some of the problems were hardware and some were software. Some problems were fixed and some were not. Some problems go from one model to the next model.

Asus has a history of designing new models and moving on instead of fixing current tech.
I feel that Asus's time with the G73JH is or about to be at an end as Asus focuses on newer hardware and upcoming Sandybridge models.

I think as "Enthusiasts" purchasing "Enthusiasts" laptops, Asus needs to pay more attention to "US" by taking this matter more seriously.
What's so annoying is when I read the forums online about specific G73JH problems that EVERYBODY knows about....the foreign customer service agents at Asus don't even have a clue, so why would I trust Asus with my laptop? The last time I RMA'd to Asus for defective GPU all they did was re-install OS without product key. Upon return, after 3 days the GPU died and reseller replaced Asus RMA'd laptop.

Is it possible for you to elevate our comments and concerns to someone who cares about customer relations/satisfaction?

Even now my trackpad is going crazy while I attempt to submit this message.
How frustrating

I know that you read ALL of the messages here.
Who creates a thread and doesn't read the posts/replies?
I appreciate all that you have done and possibly will do.
If replying here isn't reasonable because of company policy please point me in the right direction through PM or the email address I provided in my synaptics log email.
Thanks again.