MSI Touch Sensor/Quick Launch button question

I've got an EX625 with a dead touch sensor/quick launch buttons above the keyboard. It just happened out of the blue. I've tried multiple remedies mentioned in the MSI laptop forum so please don't bother referring to them. I will be sending the laptop in for warranty service.

Until I send it in my question is this: Is the only darn way to startup your wifi, bluetooth, cinema pro, ECO and webcam through this ridiculous touch sensor?

Is there no other way to get Vista 32 to turn the darn devices on without the touch sensor functioning?

It appears these quick launch buttons act as toggle switches so even though device manager shows them as working correctly they will not turn on within Vista unless you press the hardware touch sensor/quick launch buttons. The corresponding software will not even work without activating the touch sensor/quick launch buttons. Since I own two of these laptops, I tested all this out on my other EX625 that works fine.

I was thinking there was some registry hack or something to force these devices on without the hardware buttons working.

Maybe some of you have had experience with this problem on your MSI laptops?

 

Wow, I'm surprised no one else has encountered this problem? Anyone else experience this issue?

 

For the wireless try going to control panel, then windows mobility center and try to enable the wireless that way. Let me know if that helped.

 

Also, keyboard shortcuts should do the same thing (Fn+Fsomething) and for goodness sakes try reinstalling SCM or a full reinstall including SCM before you send it away for service.

 

Yep, already did. No dice on the SCM. There's also a procedure on the MSI forums to reset the embedded controller. The interesting thing was that when the touch sensor went out the wifi still worked, however when I followed the reset procedure I lost wifi. So I do not recommend resetting the embedded controller. You usually do this after a bios flash. I do not do any modding or tweaking and keep everything stock.

I'm almost certain that having these functions on before the touch sensor/quick launch strip goes south keeps them on afterwards within Vista. However if they were off after the touch sensor bites it then you are screwed. I think they act as hardware on/off switches interacting with the software to use these hardware devices.

For the EX625, other then the touch sensor/quick launch key strip above the keyboard there are no other Fn+Fsomething for the items I mentioned. The Fn+Fsomething controls screen brightness, volume up/down, mute, turning on/off the touchpad below the keyboard and toggling on and off an external monitor.

Cobra03, I have tried going to the mobility center in vista and enabling or disabling the wifi. It does not allow me to do that. Device manager shows these items working properly but I cannot use them or use the associated software for them. That's why I think there's some significant relationship with the hardware touch sensor/quick launch keys and being able to use them in Vista.

I've got two of these EX625 laptops and my other one works great. Therefore, I have a really good benchmark to compare the defective one.

I'm still curious to see if anyone else has had their touch sensor/quick launch keys die on them and what were their remedies?

 

I have had 3 MSI laptops, all with touch sensors and never had a problem. Only other thing is to uninstall the SCM and try to enable the wifi in the mobility center. If all fails send it in for repair.

 

I'd say your having a problem with the EC Firmware prehaps? maybe even phsyical?

Could try a reflash of the firmware actually needed to run the touch pannel, be careful though.

 

Even though it's anecdotal, good to hear success with 3 laptops on the touch sensor/quick launch keys. As far as the EC firmware, it's the first I've heard of it besides doing the reset feature noted on the MSI forum.

I did send it off for RMA to MSI's Los Angeles RMA center. It'll be curious to see what they come up with.

Still interesting that critical hardware functions can be so dependent on the functionality of the touch sensor/quick launch keypad.

If anyone's interested, try this simple little experiment: Using your touch sensor/quick launch keys, turn off your wifi, bluetooth, webcam, ECO, or cinemapro buttons and then try to enable them anywhere within Vista without resorting to the touch sensor/quick launch keys. Post your results.

 

I used the touch sensors to disable my wifi, and found the button in Windows Mobility Center for turning wireless on greyed out.

 

Don't waste your time , just RMA'd the thing .. without the touch sensor keys NOTHING will work .. it's as simple as that . IF reinstalling windows and SCM didn't work just don't bother

EDIT: you did that already missed it