Backlit keyboard not working properly

[lucasvdb]

The function to activate the backlights of my keyboard doesn't work as it should.
Sometimes I manage to turn the lights on, but this is only possible in the first 5 seconds after Windows started up (and thus the first seconds I can see my desktop). After around 5 seconds, there is no turning back. If they're on at that moment, they stay on and it's impossible to turn them off again and vice versa. (The lights are activated by pressing FN+W, because it's an azerty computer.)

This problem started to occur when I updated to Windows 10 several years ago. Last week, I did a factory reset and again had some problems with the hotkeys. The backlit problem came back to my memory and therefore I post here, to hopefully get a solution.

I already tried several things:
- changing from 'special functionkey mode' to 'standard F1-F12 mode'
- updating drivers (System drivers, Function key utility...)
- changing in BIOS setup (here I could turn the lights on or off, but this didn't solve the problem when my laptop was turned on and logged in)

Laptop:
- Satellite P50-B-107
- PSPNUE-00300CBT
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home
- Factory reset 03/02/2018

 

[hang-the-9]

If this issue happened after you changed to Windows 10, looks like this function does not work under 10. Or did you do a factory reset to the original OS? Did you check with Toshiba support? You checked for newer drivers, how about a newer BIOS?

 

[jaguarskx]

Yeah, it is an issue with Windows 10 not working properly with laptop's Function Keys (FN key). Generally speaking, brand names like Dell and Lenovo and Toshiba have custom settings for the Operating System they install on the laptop so that special key combination with the FN key will work properly.

For example, my 2013 Dell Latitude 3540 came standard with Windows 7 Pro. In order to decrease / increase the volume using the keyboard I needed to press the FN key plus either the F11 or F12 key. There is a separate key to mute the volume. After installing Windows 10 the FN key no longer functions. If I want to adjust the volume I would have to do it within Windows 10.

 

[lucasvdb]

If this issue happened after you changed to Windows 10, looks like this function does not work under 10. Or did you do a factory reset to the original OS? Did you check with Toshiba support? You checked for newer drivers, how about a newer BIOS?

No, I did the factory reset to Windows 10. Toshiba Forums doesn't provide me with answers... Maybe I should check with the Toshiba support. I did not update the BIOS, because I always heard that changing the BIOS is not without risks.

 

[hang-the-9]

No, I did the factory reset to Windows 10. Toshiba Forums doesn't provide me with answers... Maybe I should check with the Toshiba support. I did not update the BIOS, because I always heard that changing the BIOS is not without risks.

You said you "updated to Windows 10 several years ago", that seems to imply the original setup on the laptop was not Windows 10. A "factory reset" would be to the original OS on the system.