Solved Ohhhh Microsoft, that was nasty

Catnip · Mar 24, 2024

I have a Logitech G815 keyboard with addressable lighting and I have it all set up so that certain keys are lit with certain colours. It helps me with my typing, believe it or not. Everything was working fine until the other day. My keyboard lights would light up properly on boot, but as soon as I touched the keyboard, all of the key lights would turn blue. My computer has been a little fussy of late, so I ran virus checks and re-installed the Logitech software a couple of times. Still the same thing. I even grabbed my spare G815 from storage and plugged it in and it did the same thing. Grrrr.

Snooping around the Logitech setup screen as I set up the keyboard again for the nth time, I found a curious link called Windows Settings:

I clicked it and it took me to this settings page. Windows had just magically turned this setting on for me without warning. Turning it off made the keyboard work normally again.

So, approximately four hours to debug a screwed up keyboard, all because MS decided to change a setting for me somehow. Thanks MS.

I post this in case someone else has this same problem with an addressable light keyboard.

pseymour · Mar 24, 2024

Thanks to Logitech really. The feature came to Windows last autumn, and Logitech enabled it for G series in February.

allan · Mar 24, 2024

Microsoft bashing for no reason - it's a national sport

antspants · Mar 24, 2024

allan said:
Microsoft bashing for no reason - it's a national sport

I agree, Microsoft gets “bashed” for no reasons sometimes, or often actually. But in Catnip’s defence, Microsoft opted us in as apposed to letting us make the decision, at least it did for me.

badrobot · Mar 24, 2024

Usually, it's the hardware maker who adapts to Windows and not the other way around. Why would Microsoft even care about inserting themselves into a Logitech software? Hardware maker does this so that the hardware would work right away (default settings). Then customize it if you want.

Catnip · Mar 25, 2024

allan said:
Microsoft bashing for no reason - it's a national sport

Hardly. I'm a Microsoft fan-girl. Ask anyone.

badrobot said:
Usually, it's the hardware maker who adapts to Windows and not the other way around. Why would Microsoft even care about inserting themselves into a Logitech software? Hardware maker does this so that the hardware would work right away (default settings). Then customize it if you want.

The point is that the keyboard was already customized and had been for over a year. MS decided to arbitrarily enable a feature in Windows that caused my keyboard to reset to default as soon as I touched it, without any indication that they had done so. It caused me 4 hours of grief and aggravation trying to troubleshoot this mess, thinking I had picked up a virus. That's why I am pissed off.

I posted so that others with LED assignable keyboards might find the problem in less time than I did, because I assume that MS will be rolling this "feature" out to everyone, if they haven't done so already, in the near future. Hopefully, it takes the next victim less than four hours of valuable time to solve it.

JAM83 · Mar 25, 2024

Catnip said:
I have a Logitech G815 keyboard with addressable lighting and I have it all set up so that certain keys are lit with certain colours. It helps me with my typing, believe it or not. Everything was working fine until the other day. My keyboard lights would light up properly on boot, but as soon as I touched the keyboard, all of the key lights would turn blue. My computer has been a little fussy of late, so I ran virus checks and re-installed the Logitech software a couple of times. Still the same thing. I even grabbed my spare G815 from storage and plugged it in and it did the same thing. Grrrr.

Snooping around the Logitech setup screen as I set up the keyboard again for the nth time, I found a curious link called Windows Settings:

View attachment 91338

I clicked it and it took me to this settings page. Windows had just magically turned this setting on for me without warning. Turning it off made the keyboard work normally again.

View attachment 91339

So, approximately four hours to debug a screwed up keyboard, all because MS decided to change a setting for me somehow. Thanks MS.

I post this in case someone else has this same problem with an addressable light keyboard.

That keyboard is sweet, but I can't type with those types of keyboards. I need an ergonomic keyboard where the keys are split in the middle. . LOL

markw51 · Mar 26, 2024

Catnip said:
Hardly. I'm a Microsoft fan-girl. Ask anyone.

The point is that the keyboard was already customized and had been for over a year. MS decided to arbitrarily enable a feature in Windows that caused my keyboard to reset to default as soon as I touched it, without any indication that they had done so. It caused me 4 hours of grief and aggravation trying to troubleshoot this mess, thinking I had picked up a virus. That's why I am pissed off.

I posted so that others with LED assignable keyboards might find the problem in less time than I did, because I assume that MS will be rolling this "feature" out to everyone, if they haven't done so already, in the near future. Hopefully, it takes the next victim less than four hours of valuable time to solve it.

The point is MS rolled out that feature last year to everyone so it's Logitech fault that their driver picked up a setting and changed your Keyboard.

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

markw51 said:
The point is MS rolled out that feature last year to everyone so it's Logitech fault that their driver picked up a setting and changed your Keyboard.

I don’t personally believe it matters what logitech didn’t do. Microsoft shouldn’t be opting us into anything, lighting settings, OneDrive, it doesn’t matter what it is.
I don’t begrudge MS from adding all this stuff or trying to earn a $$ (because we all know it’s broke) But please, don’t opt me in.
It’s a pet hate of mine that doesn’t end with Microsoft.

hdmi · Mar 26, 2024

Catnip said:
, thinking I had picked up a virus.

Scannerman · Mar 26, 2024

I have little sympathy for Logitech these days — especially their current software. IMO anything called "Logi" is an invitation to play with a loaded gun. Their software is invasive, buggy, and requires continuous updating. In fact, the company can't get their "fixes" out fast enough before the next issue comes around to mess up your settings once more. I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to flip the switch so-to-speak on LOGI just to spare the user the extra misery they could encounter due to problematic software. The old Logitech was never like this. The old Logitech respected the user. But, once again, user preference rules. Perhaps there's a good reason they dropped the word "tech" from their name after all. Some folks like their bloatware, nagware, adware, spyware, etc. for those who do LOGI has you covered.

antspants · Mar 26, 2024

I setup my devices, uninstall the software. My devices have onboard memory. Zero invasive input from Logitech/Logi.

Scannerman · Mar 26, 2024

antspants said:
I setup my devices, uninstall the software. My devices have onboard memory. Zero invasive input from Logitech/Logi.

Was once a big fan of Logitech before they started pushing their LOGI G garbage. (Methinks the "G" stands for garbage.) I used to own the Prodigy stuff. The mouse started acting up before the warranty ran out on it and eventually I had to toss it. The boys over at LOGI wouldn't replace it with a different mouse but instead offered me a discount on a different model. I told them to keep it. Not long after the fancy expensive keyboard with the addressable lighting went on the fritz. By this time I was well acquainted with the spinning "L" and the garbage ware that came with it. I didn't bother to call LOGI again because I wasn't interested in another discount on a newer keyboard. After uninstalling the bloatware my system ran so much smoother and trouble free compared to when I had it installed. I still have some Logitech hardware that isn't dependant on the bloatware that comes with LOGI G. The old Logitech hardware is running well into it's second decade and still working reliably. Meanwhile, for me, the new stuff didn't even last three years. Yeah, I know it's a trope because these days precious little is built to last.

Catnip · Mar 28, 2024

Scannerman said:
Was once a big fan of Logitech before they started pushing their LOGI G garbage. (Methinks the "G" stands for garbage.) I used to own the Prodigy stuff. The mouse started acting up before the warranty ran out on it and eventually I had to toss it. The boys over at LOGI wouldn't replace it with a different mouse but instead offered me a discount on a different model. I told them to keep it. Not long after the fancy expensive keyboard with the addressable lighting went on the fritz. By this time I was well acquainted with the spinning "L" and the garbage ware that came with it. I didn't bother to call LOGI again because I wasn't interested in another discount on a newer keyboard. After uninstalling the bloatware my system ran so much smoother and trouble free compared to when I had it installed. I still have some Logitech hardware that isn't dependant on the bloatware that comes with LOGI G. The old Logitech hardware is running well into it's second decade and still working reliably. Meanwhile, for me, the new stuff didn't even last three years. Yeah, I know it's a trope because these days precious little is built to last.

I have to admit that Logitech has really taken a bit of a nose dive lately. Although, I had a problem with my first G815 keyboard where the letters were wearing off of the keys prematurely. I have fingernails, and while they are not long or anything, they are still there and they chip the plastic off of the keys after a while. I tried to buy new keycaps from Logi but they don't sell them. I complained and Logi sent me a brand new G815 keyboard. I just had to take a couple of pictures of the damaged keys. I was impressed.

I think my next keyboard might be a Razer or a Corsair, if I can get one with assignable lighting, cherry keys, and some macro/function keys. It's a tall order, but I have seen them around. Expensive though.

antspants · Mar 28, 2024

Catnip said:
I think my next keyboard might be a Razer or a Corsair

I have a Corsair K95 Platinum. Every individual key is lighting programable, features out the wazoo.
I got it because I like to light specific keys on a per program basis. It’s probably wasted on me except for that and a few other things.

There is of course a K100 out now

Hopachi · Mar 28, 2024

I use a Logitech G610 and also customized the lightning.
A few days ago after one of the updates I got a 'good news!' popup in the notifications bar saying that now the dynamic lightning of 'my devices' can be set in settings. There was indeed the keyboard mentioned.

So far I haven't noticed any weird stuff with that setting on, but PC wasn't used too much since then.

Catnip said:
I post this in case someone else has this same problem with an addressable light keyboard.

Thanks. I'll go uncheck that as well. Just in case.

Scannerman · Mar 29, 2024

Catnip said:
I complained and Logi sent me a brand new G815 keyboard. I just had to take a couple of pictures of the damaged keys. I was impressed.

At least they didn't offer you a discount on a replacement.

Ed Tittel · Mar 29, 2024

I'm chuckling about this thread. I, too, dropped Logitech about 2018/2019 because of issues with software and updates. I picked the Microsoft mice to go with my MS keyboards (which I've always preferred anyway). Then, MS announced last year they were abandoning that line of products in favor of Surface branded stuff. Fortunately, a third party company named Incase is taking over so I hope I'll be able to keep using it for some time to come. But shoot: it's always something...
--Ed--

hdmi · Mar 29, 2024

Ed Tittel said:
I'm chuckling about this thread. I, too, dropped Logitech about 2018/2019 because of issues with software and updates. I picked the Microsoft mice to go with my MS keyboards (which I've always preferred anyway). Then, MS announced last year they were abandoning that line of products in favor of Surface branded stuff. Fortunately, a third party company named Incase is taking over so I hope I'll be able to keep using it for some time to come. But shoot: it's always something...
--Ed--

Still having no issues whatsoever with my Logitech K800 keyboard + Logitech G402 mouse.