Has somebody tried to change keyboard light color on Nitro 5 AN-515-58-74RE on linux?

Wovich
Wovich Member Posts: 3 New User
in Nitro Gaming

Hey guys! Recently I've purchased a Nitro 5 AN515-58-74RE (i7 12700h, 32 Gb, RTX 3070 Ti, 1Tb SSD) and I've installed Ubuntu on it. I dislike windows (especially windows 11) and I've go one little annoying thing with my laptop: I cannot change keyboard light color via any software which I have tried - openRGB, acer-predator-turbo-and-rgb-keyboard-linux-module, RGBTools, etc. Has somebody changed keyboard light color on Nitro 5 AN-515-58-74RE on linux?

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,870 Trailblazer

    Some folks have reported at least partial use of the NitroSense app with the WINE overlay by accessing and running the launcher executable in the NitroSense subdirectory from the Windows partition if in dual boot. I've also found many other Windows apps will both install and run in Mint Cinnamon using WINE even without access to a Windows partition.


    https://www.acer.com/ac/ru/RU/content/support-product/9242?b=1

    Jack E/NJ

  • Wovich
    Wovich Member Posts: 3 New User
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1141548#Comment_1141548

    I've tried to install Nitrosense via vine but there is an error: 'unsupported OS'. I have no windows installation on my machine and don't want to do this

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,870 Trailblazer

    Unfortunately, the proprietary NitroSense app apparently accesses undocumented proprietary BIOS firmware features to change RBG patterns. So it's unlikely the ubuntu developers will come up with a NitroSense clone anytime soon. It is however possible that future Acer BIOS firmware updates will address this issue without having to use the NitroSense app.

    While I understand your reluctance to dual boot, there are times when access to the Windows environment is important especially when applying UEFI BIOS updates which can be beneficial to both OS environments. Trying to update Acer firmware outside of the Windows environment is very risky.

    This is why most of my Acer & HP machines are loaded with a bootable stripped down Windows partition even though not used very often. With storage capacities being so large and cheap these days, a dual boot capability is very worthwhile and practical that is easily handled by the grub boot manager.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Wovich
    Wovich Member Posts: 3 New User
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1141594#Comment_1141594

    I've asked one of my friends with same laptop and windows installed on it to copy nitrosense app and send it to me and no one of .exe files is not launching by wine.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,870 Trailblazer

    Sorry. I'm not too surprised though. Many users have reported only limited functionality for other NitroSense, PredatorSense & VeroSense apps that did in fact start under WINE. As mentioned earlier, apps apparently use undocumented proprietary BIOS firmware features but only under the Windows environment but not accesible inside the WINE overlay.

    How many executables EXE were in the Sense ProgramFiles or ProgramFiles(x86) subdirectory from your friend? Usually about six, only one of which must be started first.

    Also there are actually two Sense related subdirectories that seem to be ultimately used. The other is buried deep into directory structure with the words AcerIncorporated as part of the Sense name. It is not directly accessible unless restricted permissions are changed even as an administrator. That might be the key to the BIOS controls. However, I think the directory structure must be identical so it's not just copying the two directories. This probably means if the Sense installer doesn't work under WINE, it's unlikely that the Windows directory structure can be virtually duplicated in the Linux environment.

    Jack E/NJ

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