Swift X SFX14-51G some of the function keys are not working

Inkosikasi
Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter
edited March 2023 in Swift and Spin Series

Hello, i'm experiencing some troubles with my new Swift X SFX14-51G-71Y1. The problem is some of the function keys like not working properly. First of all i noticed some glitches with turning on the backlight on f11. Sometimes it works and sometimes not, though if i hold Fn button, f11 just works fine (checked on a web keyboard tester) so i thought that's the backlight issue. Anyway, i tried to reinstall keyboard drivers and it worked fine…for a short period of time. Today i faced a new glitch - f5 and f6 didn't alow me to change the brightness more than two levels in both sides. Technically my brightness level stucked somewhere in the middle.

I guess that's some kind of defectiveness and the best i can do - contact a warranty services, but i'm currently living in the other country and don't want to waste much of a time and money for post services. Technical support live chat here seems to work only by US/Canada time and that's also not the most comfortable option for me.

So please let me know if you had some similar issues with your devices and solved it.

[Edited the content to add model name and issue detail]

Best Answer

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    Link works for me? You may have to signin to Amazon first. https://www.amazon.com/gp/css/returns/homepage.html?ref_=footer_hy_f_4

    However, most vendor RMA's usuallly expire after a few weeks. Amazon's policy is usually a month. Then you have to deal with warranty repair service which can be a hassle plus shipping costs would be involved. i'd probably try the Amazon RMA anyway explaining that you've been trying to fix the problem since receiving the laptop. They might still intervene on your behalf. Worth a try if you don't want to try the original factory USB installation stick.

    Jack E/NJ

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Answers

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    I can assume that the problem with the backlight was an exception, but the backlighе button has been getting on my nerves for a month now.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    Shut off machine. Turn it back on and immediately start tapping the F2 key to enter BIOS menu. Go to BIOS MAIN tab and change function key behavior from media key to function key. Press F10 to save settings and exit.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    Then a hardware issue. Is it still under warranty?

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Yep, had been bought on december 2022. But i cannot do anything with it, cause im living in a country with no acer support for a nearest 6 months.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    You can try a factory reset from the AcerCareCenter to see if it makes any difference. Or update the firmware. Might void the warranty going any further than this.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    I already did a BIOS update to the last version (1.08 with a “Updates EC version.” description). As i understand EC stands for embedded controller wich is keyboard or a touchpad, so i thought it could be fixed…but unfortunately, no changes, still lagging. Haven't tried factory reset, though. Does it have any differences with a windows factory reset?

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    »»Haven't tried factory reset, though. Does it have any differences with a windows factory reset?»»

    Windows reset is definiitely NOT an ACER factory reset. The two are completely different. The Acer factory reset is done using either the Acer Care Center or the ALT+F10 cold boot method described in this link.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    So it is wiping all the memory and so on, right? Ok, will try it in a few days after copying all the data.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    You have a choice. A full erase-everything factory reset. Or a factory reset while trying to save your personal files and programs. Either way you should back up your personal data. The full erase-everything reset is however preferred as the best way to rule in or rule out a hardware problem.

    Jack E/NJ

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,944 Trailblazer

    The EC update isn't for keyboard or touchpad. It's the embedded controller in the chipset and is security related. The keyboard and touchpad use internal USB ports to connect to the rest of the system.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Oh, my bad, i thought if EC controls I/O than it should be connected with keyboard somehow even on a laptop.

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Honestly, could not understand the difference between them. Both care center and alt f10 are just calling up the windows tools for recovery. Would be glad if you culd explaint this to me.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    »»>Both care center and alt f10 are just calling up the windows tools for recovery.»»

    Does the ****FIRST**** menu that appears after ALT+F10 or Acer Care Center look like this?

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    yep, though i had'nt “use a device” icon, may assume that's because i didn't have any flash-usb connected.

    Tried twice, reset with data save didn't complete, had an error screen.

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    »»Tried twice»»

    Yes, but exactly how did you get to this screen? Was it via ALT+F10 or the Acer Care Center. ?

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Oh, sorry, haven't read your question thoroughly. Alt+f10 was used twice, though i checked both options of getting to the restore menu before that

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Also i have to say i chose cloud windows download both times. Both times the process was aborted at the installation stage

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,178 Trailblazer

    »»>Also i have to say i chose cloud windows download both times. »»

    Sorry, Cloud Windows is not the same as the Acer OEM Windows on the boot drive's hidden factory recovery partition. If you have the option of installing Windows from the local boot drive's hidden partition, that's the one you want. Not the Cloud —- not from online.

    Jack E/NJ

  • Inkosikasi
    Inkosikasi Member Posts: 22 Troubleshooter

    Ok, done and done. No changes even after local boot. That's really frustrating, but i think noticed while restoring/reseting process media key f11 just works fine. And after all the process i just cleaning up all the windows preisntallled bloatware while f11 not working again.