Steelseries 7G - Windows Key Mod

Hello,

I've been using my 7G keyboard since august 2009 with great pleasure. But I was getting really tired of not having the left windows key button. I should have done this a long time ago.

Basically opened the thing up, cut some traces, and welded wires. Not too difficult... but way more than should be required to get a left windows key lol.

Just thought I'd post this here in case anybody else really wants a left windows key on a 7G keyboard. (should probably be identical on 6G's, but I can't confirm this).

Re-uploaded images here : http://imgur.com/a/USPr2

I'm curious. What did that button do that it didnt function as a windows key? I obviously don't know the layout of this keyboard.

It was basically an "FN" key, which gave me access to 6 media functions.

F1 to F6, mute, vol-, vol+, play/pause, prev, next.

I never used those.

Druneau said:

It was basically an "FN" key, which gave me access to 6 media functions.

F1 to F6, mute, vol-, vol+, play/pause, prev, next.

I never used those.

Click to expand...

it would be nice if they swapped spots for the function keys. Since windows 7 came out the windows key has been a necessity yet i never used the windows key on the right. the arrangement is just a little awkward reversed unless you were left handed i guess.

I agree swapping would have been the ideal solution.

They also remove the left windows key because it's sold as a "gaming" keyboard. Supposedly the left windows key is a problem for gamers so they remove it or add a lock function. (I never experienced that problem)

Interesting. Make me want to mod mine...

If you want better pictures let me know.

I just bought a hot glue gun, and wouldn't mind going back and securing wires with some glue.

Personally I like the steelseries layout. Volume/mute is nicer than a windows key.

Cool mod though. Steel series should've made a small toggle switch somewhere.

I want to mod mine...I was looking for a solution like this.. also was about to sell my 7G because i need Left Windows Key! (and i has no replacement to buy...i really like this keyboard).

So you just give me a good hope, thanks!


But i don't understand this very well : /

I have a soldering (for tin) in my House but never used except to play with tin balls.

Druneau said:

If you want better pictures let me know.




I just bought a hot glue gun, and wouldn't mind going back and securing wires with some glue.

Click to expand...

If there isn't a problem, I would be happy to have better photos and tips



PD: Left Windows Key is fundamental in Mac OS X and will be very used in Windows 8. That's my reason to mod this keyboard.

Can i do this fix with just welding the 2 red cables (Linking with the other windows key)? (Put the 2 left red cables and do nothing more).

Or it's mandatory to also need to implement the other cable and cut traces?

Hey TheSebastian,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner,

The reason you need to implement all cables is because you also need to sever "disconect" the left windows key from its current circuit.

So I used an xacto knife to cut the PCB traces (I looked at some youtube videos on how to repare pcb traces, they were very helpful).

The orange trace is then added to keep that other circuit working (who knows what other keys are on there... I'm sure we need them)

i thought if we connect only the 2 red cables, maybe the Key would be "hybrid"...< Right Start + Steelseries Key>
(I know that the steelseries is internal to the keyboard, because i tried to remap it in the past and didn't work).


Druneau do you have a better quality image? i really want to do this..i think i'm going to do it this month, after researching a little more.

Here you go.. fresh off the camera. (just took them lol)

Awesome pictures, thanks a lot!

The last 3 pictures are the locations where I cut the PCB traces.

Druneau could you give me some of the Youtube videos you watched about welding/repairing keyboard?

Do i need to use < aditional (not from the 7G) > "Copper or tin/pewter" for this?

hmm forum is not notifying me of replies like it used to... sorry for the delay lol.

This is the video I watched to get an idea of what can be done to traces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozH2F3AX8BY

As for needing solder, at locations where you will connect to switched you might be able to get away with a small wire + heating... but at the location where I connected to a PCB trace directly... you will need some sort of way to connect. You could probably event epoxy it in... I don't think you need super good connection to Trace.

I realize it's been quite some time since this post was originally made but I hope you're still monitoring this thread... I did this little mod on my 7G keyboard as I finally got tired of having to shift the mouse hand to the keyboard every time I needed a Windows key pressed (prompted or accelerated by the recent switch to Windows 8 )...

However, having done the mod, my keyboard is now behaving kind of strange... BOTH Windows button work the same (as would be expected - since they are just connected in parallel) but they ONLY work in conjunction with another key! E.g. Win+E brings up the Explorer, Win+C brings up the Charms bar (Windows 8 ), etc. BUT... Windows key alone (either one) does NOT bring up the Start menu/screen as expected but, instead, maximizes the current (active) window!

I downloaded and ran a small keycode monitor utility and it seems that when Windows key (by itself) is pressed and released - the system receives Right Windows KEYDOWN message, Right Windows KEYUP message AND (here's the strange part!) Arrow Up KEYUP message. Hence the maximize action - since that's normally what Win+ArrowUp does!

Before I dismantle the keyboard and re-check my joints (which will be a pain in the ass because, after checking continuity for everything I could think of to check, I painted the joints with liquid electrical tape and glued wires down with hot glue - arrrgh) - I was wondering if you (or anyone else that did this mod to their 7g) experienced this particular behaviour (and, if so, what was the culprit and the solution)?

Thanks!

Marko

Just an FYI you probably could do it through software with something like autohotkey.

hoochiekoo said:

I realize it's been quite some.....

Thanks!

Marko

Click to expand...

Did you cut the PCB traces?

On my 7G the windows keys behave like on normal keyboards. If I press the windows key alone (either one of them) it pops open start menu/metro menu (depending on windows version).

Unless somehow steelseries revised their PCB's and you and I have different revisions?

Hey i did followed ur mod and it works out great, however i want to switch the keys not make both of them the windows key is that possible?

Hello, Druneau

Could you please repost the photos? They are not visible anymore...

I liked the windows and the steelseries keys in parallel, and now the keyboard acts weird... I also have to cut some of the wired, but don't know which ones, as the photos are not available anymore...

Thanks,
Dan

I'll try and remember to fix them tonight.

I should still have them laying around.

If you only added wires then you are correct, you have to cut some of the traces. I'm at work and don't have the pictures. But I'll re-up them tonight.

Thank you for your fast reply! I'm looking forward to see those pictures

I'd be really happy to see the keyboard working again, with both keys as windows key, as I like this keyboard a lot! The build quality is amazing and it also has a palm rest...

See first post for imgur link.

And for reference, keyboard still works great in 2014. I've been using it 8+ hours per day at work. Only other modification I did was superglue the spacebar to the chery keys. It kept popping out.