Ornata V2 - Lights freeze + macro dysfunction and more (Warning: text wall. TL;DR included) | Razer Insider

Ornata V2 - Lights freeze + macro dysfunction and more (Warning: text wall. TL;DR included)

  • 21 March 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 50 views

Greetings, everyone.
Four days ago I got myself a Razer Ornata V2 and have been experiencing problems with it as soon as ten minutes after I had it hooked up. This is my first Razer product, so other or older Razer drivers are not interfering or what have you. The Ornata V2 is also the only piece that Synapse is connected to. No third-party stuff.
Prepare yourself for a text wall. I'm not the kind of person to 'contact support' before trying a fair range of things, so I've got some 'data' to present.

The main problem is the lights freezing in place. They retain whatever they were on at the moment the freezing started seemingly forever. The only thing that ever got it out of this state was starting Steam, a one-time, very temporary fix to the problem. I suppose this is because Synapse has some connection with the program, as I discovered while trying to reinstall it.
Unplugging the keyboard and putting it back in would sometimes reanimate the lights, and sometimes just make things worse. (such as lights staying off completely after Synapse 'syncs' it or freezing Synapse entirely for a minute or two)

While the keyboard is in its 'frozen state', a few things are of note;
- The keyboard (in ways of typing and general 'keyboardness') would function properly.
- Any indicating lights such as Caps Lock, NumLock or Scroll lock would cease function, following the trend of the RGB lighting in retaining what they were at the moment the keyboard froze. Their function is unimpeded, however. (I.E, Caps lock still works, the light just doesn't reflect that it's on.)
- Holding FN would still blacken the lights on the keyboard and highlight those of the associated function keys. Letting go of the key would turn the lights back to normal, albeit still frozen.
- If the computer is shut down while the keyboard is stuck like this, it adds an additional 3 minutes of shutdown time to the PC. (yes, I timed this and narrowed it down to this phenomenon being the culprit. it incentivized me most to start taking action.)
- Macros go haywire. I had a macro that basically clicks eight times per second for me while held. If I would press it, even very briefly, the next twenty or so seconds are infested with random mouse clicks, each an arbitrary time apart from the others.
- Trying to change anything in Synapse that affects the keyboard (macros, lighting, etc) would change nothing but freeze Synapse for the next ten seconds or so.
- The scroll wheel on the keyboard that can alter the volume level of the PC would no longer function. It's basically reduced to a fidget toy.
------------------------------------------------------------------

You obviously see that a few lights freezing causes a lot more mayhem than you'd think... or at least they created more trouble than I thought a few LEDs could. Furthermore, some of the functions mentioned above (like the scroll wheel) work when Synapse hasn't connected to the keyboard yet, making me confused as to where exactly this error is taking place. (The keyboard evidently doesn't need Synapse to change volume, so why does it cease to function after interacting with it? You'd imagine it'd continue to work, just as the regular keys do.)

This effect happens seemingly arbitrarily. I've had it happen ten seconds after startup, instantly on boot, and I've had it work properly for hours on end.
There are a few things prone to triggering it, though;
- Changing profile in Synapse (to the one with my macro for an example. Though it tends to be most sensitive when I switch back to a profile with NO macros).
- Changing light intensity (I'd say this one nearly guarantees it to happen).
- Playing a game linked to Synapse (I imagine this one may just tie into changing profiles).
- Clicking out of/into a game that's linked to Synapse (the freeze occurred most when I switched to something like Discord for a moment to write a quick reply).

Additionally, I've noticed that Synapse freezes for long periods of time after applying changes to the keyboard in any form, primarily when adding a macro to a key or swapping profiles. Again, I'm new to Razer, so maybe sending data back and forth just takes a while...?

What I've tried:
- I've deleted all Razer-related drivers and restarted my computer to have them reinstalled. Also did this for all keyboard-related drivers, just in case.
- I've reinstalled Razer Synapse 3, following the guide of Razer itself. I've noticed the Oranata v2 isn't on the list of 3's supported devices, but the program sure acts like it is. It also installed 3 automatically when I plugged it in.
The software now runs with only Chroma Studio installed in terms of extensions.
- I've reinstalled Windows. Not a clean reinstall, more a trick into making the system install itself over itself to retain all data and apps. It was about as effective as I thought it would be... It did trick Synapse into doing something, as it showed a bar and threw some new startup items into my system, but given my escape key has been purple the entire time I've spent writing this text wall, I doubt it was of any significance to my issue.

Future things I might try (or think could be at fault):
-
Clean install of windows, retaining files but removing programs. Already have my backups made in case the one of today didn't retain what it had promised.
- Try Synapse 2.
- Change RAM memory. (I've been getting certain programs to yield the error "the application was unable to start correctly 0xc00005" for a while now, and you bet reinstalling them did nothing. Starting them on boot yielded a much higher chance of a successful launch. My 'reinstall' of today also didn't resolve it, and I've read faulty RAM chips could be the cause.
This PC is reaching the age of 5 years soon and has endured heavy use. All components have since been swapped, except for the RAM memory and data storage. I've been considering upgrading to 32 gigs anyway).
- Use the product's warranty. It wouldn't be the first time I've ordered a broken product and have to trade it in for a replacement.

Google isn't of much help to me on this topic. The closest I could find is a thread from years ago, which was blamed on Synapse 3 being new and about a different keyboard. Given it's been over three years since that can't be the reason, can it?

TL;DR:--------------------------------------------------------
The lights on my keyboard freeze and take many functions with it. I've tried many things to no avail. The state has many triggers, some seemingly arbitrary. It sabotages gameplay by wreaking havoc on macros, the computer (by increasing PC shutdown time dramatically), and my hopes and dreams of having nice things.
At least it can still type while in this state.
------------------------------------------------------------------
PC specs: (if relevant at all)

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600x 6-Core processor
RAM: 16GB DDR4
MB: B550 AORUS PRO
OS: Windows 10 Pro (64 bit ofc)

Peripherals:
Keyboard:
Razer Ornata V2
Mouse: Gigabyte M8000X
(The latter is a cheap yet surprisingly modular mouse with a 3D scroll wheel. Its drivers and DPI button no longer function... That's what I get for something worth €20. I'm addicted to the scroll wheel though, and I'm considering looking for a similar Razer equivalent. But that idea has been put on hold for obvious reasons).

------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE:
I've tried to use the keyboard on a different device. This one is hardly used by its owner, and so is likely closest to a proper installation of the OS as I can get. I've been messing around with Synapse on it with the intent to crash the keyboard again... so in other words, stressing it even more than on my own computer.
I could not replicate the issue, so it's safe to assume the keyboard nor synapse is at fault here, but rather a combination of Synapse and my hardware/OS.
Time to reinstall windows PROPER I guess... It's about time for that anyway. If that doesn't fix it, I think only my RAM memory is left to blame. It's been suspiciously uncooperative during integrity scans and the like already...
I feel I shouldn't have listened to those around me and just continued my solo research instead of bothering this forum, as it's starting to look like I'll figure this one out on my own.

This topic has been closed for comments

1 Reply

Right, so I'm at a loss here.
I've completely reinstalled Windows. Not another BYTE on my PC, all drives formatted and it STILL ceases to function correctly.
It evidently works on another system, why is mine infested with a phantom of a flaw?!

I decided to run the razer log collector thing to collect data on Synapse when the keyboard is frozen like this. Should have probably done this earlier, but I was fully convinced having a completely clean computer would be sufficient.
I've made a log of Synapse during a freeze and am trying to make something from it myself, but new to it as I am, this may take me a while... if any staff member or whatnot cares to take a look at it, I'll send it gladly.