Windows 10: ZBoard Merc Not working in Windows 11

Shulag · Apr 7, 2022

I still have and use an old Steelseries ZBoard Merc keyboard that I just can't do without. Unfortunately Steelseries / Ideazon is no more, and there haven't been any driver updates for years. Since the KB4034674 update in 2017, every major update has caused it to stop working. Fortunately a fine human being by the name of ZathJD posted these instructions on this forum to modify the catalog file of the old drivers and resurrect the old keyboard. After every update I simply updated the ZBoard drivers with these new ones and it would work perfectly again.I recently upgraded from Windows 10 to Win

:)

StefanBergström1 · Apr 7, 2022

Merc Stealth Zboard not working after Windows 10 KB4034674

Merc Stealth Zboard not working after Windows 10 KB4034674

After the recent Windows 10 Cumulative update KB4034674 my Merc Stealth Keyboard drivers has stopped working. Specifically the Alpham164.sys is not being activate/trusted in Device Manager. Uninstalling the update allowed it to start working again. I can
only push windows updates so long.

Uninstalling and reinstalling the driver software did not work. SteelSeries.com no longer supports the Merc Stealth, so there is no Windows 10 specific driver but it has worked fine until this patch.

How can I get Windows 10 to trust/allow Alpham164.sys?

MercDude123 · Apr 7, 2022

Merc Stealth Zboard not working after Windows 10 KB4034674

I HAVE A SOLUTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello, sorry for my english, i m french ( bad in english like all the french lol )

I HAVE A SOLUTION for Zboard ( and probably for Merc keyboard )

after total reinstalation of windows 10, X64 version, full update, i use the system of TheN00r's ( see the quote before )

, and like other people, the numpad dont work normally BUT it work a little ( i have Zboard ):

the keyboard is presept with white writing ( numpad 1 is supprim, numpad + is "paste", but not all work exemple cut on 2 and copy on 3 dont work, etc... ) and all the numbers dont work whith or whithout numlock....

BUT GOOD NEWS if you remap the numpad whith Zengine software you can have a normal keypad, i teach you how do:

in Zengine sofware:

1) in the top click too "Verr Num (off )" ( the other dont work i dont know why )

2) click on the numpad 0 , a new windows apear in bottom

3) in the litle "key sequence" windows , select "free edit"

4) in the new windows open, replace "LSF+LFT" by "KP0" ( without the " , write just KP0 ) , and click on "save" be carefull, after the"save" the software change the "Verr Num (off )" at the top, reclick again on "Verr Num (off )"

5) do the same for other numpad: KP1, KP2 , KP3, KP4 etc... for the + - * / and . its "KP+", "KP-" "KP*" "KP/" and "KP."

6) finally in the bottom look and click on "modify .exe file of the game" , on the new windows select "sample.exe" and click on "delete" and close the windows

7) now test your numpad normally now you have a numpad same like normal numpad ( page up on 9, page down on 3, Delete on . , END on 1 etc.... )

Enjoy this awasome keyboard

thank too ZathJD and TheN00r's for their work !

Luke

Post Scriptum:

if you really want exactly the same configuration of Zboard after do what i explain, maybe now you can try use a remap key software like "sharpkeys" ( in 3.5 version ) i dont try it but maybe its work, i dont want try because these software write in the
registry and i dont know how return back if its not work

under this point i paste the method of TheN00r's, use that before what i explain:

Hey guys,

I wrote somewhat of a guide to get your ZBoard working again!

I had tried uninstalling the infamous windows update and then hid it, but this only worked temporarily and eventually the update autoinstalled again disabling the drivers for the ZBoard, reducing it to an ordinary keyboard.

I took the liberty of self-signing the drivers as I don't think either Ideazon coming back to life or Microsoft actually fixing this will happen anytime soon...

Download the zip file from the following url and follow the instructions in the Readme.txt:

ZBoard.zip

I'll paste the instructions here as well... Good luck!

Step 1. Install the legacy software

Download the 32 or 64 bit version of the legacy software from:

https://downloads.steelseriescdn.com/drivers/keyboards/zengine/ZE_25030_NA_32.exe

or

https://downloads.steelseriescdn.com/drivers/keyboards/zengine/ZE_25030_NA_64.exe

Install one of them

Step 2. Enabling testsigning

Run the file "Testsigning.bat" from the "Tools" folder as an administrator (right-click file, "run as administrator")

Press "1" and confirm with "enter" to enable testsigning

Press "3" and confirm with "enter" to quit

Reboot your PC (When rebooted your desktop will show a watermark in the bottomright corner, if this annoys you, run "Remove Watermark.exe" from the "Tools" folder and follow instructions)

Step 3. Import self-signed certificate

Run "Drivers.cer" from the "Tools" folder and click the button "Install Certificate"

Select the checkbox for "Local Machine" and click the "Next" button

Select the checkbox for "Place all certificates in the following store" and click "Browse..."

Select the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" store and click "OK"

Click "Next"

Click "Finish"

Close the certificate window by clicking "OK"

Step 4. Installing the altered drivers

Go to "device manager" (right-click the windows start button and click "device manager")

Unfold the "Human Interface Devices" Branch

You will see two Ideazon ZBoard devices, right click them and select uninstall, if possible also check "delete the driver software for this device"

Now disable your internet connection to prevent windows from looking for drivers online, or prevent this by altering the registry (which goes beyond the scope of this guide)

Click the icon for "Scan for hardware changes" (or click "Action" and then "Scan for hardware changes")

Windows will find the devices again and hopefully recognise them both as a standard "USB Input Device"

Now rightclick a random "USB Input Device" and click "update driver"

Select to "browse my computer" (Install manually)

Click "Browse" and point to the folder that contains my altered drivers

It will now install the drivers for the selected device, if it doesn't, you will probably have to select a different "USB Input Device" and repeat the process, as it is tricky to tell the right ones apart from your other USB devices

Continue this process until you have installed two ZBoard products which will now be called "TheHive Zboard"

Step 5. Done!

Reboot your PC to make sure the ZBoard engine software uses the newly installed device and use your ZBoard the way you always have!

Hope this guide works out for you!

Regards,

TheN00r
Click to expand...

Both of you deserve medals!! THANK YOU!!

timber woof · Apr 7, 2022

Merc Stealth Zboard not working after Windows 10 KB4034674

Same issue. The manufacturer is not existing anymore since steelseries bought them, the latest drivers you can find here

SteelSeries Engine Software - GameSense & Customization | SteelSeries

Z-Engine for Merc, Merc Stealth, Zboard, and Fang English 64bit

It worked totally fine in windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 until the latest update. For now ZEngine software starts but cannot find the keyboard. Only basic functionality works - no macros in games, no special buttons etc. I tried to run it in compatibility mode (win
7 mode) - no change.

My OS version is 15063.540 Windows Pro N 64 bit.

Windows 10: ZBoard Merc Not working in Windows 11

ZBoard Merc Not working in Windows 11

ZBoard Merc Not working in Windows 11

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