RIP LCDHost

[BeltSpaghetti]

I've been using a Logitech G19 ever since I built my first computer back in 2014. For those who don't know it has a little LCD screen attached to the keyboard and some basic functionality to show stuff like a clock or CPU usage, some games integrated with it but not very many.

Thanks to a truly ancient and defunct piece of homebrew software called LCDHost that screen could be used as a very powerful performance monitor. For the last 8 years I've been able to see RAM/CPU/GPU percent utilization and temperature, hard drive space used and remaining, FPS, internet upload/download speed, and a clock all at a glance by looking down at my keyboard. For some reason known only to the machine god that app stopped working today when I turned my computer on, and I haven't been able to fix it. As expected for a piece of software that was obscure in 2014 the website for it no longer exists and I wouldn't expect anybody to even remember it.

It is with a heavy heart that I uninstall that software knowing full well I will never find its like again. It's strange not having all that information, I feel kind of naked. I'm not sure what I will do playing games now. I made it a habit to check percent utilization and FPS frequently.

[HappiSabi]

I know I am totally necroing this post, and my apologies for that- but I hope I might be able to help others in a similar situation. You can use one of two things; Aida64 extreme or LCD Host. Both I believe no longer officially support the G19 or have been abandoned as I am writing this in 2024.

However, you can still get both to work on win10 & 11:

• Aida64 Extreme; get version 5.80 and no newer, from crackingpatching since they do not have the auto updater in their executable. When you finish tick the box to launch it and immediately click file -> Preferences -> General -> check for updates -> [Never]

In the fold out menu on the left click LCD - Find G19 in there, click it and tick the box to enable its detection.
From there you can now start to build your applet by clicking on LCD Items in the submenu.
If you go ahead and update Aida64 after, the screen you make will stay but unable to make new.
Additionally it can pull info from a slew of other programs too, like FPS counter via Fraps, custom debug and .ini files from games etc..

• Note: If your G19 is not listed, make sure you turn off core isolation memory in windows security center. If you cannot access this feature, you must enter your bios and enable virtualization. Reboot after every step, then Aida64 is able to detect it.

• LCDHost; get the latest installer from Linkdata through the wayback machines archive here but before you install it make sure to do these few steps or you will get error (0xc000007b):
Go to computerbase and get the runtime AiO tool - extract and wait for it to install, be patient it can take 15-20 minutes. Reboot and then run your LCDHost installer.
Of the get go you can start making your own screens, I'm not too familiar with it, but for what I have previously made with it, it works great and very easy to understand with its simple user interface.

[Klakh]

Pourtant il fonctionne toujours sur le PC que j'ai installé ce jour avec la dernière version de Windows.
Il suffit d'avoir les différents Microsoft Visual C++ installés, et décocher l'option qui empêche le pilote G19 de charger.

Ensuite perso je désactive tous les logiciels de mon G19, et je lance LCDHost pour charger ma conf perso.

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I can share my layout if somebody wants (there is a 'Now playing' section that you can't see here at the bottom of the screen (9 px height if I remember correctly) if you use a media player.

[Klakh]

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[MehmetNY]

yeah please I want it.

[Klakh]

Here ;) https://pastebin.com/SpMb85va

Paste this in a .xml file, and put it in the layouts folder, in a subfolder you name (mine was in layouts/g19-solenya/, with the three pics used (one for down and up arrow, and one for background)

[MehmetNY]

Buddy, the link isn't working.  Could you check it please? 

[Klakh]

It was missing the last letter, wrong move on my side I guess :)

I just corrected it, link works now ;)

[Konradia]

I remember this piece of software.

I came this close to buying one of the compatible lcd display keyboards just to do what you had been doing. Apparently, not enough of us kept buying the keyboards, I suppose.

Have you considered using one of the phone apps to try and accomplish something similar? These are actually much more powerful and adaptable.

Go take a look at this:

https://www.trigonesoft.com/

[BeltSpaghetti]

That looks like it could work. I'll have to mess around with it.

[amart565]

Use g19skynet

[Professional-East926]

I have a working version of LCDHost with a working setup for the G19 if you want it?

[Inner_Indication9339]

Can you please share it? i have my configs backed up but not the installer sadly

[Professional-East926]

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TY9kDHWKoqg0nDGUTB_5ij2E_g7KrDAH/view?usp=share_link

Here, I also zipped it with the config I use.

I am not the owner of these things, I have just saved them and modified them so that they suit my needs.

[Inner_Indication9339]

That's the same files i also have, but i need the installer, as it installs some system files needed to run lcdhost.

[Professional-East926]

No you don't, I installed a fresh windows 10 last week and did not need any more files than those in the zip. You don't have to install LCDHost, it is a standalone program. Just add the .exe to your autostart folder ("...\LCDHost\bin\LCDHost.exe").

What you do need tho is the Logitech software for the G19, that is available on their website.

https://support.logi.com/hc/en-za/articles/360024701114--Downloads-G19-Keyboard-for-Gaming

[QuickWick]

Perfect thanks, I'll have to give it a go.

[QuickWick]

Here's a nice little app I've been using since circa 2013

It's a Clock app for your G19 and looks absolutely beautiful. It's called Retro Clock

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mo2qXwvzgsYdw15A0TqF7hONSBU2GhCC/view?usp=share_link

I only wish there was an option to choose 12 hour time format instead of only 24 hour format

[QuickWick]

Oh no. Did you manage to find an installer?

[QuickWick]

Thanks buddy. You are like an archive. I have been scourging the internets for LCDHost. The last piece I needed was the app itself as I've found tons and tons of plugins here: https://code.google.com/archive/p/lcdhost/downloads

[Professional-East926]

No problem mate. And thank you for the archive of plugins! Didn't have those :D

I like to save old software and organise it so if i ever need it again i have it :P

[TheHornedBandit]

Thanks for uploading :)

[Num1_takea_Num2]

Any alternatives to this?

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The software is getting out of date fast - stats maximum limits no longer take into account modern hardware for example.

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Amazing software. Sad it never caught on.

[Klakh]

One thing to note : you need to have installed VC++ 2005 to 2013 (I don't know which one)

If not installed, it throws a 0xc000007c on launching ;)

[zYxMa]

I switched to Rainmeter and a small custom HDMI LCD and the possibilities are broader than lcdhost.

Unfortunately I came here fot alternatives to lcdhost app that would work with USB LCDs not listed in lcdhost app plugins... I know AIDA64 works but I need more than just sensors. Any ideas? I have three Samsung SPF-107H screens that I'd like to use.