M18R1 Keyboard firmware update bug

The firmware update for the keyboard located below : 
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=y106y&oscode=w2021&productcode=alienware-m18-r1-laptop

Has now prevented my keyboard lights from working unless I put the machine into sleep mode and then wake it up.  The lights will turn off and not come back on , only on the keyboard, since this update.  The only way to bring the lights back is to put the machine to sleep.  Flashing to the newest BIOS and back to previous ones makes zero difference at all.  I can't re-flash the keyboard as the program sees it's up to date and won't run again.  I would like to avoid replacing the keyboard as it's a pretty extensive teardown that I don't want to perform if this can, and should , be fixed with another keyboard firmware update.