Thinkpads Forum

I have an T42p on which I reinstalled the OS. I didnt use any recovery CD so I had to go to the IBM site to get the thinkadvices, but the Fn butter doesnt work any more which makes it difficult for me too adjust the LCD brightness and to turn on the THINKLIGHT. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? I use xp

The thinklight should work regardless of whether or not you have ANY OS installed. I'm not sure about the LCD brightness function.

You may actually have another problem.

well the problem is that the shortcomaders with the FN button don't work.

You probably need the Hot Key Features installed.

Software and Device Drivers - ThinkPad T42, T42p

i have downloaded every thing from IBM I can find included the hotkey feature. But you can't controll the Fn key from the hotkey feature.

The LCD brightness also works without any OS installed...

Try using the FN key and the PgUp key BEFORE windows loads and see if it will turn the light off.

It could be that something was loaded that is disabling the FN key...OR the key is defective.

To my knowledge, there isn't anything specific to turn it on as it is an automated function.

There is an Fn key lock setting in the BIOS. Normally I believe, it should be set to disabled.

GomJabbar wrote:There is an Fn key lock setting in the BIOS. Normally I believe, it should be set to disabled.

Sorry, I should have clarified. I don't believe that there is a way to turn it off within Windows, because it is an automated function (no pun intended).

the Fn key itself works, the problem is that the shortcomanders don't work, except from them you can controll in the IBM hotkeys. But I dont see any where to controll the others shortcomanders that work with the Fn key.