How do I fix this?

[cshuy]

I have a Thinkpad SL500, but I think this would be the sort of general question that others might have too, so I am asking it here.

I did something - I'm not entirely sure what - recently that made it so that the following things do not work anymore:

1 - the volume/mute buttons on the computer itself - I have to go through Windows to adjust the volume.

2 - Along with that, the volume indicator and the brightness indicator do not show anymore either, and there is no battery life/plug indicator in the task bar at the bottom of my screen.

3 - At the same time - so I am guessing it is related - Rescue and Recovery will not start when I'm in proper Windows when it did before so that I could set up the backup settings and all, and Access Connections does not find any wireless networks, although Windows will and does, which is how I am online right now.

Can someone please give me suggestions on how to fix this?

Thank you!

[Harryc]

The software involved in these functions is;

Hotkey Features Integration
ATK Hotkey Driver
Power Manager
Power Management driver
ThinkVantage Access Connections

You could try deinstalling/reinstalling all of them one at a time.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 70413.html

[killer]

If you use Rescue & Recovery you could try going back to an earler date when everything was working correctly. Or use Windows System Restore (in Accessories, System Tools) to go back to an earlier date.

[cshuy]

The sound control hot keys still do not work and I reinstalled the drivers. Access Connections is still behaving oddly too.

I wonder whether using WinXP is part of the issue, but I doubt it.

Help?

[killer]

@cshuy: Sorry, it was daft of me to tell you to try R&R as you have a problem with that. However you can use Windows Restore to go back to a date when everything was working OK. That would be my recommended approach.

[cshuy]

@killer

Did that. Did not work. Said nothing had changed to the system.

I think I screwed something up using Advanced System Care... and now I don't know how to put it back

[killer]

If I were you I would copy anything of importance to an external HDD and then do a factory restore. My rationale for this is that you have probably rogered the system beyond a point where it will ever be correct no matter what you do.

I know this is a time comsuming process but it does reinstall a sensible working system.