Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

R, A, G and Z series specific matters only
Post Reply
Message
Author
blm
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 5:43 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#1 Post by blm » Tue May 04, 2010 9:02 pm

I just got a used Thinkpad R51 (type 2895-AU3) a few days ago. I know about the little keyboard light at the top of the center of the screen frame, but how does it go on? I went into a dark, windowless room and no light came on. Is there some key to press to make the light go on?

............

I read that the "Access IBM" key brings up an apparently built-in user's manual. When I press that key I only arrive at the IBM BIOS setup. Is there no built-in user's manual?


Thanks

goofyGAguy
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1057
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:20 pm
Location: Snellville, GA

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#2 Post by goofyGAguy » Tue May 04, 2010 9:17 pm

Fn + PgUp

blm
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 5:43 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#3 Post by blm » Tue May 04, 2010 9:49 pm

goofyGAguy wrote:Fn + PgUp

Thanks.

Now do you know about my other question in that same posting? Isn't the "Access IBM" key in my R51 supposed to produce an on-screen user's manual? I press that key and only arrive at the IBM BIOS setup.

RealBlackStuff
Admin
Admin
Posts: 17516
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
Contact:

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed May 05, 2010 7:47 am

That might work if you would have the (hidden) Recovery partition on your hard disk.
However, that seems to be missing on your machine.
You can get all the documentation you need here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ind=169147

I can especially recommend the HMM if you ever want/need to take the laptop apart.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.

blm
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 5:43 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#5 Post by blm » Wed May 05, 2010 10:10 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:That might work if you would have the (hidden) Recovery partition on your hard disk.
However, that seems to be missing on your machine.
You can get all the documentation you need here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... ind=169147

I can especially recommend the HMM if you ever want/need to take the laptop apart.

[I have the HMM for the R51.]

I wonder if there's some way to restore the hidden Recovery partition and the missing online user's manual. In that URL you gave me there was no mention of what to do if the partition and manual are missing. I'll have to find out if Lenovo can advise me on what's possible and available.

When I wipe the WinXP and partition the HDD for MEPIS (a Linux distro), perhaps I can make the hidden partition for the missing online manual.

What do you think?

RealBlackStuff
Admin
Admin
Posts: 17516
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
Contact:

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#6 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed May 05, 2010 12:46 pm

To get the hidden Restore partition back, you need to obtain a set of Recovery CDs.
When installing them, your whole hard disk will be completely wiped!
Just for getting an online manual? Waste of time if you ask me.

You can download it here and install in your Windows environment:
Access IBM online User's Guide Windows XP, 2000, 21 Sep 2004
R51 (Machine types 1829, 1830, 1831, 1836):
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-57047

R51 (Machine types 2883, 2887, 2888, 2889, 2894, 2495):
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-55125
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.

blm
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 5:43 pm
Location: Madison, WI

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#7 Post by blm » Wed May 05, 2010 2:10 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:To get the hidden Restore partition back, you need to obtain a set of Recovery CDs.
When installing them, your whole hard disk will be completely wiped!
Just for getting an online manual? Waste of time if you ask me.
Yes, I can easily use the downloaded PDF I now have. But since I'll be wiping my R51 (to get rid of WinXP and then to follow with installation of MEPIS - a Linux distro - as my sole OS), I could do the re-installation of the hidden Restore partition. Maybe I'll do it, maybe not if it seems to be too tricky.
RealBlackStuff wrote: You can download it here and install in your Windows environment:
Access IBM online User's Guide Windows XP, 2000, 21 Sep 2004
R51 (Machine types 1829, 1830, 1831, 1836):
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-57047

R51 (Machine types 2883, 2887, 2888, 2889, 2894, 2495):
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-55125
I noticed once again that my machine type is not listed. This has happened with other IBMs I've owned--> every other machine listed but mine! [No 2895 is listed above. I have an R51 2895-AU3. I figure it's just some error of the compilers of such lists.]

RealBlackStuff
Admin
Admin
Posts: 17516
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Mt. Cobb, PA USA
Contact:

Re: Light for the keyboard on an R51 | "Access IBM" key

#8 Post by RealBlackStuff » Wed May 05, 2010 3:34 pm

I bet it's just a typo:
R51 (Machine types 2883, 2887, 2888, 2889, 2894, 2495):
should be:
R51 (Machine types 2883, 2887, 2888, 2889, 2894, 2895):
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)

Check out The Boardroom for Parts, Mods and Other Services.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad R, A, G and Z Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests