Onscreen Applications (i.e. Fn+F5, Fn+F7)

[randyrants]

Hi,

I've had a T41 for a couple of years and originally put a clean non-IBM installation of XP on it.

As it's getting on in time, I'm in the process of putting a fresh copy of XP on it again... I've got a bunch of the drivers working fine, but I had a question with regards to the applications and the drivers:

Where do the application screens for Fn+F5 and Fn+F7 come from?

The WiFi driver works OK and when I hit Fn+F5 I can watch the Bluetooth light toggle on and off, but I don't get the on screen display that I used to see. Same thing with Fn+F7 - when I try to run Presentation Director it tells me its missing some OEMsomething.DLL.

That tells me that I've missed an installation package somewhere. I've got no missing devices. I've also got the on screen stuff working for volume, screen brightness, etc.

Anyone know which driver/application package has the onscreen stuff?

Thanks!

[cmarti]

See this thread:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 9c6049e787

You will need the system update intalled to get what you need.

[randyrants]

Well yeah, I understand that's a way to get all of the drivers downloaded, but that's not an answer to the question I have...

I've currently got the right combination of software installed because Fn+F5 and Fn+F7 bring up the Wireless and Presentation managers accordingly... what I'm curious about is how I got it there - it's been over 2 years since I repaved the box.

The goal is to keep what's installed to a minimum which is why I want to know where the on screen apps came from. Without all of the extra stuff that I don't need. Like Access Connections - when I first got the T41 AC and Intel drivers caused a BSoD once a day. I uninstalled AC and got the IBM abg card and my problems disappeared.

And it would be extra helpful if I wanted the same effect in Vista Beta 2, which I've installed on a completely seperate HDD. A lot of these XP-based drivers work in Vista right now, so I'd like to see what I need to install if I want the same effect there.

Thanks!

[Pascal_TTH]

I also don't like IBM pre-install so I make my own. To bring OSd for Fn + F5, you need to install Acces Connexion. Fn + F7, I don't know, I don't need it.

I only install the following stuff :

- ThinkVantage Active Protection System : to control HDD *airbag*
- Access Help online User's Guide : to bring some help by pressing Access IBM button
- Configuration : to have easy access to Thinkpad features and model number, bios version and serial number.
- Hot key Features : to have on screen display for volume, brightness, Fn + space, etc.
- Power manager (instead off old Battery MaxiMiser) : to have battery life remaning displayed in task bar and create profile.

You also need all the drivers and don't forget IBM Power Management supplement or will get ! or ? in you device manager.

[randyrants]

I don't think it comes from Access Connections: I haven't had that installed for two years and I used to see it all the time...

I also just got a T60p that I plowed under and restored - that also doesn't have Access Connections installed and it gets the Fn+F5 screen. Must be missing something between the drivers you download and the drivers that are pre-installed I guess.

Didn't know about Power Manager either - I'll check that out as well.

Thanks!

[randyrants]

Oops

May have answered my own question...

I just added some stuff that I didn't notice was missing:

- On Screen Display (which gives you the Green icons for stuff like the overhead light, volume, etc).

- Presentation director (which would definitely triggered Fn+F7) which seems to have included some other stuff for the WiFi on screen stuff.

FWIW, Access Connections still isn't installed - had a bad run with that a while back and refuse to use it again.

Thanks for the help!

[davidspalding]

I helped a friend fix this on his T40. We found and installed something like the "FN Hotkey utility."

[randyrants]

I helped a friend fix this on his T40. We found and installed something like the "FN Hotkey utility."

Yeah, that's part of it - the first part in fact. That allows things like Fn+F12 and Fn+F3 which don't work without any drivers - things like Fn+Home and Fn+End seem to work no matter what.

[christopher_wolf]

I helped a friend fix this on his T40. We found and installed something like the "FN Hotkey utility."

Yeah, that's part of it - the first part in fact. That allows things like Fn+F12 and Fn+F3 which don't work without any drivers - things like Fn+Home and Fn+End seem to work no matter what.

That's because a large portion of the Fn key combos go through the BIOS and have little or nothing to do with the OS save for the OSD applications (except for anything requiring drivers). Another example is the Fn+PgUp combo which always works.

[Puttagee]

I believe the Keyboard Customizer Utility is what you need to get these things working, try this link.

[christopher_wolf]

I believe the Keyboard Customizer Utility is what you need to get these things working, try this link.

Not quite; all the Fn key combos should be active as supported by the drivers or active to start with; all the Key Customizer does is set key combos that you can use to quickly replace other actions with. For example, you can map the right Alt key as the Windows Key. It has nothing to do with the Fn+F7 combo or any other default Fn combos like that.