what can I do w/ the ThinkPad button??

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gehx · #1 Post by **gehx** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:36 am

I just got a T22 off of Ebay (just the comp, battery and AC adapter, no software was loaded on the hdd...it also didn't come w/ a fdd). So, I installed XP on it.....I went to Lenovo's website and was able to download and install some utils, but didn't see anything for the Thinkpad button. My question's are:

What is it there for and what util can I install on XP that will allow it to work?

#2 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:43 am

The thinkpad button boots into the predesktop area to restore the operating system to the factory configuration. There are also some troubleshooting tools in that area. If you use the CD's to image the HD you will have the recovery partition hidden from windows.

gehx · #3 Post by **gehx** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:50 am

Kyocera wrote:The thinkpad button boots into the predesktop area to restore the operating system to the factory configuration. There are also some troubleshooting tools in that area. If you use the CD's to image the HD you will have the recovery partition hidden from windows.

Unfortunately, it came w/ a blank hdd and no CD's. Is there any other use for it?

#4 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:01 am

Yeah sure, put an add in the marketplace and see if you can get a set of recovery CD's, this will reinstall the HD the way it came originally from the factory. They are available for around 45 US$ from lenovo, but some here are more than helpful in that regard.

christopher_wolf · #5 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:19 am

There are links to a set of programs, in various threads around here, that will let you change the functionality of it even if you don't have the Preload and R&R.

#6 Post by **AlphaKilo470** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:40 am

On the older T2x machines, the ThinkPad button's purpose was to launch the interactive online users guide.

To enable the button you will first need to install the hotkey driver which also adds on-screen display for the volume controls. Afterwards, you can download the Access IBM help guide software from the support site which will, in conjunction with the hotkey driver, launch whenever the ThinkPad button is pressed.

#7 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:06 am

If you use recovery CD's you will have the normal functionality of the thinkpad key. The button will be enabled without installing drivers. If you want to remap it for another purpose then get another program.

ramian · #8 Post by **ramian** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:03 am

If you want to use that blue button to launch something else, check this out.
http://www.schlackman.org/programs/thinkpad.html

cheers!

gehx · #9 Post by **gehx** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:59 pm

ramian wrote:If you want to use that blue button to launch something else, check this out.
http://www.schlackman.org/programs/thinkpad.html

cheers!

thx for the link

#10 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:57 pm

If you want to use that blue button to launch something else, check this out.
http://www.schlackman.org/programs/thinkpad.html

Very cool!

K0LO · #11 Post by **K0LO** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:45 pm

For even more flexibility:
ThinkPad Button

what can I do w/ the ThinkPad button??

what can I do w/ the ThinkPad button??

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