Fn + F5 (wireless) not working... need help

[QbA]

I can not turn on/off my wireless using FN combination. Other FN functions work.

Thanks.

[Riddil]

Most of the Fn functions are handled by Windows. You can install WinXP with no drivers at all, and Fn-F4 will still suspend.

Fn-F5 is an IBM specific utility. But unline Fn-F7 that interacts direction with CMOS, Fn-F5 is handled entirely at the OS level. So! If you're Fn-F5 isn't working, then I recommend you check to make sure you have all the right software installed. Or if you already have this stuff installed, update to the latest versions.

Head to the driver matrix:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... PAD-MATRIX

pick your system, then update:

Driver for your wireless card
Power managment driver
Hotkey features
(and if you use it..) Access Connections

Those 4 things and I bet dollars to donuts you'll be up and running.

[JHEM]

Most of the Fn functions are handled by Windows.

I believe you meant to say "Most of the Fn functions are handled by the BIOS".

Regards,

James

[dbonds]

I've caused this a couple times myself by mucking around with my wireless adapter via XP (changing addresses, disabling the interface, letting windows "troubleshoot" for me, etc). I didn't take the time to figure out which setting hosed up the functionality, but reapplying the IBM driver package took care of it in both of my cases. Now I generally avoid using anything other than IBMs software to interact with the wireless stuff. YMMV....

Daniel

[bullarded]

Hello. Gosh this was driving me nuts. I am using a T40P and an IBM newer a/b/g PCI adapter. i obsessively downloaded the newest driver and kept getting this stupid message when pressing F5 afterwards. Called the 800 number and they just had me go back to an earlier restore point. But this really bugged me.

So I found another post here on thinkpads.com which more or less suggested I also install Access Connections. Well I have to tell you that I had stopped using that program a long time ago and had essentially forgotten about it but if you read the stuff on the driver web site it does say to update the program....

so anyway I just installed the newest version and not only do I now have a snazzier f5 function but also the Access connections seems to be working.

Hope this helps. The access connections software s/b at your matrix site, I'm sure, sorry I didn't check which TP you have.

jed

[Riddil]

Awesome, glad you got it working bullarded. Yeah, Access Connections used to have more bugs than a New-York dumpster. The latest versions are actually pretty solid.

I believe you meant to say "Most of the Fn functions are handled by the BIOS".

And just to flesh-out my early comment, actually we're both right! The reason I pointed to Windows is that while suspend/resume/screen-off are all "handled" by BIOS/H8, since the BIOS is ACPI it really just passes the request to the OS, and lets Windows handle the entire operation.

That's why if you install WinNT 4.0 on a system and hit Fn-F12... nothing happens. (Until you install the special hib driver to give NT the ability).