use separate fn-keys for bluetooth and wireless

[bluppfisk]

Can I somehow assign "disable bluetooth" to fn-F6 instead of putting both wireless and bluetooth on fn-F5? I do not want the screen where I can choose - in fact no TSR programs at all. And I don't want to circulate through disabling my wireless first to finally disable bluetooth.

[dr_st]

There isn't a way to assign a separate Fn key, but perhaps there is a way to do it through software, which would allow you to use a desktop shortcut or something.

[citizenNB]

Hi bluppfisk,

@dr_st: Sorry, but that's not true.

Attation: If you don't know how to work with the Windows Registry, you shouldn't do this. You do everything at your own risk.

You could assign every fn key manually by your own. For Windows XP you just need to open the registry (e.g. with regedit) and search for this branch:

Code: Select all

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\CLASS\01

Here you see 12 subfolders, 01 to 0C. Each subfolder stands for the key FN + F# in ascending order (F1 to F12). If you like to assign a spacial action to one key, open the relevant subfolder and add to Strings. The first one you have to name File and the value has to be the path to the program, e.g. C:\WINDOWS\notepad.exe. The second one you have to name Parameter. You need to fill in this for optionally parameters. In the example above you could add here a file, e.g. test.txt. That would start notepad and open the file test.txt every time you use your chosen fn key.


Regards,
citizenNB

[bluppfisk]

Thanks for the tip.

I went in there but I do not see anything assigned anywhere yet. Even though some of my fn-keys are already working as they should. Which file should be executed and with which parameters to toggle bluetooth?


(funny note; in the internal register bluetooth is ever spelled as bruetooth. Made in China anyone?)

[citizenNB]

Hi bluppfisk,

I do not know the code for switching Bluetooth off and on. Via Google I just found solutions for Linux. On Windows system seems to be no alternative.

You live in Germany as well as I do. There is also a German ThinkPad forum. The information about how to change fn key function are from the wiki initiated by the user there. Perhaps they (we) can help you there, too.

German Source: The ThinkPad-Wiki.


Greetings,
citizenNB

[bluppfisk]

Hey thanks, what's the German Forum's URI? I'm not really German so English is still my preferred language, but I should be able to formulate a simple question

[citizenNB]

Hi bluppfisk,

the url is www.thinkpad-forum.de. To improve your German skills you post there... but you could post here the anymore. I don't want to woo you away.

btw: There is a possibility to switch on/off Bluetooth via command line.

1. Switch on Bluetooth.
2. Go to Start -> System Control -> System -> register Hardware -> Device Manager -> Bluetooth device.
3. Here you should find your Bluetooth device. Right mouse klick on this entry and chose Preferences in the context menu.
4. Go to the register Details. There is a string in the textfield beginning with "USB\...". Copy this string.
5. Copy the code below in a file named bt_switch.bat.

   Code: Select all

   @Echo off
   Echo Looking for Bluetooth status ...
   SET "dvc=@USB\... <- fill in your device string here"
   Echo.
   for /F " tokens=1,*" %%i in ('devcon status "%dvc%"^|find "running"') do set DNET=1
   for /F " tokens=1,*" %%i in ('devcon status "%dvc%"^|find "disabled"') do set DNET=0
   Echo Adapter status is %DNET%, so 
   if %DNET% == 1 Goto OFF
   if %DNET% == 0 Goto ON
   Pause
   Echo.
   Echo.
   
   :OFF
   color 0c
   Echo "Bluetooth disabled"
   devcon disable "%dvc%"
   Echo.
   Echo.
   
   Goto End
   Echo.
   Echo.
   
   :ON
   color 0a
   Echo "Bluetooth enabled"
   devcon enable "%dvc%"
   Echo.
   Echo.
   Goto End
   Echo.
   Echo.
   
   :End
   color

6. Fill in your device string at the tagged position.
7. Save the file.
8. Open a command line, go to the folder where your file bt_switch.bat is and type in:

   Code: Select all

   bt_switch

   Press Enter. Et voilà...

citizenNB