Blue "Access IBM" Button Works TOO Well

[ArtShapiro]

Well, I think this one qualifies as unusual:

I'm doing a from-scratch XP installation on a T42 (2373-4TU) after having reformatted the hard drive. It has gone quite well, to a degree that scares me, but I have one sticky wicket:

We sometimes see the complaint: "My Blue button doesn't do anything...what do I need to do to make it work?"

I seem to have the opposite issue. After having installed all the Lenovo drivers and utilities to get the machine functioning as expected, my Access IBM button fires up aibm.exe TWICE.

I didn't see anything that jumped out at me in the registry. Does anyone happen to have enough detailed knowledge about how the Access IBM button does its thing to offer any suggestions?

Art

[poshgeordie]

Hi Art - stating the obvious but have you popped the cover off around the button and checked there isn't dust or 'similar' stuck down the Access IBM button hole and causing the circuit switch pads to be closed?

To check, remove the keyboard; unclip the the top panel (around the buttons) from the keyboard by carefully sliding a small screw driver into the spaces between the the panel and body, and sliding it along to unclip it.

[ArtShapiro]

Hi Art - stating the obvious but have you popped the cover off around the button and checked there isn't dust or 'similar' stuck down the Access IBM button hole and causing the circuit switch pads to be closed?

Thanks for the idea. I think it is unlikely, as the utility doesn't spontaneously fire up - it's twice after I tap the button on a machine that appears to be relatively dirt-free.

Nevertheless, I want to take it apart this evening if only to see if there's any mini-PCI card inside, as there's no indication of a wireless modem on this machine (being rebuilt for a friend). So I'll certainly eyeball the button area, and appreciate the suggestion.

Art

[poshgeordie]

it's twice after I tap the button on a machine that appears to be relatively dirt-free.Art

I think the clue's there Art. You wouldn't believe the amount of old hairs, biscuit crumbs, and other indescribable 'gung' can lodge under they keytops of an apparently clean keyboard.

An old toothbrush is excellent for 'hoiking' it out whilst holding the keyboard upside down - just don't be underneath while doing it!

[ArtShapiro]

I think the clue's there Art.

I just popped the keyboard and the button cover, and things look clean.

Alas, I may have gotten myself into a mess: the "power" button popped off the underlying circuit board, and now I have the button, a green cushiony thing that obviously gives the key its spring, and two tiny washers, one whose hole is somewhat bigger than the other's.

Can anyone bail me out of this situation?!

Art

[poshgeordie]

My bad - I'm the one who got you into this mess so I'll do my best to get you out of it.

I've put some pics together which you can get from here, which shows how the On/Off switch is put together.

The secret is to reassemble the blue rubber cone/disc thing in the underside of the white switch body.

Place the assembly under the top (in my picture) of the keyboard switch aperture.

Slide the assembly upwards slightly, then press down gently on the switch and slide it downwards (in the pic) under the bottom lip of the switch aperture.

If the blue cone becomes dislodged the easiest way is to take it apart again, reassemble and try again.

HTH.

[ArtShapiro]

Much obliged - nice pictures! The two tiny washers remain a mystery, however.

I didn't tackle the switch last night - decided to give the machine a wireless card taken from another rarely-used Dell laptop. Diassembled, installed the mini-PCI card, and got the antenna leads attached with a a lot of grief. Reassembled, fired up, and got the dreaded 1802 BIOS error. Unassembled, removed card, partially reassembled, burned and ran the BIOS fix CD, unassembled, put back card, reassembled, added another half gig of memory, and fired up. Now he has wireless!

I'll worry about the switch tonight.

Art