Howdy!

Anyone using an HP Pavilion?

Do your Fn keys work?

If so I would like to see your kernel config file, and the output of dmesg after a bootup

I am using Redat 8.0 on it now, acpi is working. I just need to setup events. So far I have the power button working and the lid button works, I just need to think of something useful for the lid button to do.



I know the function keys will work. I had them working ( screen brightness ) when I was playing around with gentoo. I just don't know how I did it.

not using a pavilion but a compaq presario.

I started a similar thread in the hardware forum today.

I think to get them working you need to mess with your dsdt table
acpi.sourceforge.net has something on that. But that is complicated, at least for me it is
But perhaps you can make more sense of that.

If I find any useful info or get it working I will post it here.

HC

Thanks,

I am going to be trying to tackle this. I noticed that when the Fn key was working I also had the windows keys working.

I believe it is the kernel itself.

I am going to try http://kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/p...1-pre5-ac3.bz2

Ah ok. I found a page where someone got this working on a compaq 724EA running kernel 2.4.20 patched with acpi.

I'm running 2.4.20 and I included my own dsdt table. There are no errors but still no Fn button. I emailed him, perhaps he wil have some tips.

Have you tried showkey?
My windows keys register but the Fn button doesn't.
If it registers it's more a question keymapping right?

HC

A quick function-key related tip: I'm using one of those lame "internet keyboards" with fancy stuff on all the function keys. The function keys work, though I was unable to do CTRL-ALT-F1 and the like to switch consoles.

Turns out there is a small button labelled "F LOCK" on my keyboard. Usually it is not turned on, because the keyboard wants to use the F? keys for its own purposes (like sending email or opening up my documents, or junk like that). I pushed that button, though, and the function keys have worked perfectly ever since.

So if anyone else has similar problems... perhaps your keyboard is trying to hijack your function keys. See if there is a way to turn it off

Well, the structured rational way didn't do it for me this time so I tried a different approach: press some buttons and see what happens.

As it turns out I have to use Fn+ctrl (next to it on my keyboard) and then and Fkey to get it to work.

I can change the output now, Sleep button generates an ACPI event and the brightness works.

HC

I use a pavilion ze 4230 with RH8. I am in the process of compiling the 2.4.20 kernel as I hear it's the only way to get battery monitoring through acpi/apm. If you figure out what it takes to get the function buttons working please post it here for those of us newb's who would love to have full functionality from their laptops.. Thanks..

Does your laptop use apm or acpi?
If acpi an acpi patch should get that work.

As for the function buttons.....for me it turned out to be something simple: just press the right key combination (see above).

HC

I am not really sure but power management options are not in the bios, as odd as that is. I have apmd installed but klaptop-utils says that I lack apm support in the kernel (stock RH 2.4.18-14) or am missing the apmd daemon. I was told 2.4.20 has support for acpi, for those who lack apm. Please correct me if I am mistaken. This compile has not been going well for me. Thanks

I wonder if my copy of RH 8.1 beta has the support I need?

Nevermind. I just checked the lists. RedHat 8.1 beta uses the 2.4.20 kernel with ACPI. I am starting over with RH8.1

apmd is not supported by the ze5185

acpid is required

I am working on the 2.4.21-pre6 kernel source now.

The ctrl Fn key is not working in my case, the Fn key actually works I found out that Fn+scroll lock generates a keycode.

I am almost sure at this point that it needs omke to generate the keycodes needed and I am trying it now. There is also apm emulation in the omke app and a few kernel patches.


Wapcaplet...

The Fn key on a laptop is what we are working on, this is not the same thing as the F keys found on a normal keyboard. I have a wireless usb keyboard with dual function F keys and I know what your refering to.

Ah good. I hope that works then!
Just curious, on this laptop Scroll Lock is also Num Lock when used with Fn. Assuming your key layout is the same, does Num Lock work or does it just generate a code which isn't mapped to anything?

HC

Num lock works

So does Scroll lock, using the Fn key

I have made some progress

using the omnibook.o driver from the omke project I am able to use all of the Onetouch keys.

I am going to need to assign them now.


this requires a couple of things, look at the output of /var/log/messages

tail -f /var/log/messages

when you press a key you will get an error

unknown scancode e0 6c ( this one is the mail key )

or use showkey -s
showkey -s seems to show more info , maybe press and release. this could do two different keycodes, but I can't think of a use for that.

this is the scancode for the key you pressed, if it does nothing it is either not working or already has a keycode assigned.

then you will assign a keycode to it using

setkeycodes e06c 112

this would assign the mail key a keycode of 112

test by running showkey and pressing mail

keycode 112 press
keycode 112 release

now you can map the keys

the Fn keys that are working are:

Media keys on the side
Fn Media keys
Fn Scroll lock

The Fn F8 key works but does not generate a keycode
So does the Fn F5

I believe they go directly to the bios somehow, I also believe the brightness may be this way.

It is possible that the brightness controls are not working due to me using a frame buffer.

That's where I'm at now.