Fn F5 Lenovo X61s

mrbasilsmudge · 08-11-2011, 05:22 AM

Hello,

I currently have a problem namely the Fn F5 on my X61s. This laptop has a physical radio switch but is also controlled with the mentioned funtion key. The problem is yesterday after rebooting my debian sqeeze system the wi-fi switched off, something that occaisonally happened when i first had the laptop with vista a few years ago (of course this wasn't a problem as windows had full thinkpad hot key support). So, i am now unable to access the internet from my X61s (am writing this on a friends laptop). Would anyone know of any packages or workarounds that i can apply to get this function back as i no longer own a windows cd and do not want or need a dual boot system especially for the sole purpose of being able to use 1 function key.

Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated, thank you

H_TeXMeX_H · 08-11-2011, 01:22 PM

Make sure you have the 'thinkpad-acpi' module inserted (use modprobe).

mrbasilsmudge · 08-11-2011, 01:34 PM

Thank you, and after i have discovered that i don't how do i insert it... I have a feeling in my belly that the words compile kernel are heading this way, something that i have only read about.

H_TeXMeX_H · 08-11-2011, 01:56 PM

As root, run:

Code:

modprobe thinkpad-acpi

This will only work if it is a module, otherwise you have to check if it is built-in.

Code:

bash-4.1$ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep THINKPAD
# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI is not set

So, here it is telling me I do not have the module, nor is it built into the kernel.

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 08:13 AM

Code:

modprobe thinkpad-acpi

didn't produce any results.

Code:

bash-4.1$ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep THINKPAD
gzip: /proc/config.gz: No such file or directory

but...

Code:

bash-4.1$ ls /proc/acpi/ibm/
beep  bluetooth  cmos  driver  fan  hotkey  led  light  thermal  video  volume

Code:

bash-4.1$ cat driver
driver:         ThinkPad ACPI Extras
version:        0.23

so,
there does seem to be something there. The problem is that i can't see an entry for the wifi. On the X61s fnF5 rotates through the functions, eg bluetooth and wifi on, wifi on and bluetooth off, wifi off and bluetooth on, wifi off and bluetooth off.

now,
I do remember once, about 2 months ago (i am very new to linux) that i was trying some distributions out, one of them was mint (i decided for several reasons that it wasn't what i was looking for) but i do remember full functionality of the function keys especially fnF5. I am going to re-install it (i left a spare 10Gb partion) alongside and see if i can see what similar investigations shows me there.

I apologise for getting back to you late

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 08:59 AM

Using Mint Linux

Code:

modprobe thinkpad-acpi

again, produces nothing

Code:

bash-4.1$ zcat /proc/config.gz | grep THINKPAD
gzip: /proc/config.gz: No such file or directory

I was not at all surpised about this as mint is a relative of debian, i am guessing that such a file is a Slackware one, possibly.

Code:

bash-4.1$ ls /proc/acpi/ibm/
beep  bluetooth  cmos  driver  fan  hotkey  led  light  thermal  video  volume

again, not surprised that this is similar. But,

Code:

sudo cat driver
driver:		ThinkPad ACPI Extras
version:	0.24

This indicates a newer version i am tempted to think that this may be an answer as i can't see any other differences but this is not the version of mint i used a couple of months ago. Now using 11 not 10 as i did then. I am of course guessing but i suspect that that version also used the one that debian is.

So, what is the difference? I can't see any entries that differ from debian squeeze but this does have full hotkey functionality. Of course i am more than open to the idea that i am barking up the wrong tree when tackling this problem.

H_TeXMeX_H · 08-13-2011, 09:19 AM

/proc/config.gz only exists if it is enabled in the kernel, otherwise you would have to find the kernel config somewhere else.

From what I see, the driver exists and is being used in both cases, the only difference being like you said the version of the drivers. In that case, I would try upgrading the kernel in Debian, if possible.

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 09:28 AM

hmm.. i worried that that was going to be the situation. I am doing this for my own benefit now. On Mint:

Code:

sudo grep -r THINKPAD /boot | cat > thinkpad.txt
bash-4.1$ cat thinkpad.txt
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI=m
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_ALSA_SUPPORT=y
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_DEBUGFACILITIES=y
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_DEBUG is not set
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_UNSAFE_LEDS is not set
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_VIDEO=y
/boot/config-2.6.38-8-generic:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_HOTKEY_POLL=y

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 09:36 AM

on debian squeaze:

Code:

/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI=m
/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_DEBUGFACILITIES is not set
/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_DEBUG is not set
/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:# CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_UNSAFE_LEDS is not set
/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_VIDEO=y
/boot/config-2.6.32-5-amd64:CONFIG_THINKPAD_ACPI_HOTKEY_POLL=y

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 09:38 AM

So to conclude i think a kernel upgrade it may have to be. I have never done this before so would someone be kind enough to direct me to a good howto/tutorial please?

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 09:43 AM

..although thinking about it i have the most up to date 'stable' debian kernel.. Would it be advisable to manually install a vanilla custom kernel? Could this portentially break my system?

H_TeXMeX_H · 08-13-2011, 10:14 AM

If it is compiled properly, it shouldn't cause instability.
http://www.debianhelp.co.uk/kernel2.6.htm
You could also try installing the kernel from unstable debian or mint, if you don't want to compile it yourself. However, that may not be stable.

mrbasilsmudge · 08-13-2011, 02:06 PM

I have a shiny new kernel and all is functioning well, except that fnF5, i think i am just going to leave it, after i installed mint to look at what they do i managed to switch it on with that. So i will just have a live CD at hand. The only problem now is the:

Code:

 startpar: services returned failure: rc.local ... failed!

Which is a slight pain as i have my fbset configuration residing in there

but it was fun to do. Thanks for the link i think that site will prove helpful in the future