M17x R2 hotkey (F keys) issues

Hi guys, I have an R2 M17x and every time I put the computer to sleep and then wake it, I can't use the screen brightness hotkeys anymore. I also can't use the f7 key to toggle stealth mode anymore either. If I restart the computer, it's fine. But I don't want to have to do that every time I put the computer into sleep.

Anyone else have similar issues? I tried searching but came up with nothing.

Thanks

 

I think I have the same issue. Anytime I put the computer to sleep by closing the lid and then open it, the brightness goes to maximum and you can't lower it. This only happens when I close the lid. If I put it to sleep by pressing the Fn+F1 keys and then wake it, i t works fine. Can someone else who also has the 5870CF try this as well and see if it works?

 

I have the same issue with my system, I have updated the BIOS, I have the Dell stock drivers for the video cards but it still does it and I have to reboot my system then it works ok.

 

Moi aussi.

Its really bugging me.

 

have either of you tried the famous power drain procedure?
it might help..
Also, did you guys start experiencing it after installing the new command center ?

 

Well, I reformatted right as soon as I got the laptop and installed the new drivers from Dell. So I couldn't tell you if it worked before or not.

What is the power drain? Can you tell me about it?

Thanks

 

Power drain:
turn off the laptop
remove battery and power cord
press the power button for 20 seconds
return the battery and power cord
then turn on the laptop

this usually helps in situations like this

 

I did a fresh install and haven't installed the command center, I also am using the stock video drivers from Dell website as the 10.5 drivers from Ati wouldn't install correctly.

I have also did the power drain still not working.

 

that's weird. try to instal 10.5 on top of dell's drivers.
And what exactly is not working for you ? the media buttons ?

 

I just did the power drain technique, and the problem is still here.

 

So, I factory restored it but the problem is still there. I think it has something to do with the 5870 drivers. When I put it to sleep using the Fn+F1 keys or the power button and then wake it up, it works fine.

Now here is the werid part. If I close the lid (sleep) and then open it (wake), I can't modify the brightness anymore, then I close the lid again (sleep) and then open it (wake) and it works fine. I did this a few times (closing and opening) and the results were the same. The brightness works one time and then it doesn't the next

 

none of the standard repair ways worked.
I suggest you start eliminating possibilities. you say you think it's the ati driver - remove it, and see if the problem persists.

 

vradev - can you confirm that your GFX function key doesn't work as well? Mine doesn't.

 

The GFX key won't work on any R2 system and that's normal (I assume you have an R2). The key was a leftover from the R1s and was used to swtich between discrete and integrated GPUs. R2s don't have integrated GPU, so it's a non-functional key. Dell should've removed it from the R2s so it doesn't confuse people.

 

Really? That's odd because it works on my R2. However, it stops working once I put my computer to sleep by pressing the alienhead power button. It still works if I use the FN key to "suspend".

How odd.

 

When it works, what does it do? I assume you are talking about the Fn+F7 (GFX) key, right?

 

I believe thats the one. I know it's after f5 by a few buttons.

I'm not on my M17x right now.

When I press it with the FN key, it says "STEALTH MODE ENABLED"

 

My system is M17x R2, i7 720QM, 4GB RAM, 250GB hdd, single 5870, RGBLED.

 

Hmm that's weird. I've had two R2s and it never worked for me in either of them. For stealth mode, I always use the button with the gauge icon at the top right corner of the keyboard (above the End key).
Can someone else confirm that the Fn+F7 wroks on the R2?

 

yeah, the gauge icon works for me as well as the FN+F7 key.

 

Okay, what the hell. I don't know if I was imagining it or what, but now it doesn't work. I was pretty certain it worked though because I remember testing it when I was testing the dim/bright hotkey when I woke the system up.

Sigh, who knows. Maybe I'm mistaken.

False alarm I guess!

 

Well I was wrong too.
After all this time I just found out what the Fn+F7 key does in the R2s. It only works when you have a secondary display hooked up. In my case I hooked up my plasma TV via HDMI and by pressing Fn+F7 (GFX), it was switching between cloned and extended display modes. I guess when the R2 was released they gave it a new function. Hmm, who knew

 

Hi Guys! I'm a new M17x R1 owner and I'm also having trouble with the Fn keys. Sometimes when the compy is started the Fn keys work normally (by which I mean the subwindow pops up to show the function and that function is performed as it should) at other times after a restart the subwindows do NOT pop up at all. SOME of the Fn keys (like Fn F3 for mute) perform their funtions but without the subwindow popup...others (like Fn F2 for batery charge on/off and Fn F6 for toggle display mode) don't work at all. Right now I am working around this by setting restore points where the keys work right and whenever they fail a restore fixes them. It works but what a pain in the butt!

Any ideas?

I'm working with a clean install of Vista x64 with all the latest drivers from the website including the 186.40 WHQL video driver.

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