CF-29 Fn key not working

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and this is my FIRST post. Did a lot of Google search for my problem and almost all the links led me to this site, so this is the place to be. Before I start with my problem I want you guys to know I already did a lot of search regarding the same but to no avail. So here goes.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Laptop: Panasonic Toughbook
Model: CF-29EWKGZKM
OS: Windows XP SP2
Problem: FN key not working

I recently bought a used Toughbook CF-29E. I re-installed Windows XP SP2 and downloaded and installed drivers from this link : http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi . The video, sound, WLAN, touchscreen, etc.. works fine. The FN key with the Keyboard BACKLIGHT is working, i.e FN+F12, but FN key with Brightness/Volume is not. Please help, thanks in advance. Cheers..

 

Welcome to the Forum. The place where the urge to own a TOUGHBOOK gets intense.

Go back to the Panasonic Website and download the drivers for the HOTKEY settings files for a MK2 model. Uncompress them and install 2 through the setup.exe files (the HOTKEY Appendix file and the HOTKEY settings) and the third through the device manager (HOTKEY driver). This will reactivate the hotkeys.

 

Look in device manager and report if you see any unknown devices, usualy with a ! next to them



Akex

 

Hi guys thanks for the replies.

@Liamw652 - I downloaded and installed HOTKEY Appendix and HOTKEY Settings from the following link: http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi. After which I got a prompt to restart the system, which I did. I don't know how to find/install HOTKEY driver in the device manager.

@Tomcat57 - There is only one location where there is an '!' mark: "Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC".

I want to again mention that my FN key is working with the Keyboard Backlight, i.e: FN+F12, if that helps.

 

The hotkeys do not control the keyboard brightness

In add and remove programs my mk2 is showing (3) items related to hotkeys

Hotkey appendix
Hotkey driver for panasonic pc
Hotkey settings

In device manager under System devices just one reference to hotkeys

Hotkey driver for panasonic pc

Install or reinstall drivers as needed



Alex

 

In my Add and Remove programs in the Control Panel I have 2 items related to HOTKEYS: 1. HOTKEY Appendix and 2:HOTKEY Settings (with the FN key symbol).
I CANNOT find "HOTKEY Drivers for Panasonic PC" in Add or Remove Programs nor Device Manager, under System Devices.
I think that is our problem. Any place where I can download and install it?

 

We are getting closer
You are missing Hotkey driver for panasonic pc
Look in device manager to see if its listed under system devices

When you do a fresh load of windows I install all windows service packs first
Then the intel chipset motherboard drivers
Then the hotkey driver as it will show up in device manager as an unknown device

Download link to the driver
http://www.panasonic.ca/PDP/Drivers/hotkey_29_2_d030475.exe



Alex

 

Thanks a lot for the replies, I really appreciate it
The word "HOTKEY" itself cannot be found anywhere in the Device Manager!
There is a HOTKEY Folder under C:\util2\drivers\hotkey, and an FN icon whic does NOTHING when double clicked!!
Ok I downloaded and same thing happening (FN icon not responsive)

 

Right,
uninstall the 2 hotkey items in add and remove programs

Restart computer and see if there is an unknown device in device manager
The hotkey driver is not an exe type file is is manualy installed only

To install
1. Click on "Control Panel"
2. Click on "System"
3. Click on "Hardware"
4. Click on "Device Manager"
5. Click on "Unknown device"
6. Click on "Update Driver"
7. When it asks if you want to automatically check for updated drivers, select "no not at this time"
8. Click on "install from a list or a specific location"
9. Click "don't search I will chose the driver to install"
10. Click "have disk"
11. Click "browse"
12. Click "Local Disk C Drive"
13. Click "util or util2"
14. Click "drivers"
15. Click "hotkey"
16. Click "hotkey or something like that)"
17. Click "open"
18. Click "next" and you're good to go

Then you can install the other two hotkey programs

 

I just restarted the system. The weird part is there is NO unknown devices in the Device Manager! Or may be I'm not looking right. You open Device Manager and look for a YELLOW "!" mark right?

 

For some reason the two drivers/hotkey applications that you originaly installed first have fouled everything up then

Try searching for new hardware in device manager buy clicking scan for hardware changes

If it will not show up you will have to format and reload windows ,and first step intel chipset drivers and then install the hotkey driver in one of the unknown device as I posted above

If you downloaded all three hotkey files first you would of been good,but you missed the most important hotkey file that is manualy installed first



Alex

 

Problem Solved. The Unknown Drivers " "Realtek RTL8139/810X Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC"." and installed the HOTKEY driver and restarted. Now the Brightness and Volume control is working. You rock man. If possible beer on me tonight Cheers

 

Good, now you can install the other two applications




Alex

 

So much trouble for an Fn key.

(sorry, couldn't help it, I just had to. Like last time. )

 

Hi,
I have my first cf-29 1.4, it came with a rubber backlight KB, I have a chicklet style keyboard I actually bought from this site. I conected all three ribbons,..nothing. what is weird is the board,..there is a wire conected to itlooks like a wifi antena wire and 2 dif spots to attach it to....any help is appreciated.

 

They don't call it the "Fn key" for nothing!!

 

Painter... How many ribbon cables did your rubber keyboard have? If only two... It is the older style keyboard meant for the CF-27/28 but will still work in the CF-29. If you had 3 ribbon cables on your rubber keyboard... Install the emissive keyboard the same way. If you bought a NEW emissive keyboard you need to know that the smallest of the three ribbon cables needs to be bent around, upside-down and then installed.

There should be NO wifi like wire coming from the keyboard.... Do you have a picture?

 

i will try that,..yes both have the three ribbons. rubber worked ok,..i will give the small cable a twist and let you know....wire isn5t comming from keyboard..lol,..the board that the KB ribbons attach to.

 

that didn't work either,..maybe i bought a defective KB.