Friggin' Function Keys!

I apologize in advance if this issue has already been covered however I did do a cursory search and found others with similar issues but not exactly my issue.

Prior to installing an Emissive KB (looted from a CF-30 MK1) on my MK2 the Function keys did work.

Is it possible one of the connectors didn't seat properly?

I think I installed the correct drivers and I do have the Hotkey program and I did check the Bios.

My only thought is that I must be missing the correct driver or the problem is related to a connector.

The Backlight works and all the other keys work properly.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

 

Anything is possible. You could try reseating it again. If the problem is still there try your old keyboard again and see what happens.

If the keys worked before then you must have the right drivers installed

 

..... .. .... . ...

 

Did you install the correct video display driver. You MUST use the one from the Panasonic site. DO NOT download any updated ones as the Panasonic drivers are custom.

Edit: Do you mean the Fn keys for screen, volume, etc. or does F1 not trigger the help window, etc.? If it's the latter, I don't know. But if it's the former, it's your video driver issue.

 

Haven't checked the video drivers. Thanks for the ray of hope. Headed over to Panny right now. I'll let you know.

 

The Fn key/video driver issue has been on every CF-30 I've owned including the CF-19 mk3 I have right now (although I'm using Windows 8.1 Pro now) ... that's why all the experts on here say install drivers EXACTLY according to the PDF that Panasonic puts out, including driver versions. Then update later - I believe the display driver does not automatically update as Windows knows it's a custom build.

 

I had used the OEM install disc. Display drivers are up to date. If you mean to say Display when you mentioned Video driver.

 

Please read post #6. He posted this in the wrong thread and I just moved it.

 

Did you install the illumination ribbon cable correctly? If you bought a new keyboard it doesn't have the bend in it. The smallest cable needs to go in upside down. (Or what would appear to be upside-down.)

 

Just to clarify....This is the restore / recovery disk we mean...This maybe for a different model / mark, but Panasonic recovery disks only look like this.

We don't mean a OEM disk from DELL, SONY, MICROSOFT, APPLE....etc..

 

Gosh Doggit, You was on the right track. I checked this morning and sure as heck one of the connectors was hangin out a little on one side (the lower left black, kinda wide one). Everything is working now. I'm almost complete, just waiting on parts computer #4 to arrive with the GPS & Gobi.

Thanks to you all for the advice.

 

That would be a sacrilege!

Good question to ask though...

 

Good question for sure since many new Toughbook owners think these "Driver" restore disk are the real deal...NOT. I have seen us work on a problem before for days only to find out it was one of them cheap disk. So now we ask before we get to far into the problem.

 

More importantly I have the OEM Microfiber cloth, unopened

Seriously though I do feel like a dunce considering I wasted ya'll's time with an issue that I caused.

I'm close to 20 posts and soon can barter in the BST thread. Very exciting! :yes::yes::yes::yes:

 

On the contrary I'd say we all learned that a loose/half-seated keyboard cable can result in the Fn keys not working! Just to clarify, you mean you couldn't even press F1 to launch the help window, etc.?

 

EVERYTHING worked except FN+, for instance Volume Control, Screen Brightness, KB Brightness (if equipped), battery indicator (e.g. FN+F9) etc...

Basically the, "Fn" button was disabled.

Thanks for making me feel a little less humiliated

 

Wierd - usually that is a driver issue but hey whatever, it all works now!

Every time (including myself) it was an issue of looking at the Panny driver and saying hey, there's an updated driver on the manufacturer website! Let's use that instead! And that's the problem because Panasonic has a few custom drivers and it messes up the Fn+ keys. You'll find if the Fn keys work that your audio remains muted after the first time you mute in Windows. The only way to fix that is to unload the Hotkey Appendix driver. But the proper way to fix it is to load the old-but-custom Panasonic-provided display drivers. It doesn't even need to be the right model vs OS (ie. because Windows 7 x64 isn't supported on a CF-30, etc.) as long as it's from Panasonic! I'm running CF-19 mk7 Windows 8 drivers on my mk3 right now and they instal and run (most of them) load fine!