Wrong keyboard config shows Fn key problem

I have a Toughbook CF-29. We acquired it used. There is evidently a wrong keyboard configuration. It uses Windows XP Pro SP2. The keyboard driver is 101/102 standard with PS/2 and the Device Manager seems happy. The Fn functions along the top do nothing I can detect. I will show below what I get with Fn+u, Fn+i, Fn+o, etc. I will first indicate what I SHOULD get and then what I actually get. For example, Fn+u should yield 4. I get the left arrow. So I will say 4 = left arrow. So here goes:
7=home
8=up arrow
*=*
4=left arrow
5= nothing I can detect
6=right arrow
1=end
2=down arrow
3= nothing I can detect
+=+
0= nothing I can detect
.=Del
/=/

So the Fn key is doing something, but not the right thing. How can I configure it correctly? No OS disk came with the unit.

The model is CF-29C3KGZKM. Panasonic web site shows CF-29C... but only for SP1 to update the windows driver. But I don't need to update the whole windows driver, just configure the keyboard.

Thanks

 

1. Have you looked in the BIOS to enable the Hotkeys?
2. Do you have Hotkey Manager installed?

The hotkey manager is available here I believe...
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi

Good luck and please post back and let us know...

Rick

 

1. How do I get into the BIOS? F8 at startup doesn't seem to get me there.
2. The site you indicate takes me to available downloads. There I found and downloaded.......
Hotkey Driver
Hotkey Settings Application
Hotkey Appendix

Hotkey Settings Application can be run and doing so gives a dialog box with check boxes for "Use Fn key lock" (with notifications), and "Disable Popups". I don't think that's what I need. In any case it doesn't change my problem. The Hotkey Driver and Hotkey Appendix must be intended to be working in the background. There is nothing new to run. But I still don't see any change in the issue.

I'm not finding anything called "Hotkey Manager". That sounds like something good.

I've made sure I'm up to date with MS Windows XP updates.

In the list of Panasonic downloads, there is no Keyboard Driver offered per se.

 

Boot your machine and when you see PANASONIC flash on the screen repeatedly push F2 (Or push F2 when you see the prompt, "Push F2 to enter setups.") Once there... use your arrow keys to poke around and make sure that the proper things are enabled.

Please let us know how it goes... We'll figure this out!

R

 

Rick, OK, that indeed gets me in there. It uses PhoenixBIOS Utility. It has menus Information, Main, Security, Boot, Exit. Nothing shows in any of them about any Keyboard settings or Hotkeys.

Is there a Hotkey Manager utility that I haven't found?

Hey, I appreciate your hanging in there with me to see this through. It's probably something easy. Usually is.

 

You simply need to install the Hot key driver to get the top function keys to work. If you want the number pad to work just press the "NumLock" key and you will get the correct numbers to register.

 

When I had downloaded the Hotkey Driver for my correct model from Panasonic's Download sight, after unpacking it, there are 5 files and one of them is called HKEYMAN.EXE. I would gather that that one would either install the program or run it on the spot. Well, I get the hourglass for a split second and nothing more happens. One could guess that perhaps it installs something into the registry or ..., but there is no change in the non-functioning of my Fn keys. And clearly that file mentioned above does relate to the Fn functions because it actually has the Fn icon as it's icon. Having said all that, the Hotkey Settings Application and the Hotkey Appendix did go through an install process. But I still do NOT have a solution.

 

Well you can't run the Hot key manager until you have the hot key driver loaded correctly. Go to device manager and you will probably find an unknown device with the yellow exclamation mark, right click on it and select properties then select update driver and point to the directory where the five fles are located reboot and your function keys will work.

 

Also HOTKEYMAN.exe is a process that starts automatically once you have the hot keydriver loaded correctly as mentioned above.

 

yep, hotkeyman.exe is the hotkey manager if you install that you will still need the hotkey drivers.............

 

Wow, that was it. Presto! It works. Thanks guys for the great help.

 

glad you sorted out the problems............