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chrisportela

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Registered: 2011-06-15

Posts: 13

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Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

I updated my system, a toshiba NB505, which had working 'fn' keys. (screen brightness specifically)

I don't know if it's possible to go back in kernel releases, if they're deleted or such (I had previously thought that maybe the fallback was just the last working kernel, nope), or if this is a problem with something else.

lagagnon

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From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

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Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

I solved incompatibilities between various Linux kernels and my Toshiba function keys by upgrading the laptop BIOS. This was on a Toshiba L300 laptop, so it may not help your problem, but you could try. See the wiki https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/To … llite_L300

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

chrisportela

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Registered: 2011-06-15

Posts: 13

Website

Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

There is no BIOS update for the NB505 [http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais … 1&src=EXPL]

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

have you tried checking the keycodes for your fn keys in xev  and them manually assigning whatever functions you want using xbindkeys ?

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chrisportela

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Registered: 2011-06-15

Posts: 13

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Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

No I didn't, I didn't know I could. Is there a wiki page about it?

is xev a command/program?

Inxsible

Forum Fellow

From: Chicago

Registered: 2008-06-09

Posts: 9,183

Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

is xev a command/program?

yes. Try man pages as well.

You can also use xbindkeys to figure out the keybinding. For eg. for my wife's toshiba L505, when I clicked Alt + F2, xbindkeys returned a code of

Mod1 + Mod2 + F2

I think..or something like that. I will go home and check later tonight.

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Forum Rules

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but there sure are a lot of inquisitive idiots !

chrisportela

Member

Registered: 2011-06-15

Posts: 13

Website

Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

I tried it just now. I installed xev, don't know where to install xbindkeys, and I got the x keycode 232 and 233 for brightness down and up respectively.

I also figured out that I had xbrightness onboard which has aliveated the immediate problem of the screen being way too bright. However, how would I get xbindkeys and use it to bind the keys?

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: Toshiba 'fn' keys don't work after update to kernel from pacman

However, how would I get xbindkeys and use it to bind the keys?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xbindkeys

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.