ThinkPad Button

2006-07-27T19:18:12Z

BlAzKoWiCz: /* Using tpb */

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The ThinkPad Button is a button situated in the upper left corner of the keyboard on modern ThinkPads. It is intended to be a means of quick access to help and support. Technically it is nothing else than a button that can be configured to launch a certain piece of software. While originally it was grey and labelled {{ibmkey|ThinkPad|#494949}}, IBM later made it blue and called it the {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} Button. Lenovo relabelled it as {{ibmkey|ThinkVantage|#495988}} after it took over the ThinkPad line from IBM.
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== System Boot ==
Pressing {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} or {{ibmkey|ThinkVantage|#495988}} at system boot can launch the [[Predesktop Area| Predesktop Area]]. This depends on a specific setting of the BIOS Setup Utility and on the availability of either a [[Hidden Protected Area|Hidden Protected Area]] or a [[Rescue and Recovery|Rescue and Recovery partition]]. See the linked pages for details.

== Linux support ==
===Using tpb===
Under Linux, the IBM ThinkPad(tm) special keys can be enabled using [[tpb]].

I.e., to make pressing the Access IBM Button launch ntpctl, add the following line {{path|/etc/tpbrc}} file:
THINKPAD /usr/bin/X11/xterm -T ntpctl -e ntpctl

To make pressing the Access IBM Button launch the ThinkWiki homepage in Firefox, add the following line:
<nowiki>THINKPAD /usr/bin/firefox http://www.thinkwiki.org</nowiki>

See the [[tpb]] page and the [[How to get special keys to work | ThinkPad special keys HOWTO]] for more information.

===Using KDE===

KDE supports assigning actions to (some) ThinkPad special keys, through the ThinkPad buttons KMilo plugin.

It can be activated and configured in the KDE Control Center (<tt>kcontrol</tt>), under <tt>System Administration --> IBM Thinkpad Laptop</tt>.

== Windows support (2000 or XP) ==
If you want to customize the program that is launched when the {{ibmkey|ThinkPad|#494949}}, {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} or {{ibmkey|ThinkVantage|#495988}} button is pressed while
the machine is running {{Windows}} (2000 or XP) you can change the following registry entry:

<code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001</code>

Here are the default values:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="C:\\Program Files\\IBM\\Access IBM\\aibm.exe"
"DispName"="Access IBM"

== Related Links ==
*[http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvantagetech/accessibm.html IBMs Access IBM ThinkVantage Technology page]
*[http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/AIBM-TOOLS.html Access IBM - Customization Guide]

==Models featuring this Technology==
'''"ThinkPad" button'''
*ThinkPad {{A Series}}
*ThinkPad {{R30}}, {{R31}}, {{R32}}
*ThinkPad {{T20}}, {{T21}}, {{T22}}, {{T23}}, {{T30}}
*ThinkPad {{X20}}, {{X21}}, {{X22}}, {{X23}}, {{X24}}, {{X30}}
*ThinkPad {{TransNote}}
*ThinkPad {{S30}}, {{S31}}

'''"Access IBM" button'''
*ThinkPad {{G40}}, {{G41}}
*ThinkPad {{R40}}, {{R40e}}, {{R50}}, {{R50e}}, {{R50p}}, {{R51}}, {{R51e}}, {{R52}}
*ThinkPad {{T40}}, {{T40p}}, {{T41}}, {{T41p}}, {{T42}}, {{T42p}}, {{T43}}, {{T43p}}
*ThinkPad {{X31}}, {{X32}}, {{X40}}, {{X41}}, {{X41T}}

'''"ThinkVantage" button'''
*ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}
*ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}
*ThinkPad {{Z Series}}

[[Category:Glossary]]

ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

ThinkPad Button