ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

User:Hepta sean

2013-04-25T03:03:42Z

Hepta sean:

This account is abandoned. (Too bad, there is no option to delete it.)

ThinkPad Button

2007-09-12T03:33:02Z

Hepta sean: Added simpler method for Gnome

{| width="100%"
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:20px;width:10px;" | [[Image:Accessibm.png]]
|style="vertical-align:top" |
<div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
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.
</div>
|}
__NOTOC__
== 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>.

===Using xbindkeys on Ubuntu===

On Ubuntu (at least 7.04/Feisty) <code>tpb</code> is not really an option, because it conflicts with <code>hotkey-setup</code>, which is responsible for much things working out of the box.

An alternative is to use <code>xbindkeys</code>, which can easily be installed with <code>aptitude install xbindkeys</code> or via the Synaptic package manager. It can be used to assign arbitrary commands to certain keycodes. Therefore, we first have to find this keycode by running <code>xbindkeys --key</code> and pressing the ThinkPad Button. This should result in something like the following:
sean@amalthea ~ $ xbindkeys --key
Press combination of keys or/and click under the window.
You can use one of the two lines after "NoCommand"
in $HOME/.xbindkeysrc to bind a key.
"NoCommand"
m:0x0 + c:159
NoSymbol

Now we can construct a minimal configuration file in <code>~/.xbindkeysrc</code>:
"gnome-terminal"
m:0x0 + c:159
After starting <code>xbindkeys</code> without further options the ThinkPad Button should launch a new terminal.

To start the program automatically at login add it under "System -> Preferences -> Sessions -> Startup Programs" (assuming the Gnome Desktop is used, otherwise add it to your <code>~/.xinitrc</code>, <code>~/.xsession</code> or whatever is responsible for startup items in your setting).

===Using Gnome===

A simpler but less flexible possibility than <code>xbindkeys</code> is "System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts". Just go to (for example) "Run a terminal" and press the ThinkPad Button, when asked for a "New accelerator...". This will only work under the Gnome Desktop and cannot execute arbitrary commands, as <code>xbindkeys</code> and <code>tpb</code> can.

== 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 for the original IBM version:

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

And these are the default values for the Lenovo version:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\THINKV~1\\PrdCtr\\LPL1.exe"

== 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 {{R60}}, {{R60e}}, {{R61}}
*ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}
*ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X61s}}
*ThinkPad {{Z Series}}

[[Category:Glossary]]

User:Nickj

2007-09-12T03:04:06Z

Hepta sean: Pointer to answer on ThinkPad Button

I'm running an IBM Thinkpad T40, with Ubuntu 7.04 as the operating system.

It works reasonably well, but I'm trying to find solutions to the following questions / problems that would take it from "good" to "great" :
* [[Talk:Tpb#Possible_to_use_hotkey-setup_instead?|How to make the "Access IBM" button open a console / xterm, using hotkey-setup?]].
* The mute button will mute sound, but pressing it again does not unmute. Is it possible to make it do this?
* After hibernating, the wired Ethernet sometimes stops working. Despite various combinations of <code>ifup / ifdown</code>, editing <code>/etc/network/interfaces</code>, and <code>/etc/init.d/networking restart</code>, sometimes it refuses to work again. Restarting the computer seems to always make it work again. How to make sure that wired networking always works after a hibernate?
* For other laptop users, the Network Manager Applet in Gnome will display the wireless network strength, and available wireless networks. For me, it only displays the wireless strength. How can I show the available wireless networks in the panel area?

If you have any answers or suggestions, then please edit this page and add them, I would welcome any assistance. -- All the best, [[User:Nickj|Nickj]] 06:02, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

I hope I have found an answer to your first question under [[ThinkPad_Button#Using_xbindkeys_on_Ubuntu]]. -- Greetings, [[User:Hepta sean|Hepta sean]] 03:04, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

Talk:Tpb

2007-09-12T02:59:51Z

Hepta sean: /* Possible to use hotkey-setup instead? */

"''Note that on some systems the "nvram" module will need to be loaded before tpb will work, as tpb needs to write to this device. If you run tpb in user-space, you will need write permissions (and, possibly, read); it is probably best to simply add users to a "nvram" group.''"

Indeed, it may be much easier to get tpb to work properly if you add your user to the nvram group.

LeJo

== Possible to use hotkey-setup instead? ==

Hi, I want to configure the "Access IBM" button on my T40 to open a console / xterm when I press it. However, in Ubuntu 7.04, when I do an <code>aptitude install tpb</code>, it tells me that "<code>hotkey-setup: Conflicts: tpb</code>". So I would like to use hotkey-setup only if I can, especially since I see [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=469740 reports] of other people trying to install tpb together with hotkey-setup and messing up their other keys that were handled correctly by hotkey-setup before. Has anyone got the "Access IBM" key bound to a command using only hotkey-setup, and if so could you maybe share what you did? -- All the best, [[User:Nickj|Nickj]] 05:31, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

As per [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=207514 this thread] I have just managed to get my "Access IBM" Button working without tpb. I just installed xbindkeys, created a very small file .xbindkeysrc with just the following 2 lines
"gnome-terminal"
m:0x0 + c:159
and added xbindkeys under System -> Preferences -> Sessions -> Startup Programs. The key code in the second line was given by <code>xbindkeys --key</code> when I pressed the button. --[[User:Hepta sean|Hepta sean]] 01:33, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

I added a longer version of this under [[ThinkPad_Button#Using_xbindkeys_on_Ubuntu|ThinkPad_Button]]. --[[User:Hepta sean|Hepta sean]] 02:59, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

ThinkPad Button

2007-09-12T02:37:34Z

Hepta sean: Added section on Ubuntu/xbindkeys

{| width="100%"
|style="vertical-align:top;padding-right:20px;width:10px;" | [[Image:Accessibm.png]]
|style="vertical-align:top" |
<div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
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.
</div>
|}
__NOTOC__
== 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>.

===Using xbindkeys on Ubuntu===

On Ubuntu (at least 7.04/Feisty) <code>tpb</code> is not really an option, because it conflicts with <code>hotkey-setup</code>, which is responsible for much things working out of the box.

An alternative is to use <code>xbindkeys</code>, which can easily be installed with <code>aptitude install xbindkeys</code> or via the Synaptic package manager. It can be used to assign arbitrary commands to certain keycodes. Therefore, we first have to find this keycode by running <code>xbindkeys --key</code> and pressing the ThinkPad Button. This should result in something like the following:
sean@amalthea ~ $ xbindkeys --key
Press combination of keys or/and click under the window.
You can use one of the two lines after "NoCommand"
in $HOME/.xbindkeysrc to bind a key.
"NoCommand"
m:0x0 + c:159
NoSymbol

Now we can construct a minimal configuration file in <code>~/.xbindkeysrc</code>:
"gnome-terminal"
m:0x0 + c:159
After starting <code>xbindkeys</code> without further options the ThinkPad Button should launch a new terminal.

To start the program automatically at login add it under "System -> Preferences -> Sessions -> Startup Programs" (assuming the Gnome Desktop is used, otherwise add it to your <code>~/.xinitrc</code>, <code>~/.xsession</code> or whatever is responsible for startup items in your setting).

== 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 for the original IBM version:

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

And these are the default values for the Lenovo version:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="C:\\PROGRA~1\\THINKV~1\\PrdCtr\\LPL1.exe"

== 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 {{R60}}, {{R60e}}, {{R61}}
*ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}
*ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X61s}}
*ThinkPad {{Z Series}}

[[Category:Glossary]]

User:Hepta sean

2007-09-12T01:57:10Z

Hepta sean: â†Created page with 'Since a few weeks I am running Linux (first Debian Etch, then Debian Lenny, now Ubuntu Feisty) on a ThinkPad X41. So far, they all three did their job quite well. I just ...'

Since a few weeks I am running Linux (first Debian Etch, then Debian Lenny, now Ubuntu Feisty) on a ThinkPad X41.

So far, they all three did their job quite well. I just needed to switch from Etch/stable to Lenny/testing to get the new Xorg-intel driver, because the i810-driver was somehow dying after suspends. Strangely enough under Ubuntu all works well with i810.

The second switch to Ubuntu was more out of curiosity. So far everything in Ubuntu seems to work out-of-the-box. Great!

By the way: The pre-installed Windows didn't survive longer than half an hour. After trying to burn the rescue disks resulted in a blue-screen, I just wiped the whole harddisk and installed real software. ;)

Talk:Tpb

2007-09-12T01:33:19Z

Hepta sean: /* Possible to use hotkey-setup instead? */