Studio 1737 Soft-key above keyboard; cinema key not working

emaini,

If I touch my Media button when the computer is turned off. it works as a power switch. I don't have it do anything else. My Studio 1737 doesn't even have Power DVD.

Rick

Rick,

If I touch my Media button when the computer is turned off, it does nothing :emotion-6:.  Are you sure you are not in sleep mode when that happens?  As far as I know from cold boot the only way to start the laptop is with the power button on the right side of the computer.  I just tried and if I shutdown, there is no way to restart without using the power button.

Also, I don't disagree with you, but in 3 revisions of the manual for the laptop now that I have see (The online PDF, the one that came with my computer, and a copy of the manual that my roommate has when he purchased the same computer in March)  the cinema button (also called Media Direct Button in earlier version of the manual) as being allocated to start Power DVD.

I have checked BIOS and I have checked software, it seems odd that I cannot configure that button do what I want.  When I press the button it clear send a CTRL+ALT+ command (I have software that tells me) -- if Dell would make it configurable I can set it to launch whatever I wanted.

In other Dell Laptops I have owned in the past, you could use Quickset to handle different functions of soft buttons.  heck!  on my T3400 Dell with media keyboard I can setup all the keys at the top to do whatever it is I want.

Someone should either figure out how to enable that button or change the manual to say that that button is not used and its just a pretty icon to fool you because the picture has no relationship to what it does.

I do appreciate the reply however, it is VERY frustrating when things are poorly documented or do not function as one should believe it to.

Enzo

Thanks for taking the time to do that investigation

My system is configured as follows which is probably the difference

Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit (this was my only option when I purchased the computer).   It was purchased July 1st.  A note came with the computer to update the BIOS, which I did.  I know have BIOS A06.  I have updated Power DVD because I was prompted the first time I launched it.

I can confirm that the media button DOES NOT start the laptop and while Power DVD works, it does not work via the soft key

What I did was assign the CTRL+ALT+M key to the short cut which Windows allows, and that works just fine.

BTW: The reason I am using Power DVD is because on my laptop (maybe because of the ATI GPU) the video playback is MUCH MUCH better than if I play it on Media Center.  I get super ridiculout what seems to be 60fps playback via Power DVD.  With Media Center it is grainy and pixelated and I get better Dolby Sound from Power DVD which I do not get with Media Center.

There are obvious 32 vs 64 differences that are not well documented

Other than a few annoying things, I am very happy with the laptop otherwise

Enzo

Enzo,

I try not to have too many programs on my computer that do the same thing. I use VLC Player. I tried to look and I see it might not work with 64-bit very well, but there are work arounds.

I noticed on my daughter's Studio 1537 Vista 64-bit, that you can install programs in the Program Files Folder(64-bit or the Program Files Folder. The second folder is for installing the 32-bit programs and seems to work well for her.

I love my Studio 1737 Vista 32-bit and was considering going to 64-bit, just too much going on with moving at the present time.

Rick

I'm having exactly the same problem with my Studio 1535.

Do you already know how to config it?

This actually worked for me, this is the only reason I joined it to post the solution;

I've had the same problem. Apparently it happens with Dell computers very often. Simple fix however. Make sure to turn your computer off, unplug everything, power, usb connections, dock station, etc. pull out your battery for at lest a minute and while you have your battery out, push and hold the power button for about 10 seconds. This is called "draining the flea power". After a minute put your laptop back together and turn it on and volia! I've tried it and worked like a magic. Let me know how it goes.

THANK YOU for your excellent post.  Worked perfectly for me. 

A++++

Can someone post the instructions for programming the soft keys to do something other than what is delivered by Dell?  The far left soft key on my Dell Studio sometimes sticks on and launches (and relaunches) Media Direct.  I then loose control of the computer and have to pull all power to get it shutdown (Task Manager does not respond - nothing does).  I then have to restart while holding the STOP soft key on or the whole process starts over again.  Very frustrating.

thank you my dear friend,

that really working on my dell 1535 studio

you are very very good.

thank you...

This worked!! Thanks !!!