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PaladinRider
7 Posts
0
7607
December 4th, 2009 08:00
Convenience keys not working
I've recently purchased a studio XPS 1640 , and the 'convenience' keys located above the keyboard do not work.
These are the keys that enable/disable communications(wifi,bluetooth), volume control, and eject button. They usually light up and are sensitive keys
I've run a lot of system checks.. I've tried to install Dell Quickset (I heard this is a fix), however it constantly fails.
These buttons have been intermittent since I first received the laptop. Dell has told me to send it in for repairs, however I need my laptop for school and I do not have time to be without it.
They initially worked but after a day or 2 of receiving it, they ceased to work. (Don't light up, buttons are unresponsive). I shut it down, pulled the battery, held the power button for 10 seconds when I started it back up, and they came back on. However they've since stopped working even after performing this operation.
They have been unoperational for about 3 months. Perplexing me further, I've installed routine updates through the Dell Support Center icon, and they miraculously began to be functional!
However it was shortlived as they are now back to their unresponsive state.
I have no idea what I've done. I've repeated the Dell updates and doesn't work.
I've been on customer support but gave up after an hour of being on hold.
I am running Vista.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance
PaladinRider
7 Posts
353
0
Posted December 7th, 2009 12:00
It seems like several people have encountered this.
has anyone solved this problem?
Somebody had to have.
Its not apparent to be a hardware issue, but is still possible. I am debating getting Windows 7 to see if its a Vista-related problem
I've installed the Quickset, however it did not change anything. When I try to re-run the setup, it just asks to repair/modify or remove.
I've tried reinstalling several times.
Issue still persists: quick-keys do not function!
PaladinRider
7 Posts
353
0
Posted January 8th, 2010 08:00
Hm, these forums don't seem very populated. Just an update, I installed Windows 7 (hoping for the problem to be solve) and installed a bluetooth chip.
The convenience keys still didn't work immediately after installing w7 and updating all programs/drivers.
Surprisingly, a day or two later, upon opening my laptop (it was in sleep mode, not turned off) one morning, the keys began to work AGAIN.
I had hoped that the issue would be permanently solved this time, but currently the lights are on again, but the actual buttons are unresponsive.
It seems that they follow a pattern. (they work, the buttons don't work, then the lights go out, then months later they work again). So now i'm just watching the clock so to say until the lights disappear.
I've seen similar problems with this on the internet, all stating that the problem was never fixed after being sent to dell for repairs.
Many have solved this problem by installing QuickSet and/or BIOS A11.
I've done both, to no avail.
PaladinRider
7 Posts
353
0
Posted December 4th, 2009 11:00
Does anybody have any suggestions? I beleive this may be a common issue.. but I have not found a solution.
Has anyone solved this issue?