CrunchBang Linux

nabilalk

#! Die Hard

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 531

Sony Vaio Function Keys

Just installed the latest #! on a friend's Sony Vaio, and I can't get the brightness adjustement or volume control function keys to work.  I have tried the solutions presented in these two posts:

http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … e-buttons/

http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/topic … on-eee-pc/

but none of the solns worked. Any other ideas?

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#! 10 “Statler” r20110207 32-bit & Openbox

alef

#! CrunchBanger

Registered: 2009-02-05

Posts: 201

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Hi nabilalk,

I have a Vaio too. as far as I have understood, each model has its own way of dealing with fn keys, so there is no common solution for all of them. It is a big mess on the Internet, the model I own does not seem to be that common. I have found a workaround for the brightness, which consisted in mapping shortcuts Super+F5 and Super+F6 to change brightness, instead of FN. I have not found solution for extra keys for volume, I find it quite annoying not to have keys for that. as far as I understood next version of ubuntu will depreciate hal in favour of other solutions to handle fn keys, so I may wait for a karmic solution then (http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/karmic/al … %20started)

If you need the commands to change brightness I can probably get them to you tonight (CET) when i'm back in front of the Vaio.

the problem is not  crunchbang-specific, it is between your vaio laptop and ubuntu jaunty, so you may find solutions outside #! website.

hope this helps,

Edit: added details

Last edited by alef (2009-08-10 07:28:48)

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Eee-PC 1000H    |  Statler r20110207 Openbox
Vaio VGN-FE21H  |  CrunchBang 11 "Waldorf"
Thinkpad X1Carbon | Waldorf r20121015
-- I live well without owning a printer.

nabilalk

#! Die Hard

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 531

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

I was unaware of the issues with jaunty and sony vaios. I would appreciate the codes needed to adjust the brightness that you used. Thanks a lot.

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#! 10 “Statler” r20110207 32-bit & Openbox

Kyte

#! Junkie

From: midwest usa

Registered: 2009-07-19

Posts: 275

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

I ran into the same thing.

Kyte

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Kyte: Always flittin' around with his head in the clouds!

alef

#! CrunchBanger

Registered: 2009-02-05

Posts: 201

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Hi, here are the lines that I have added in the rc.xml file to get able to change brightness:

    <keybind key="W-F5">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -d</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-F6">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -s100</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

the command "smartdimmer -i" to increase the value strangely works in the terminal but not using the shortcut, so I assigned Super+F6 to reseting the brightness to 100%.

i don't remember in which site i have found this solution, maybe googling "smardimmer vaio" can help.

regards,

---

Eee-PC 1000H    |  Statler r20110207 Openbox
Vaio VGN-FE21H  |  CrunchBang 11 "Waldorf"
Thinkpad X1Carbon | Waldorf r20121015
-- I live well without owning a printer.

nabilalk

#! Die Hard

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 531

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Hi, here are the lines that I have added in the rc.xml file to get able to change brightness:

    <keybind key="W-F5">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -d</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-F6">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -s100</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

the command "smartdimmer -i" to increase the value strangely works in the terminal but not using the shortcut, so I assigned Super+F6 to reseting the brightness to 100%.

i don't remember in which site i have found this solution, maybe googling "smardimmer vaio" can help.

regards,

Thanks for the codes mate!

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#! 10 “Statler” r20110207 32-bit & Openbox

nabilalk

#! Die Hard

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 531

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Hi, here are the lines that I have added in the rc.xml file to get able to change brightness:

    <keybind key="W-F5">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -d</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>
    <keybind key="W-F6">
      <action name="Execute">
        <command>/usr/bin/smartdimmer -s100</command>
      </action>
    </keybind>

the command "smartdimmer -i" to increase the value strangely works in the terminal but not using the shortcut, so I assigned Super+F6 to reseting the brightness to 100%.

i don't remember in which site i have found this solution, maybe googling "smardimmer vaio" can help.

regards,

Thanks for the codes mate!

I pasted the codes into rc.xml and nothing happend after I restarted. For some reason none of the keys I programmed are functioning. Any ideas how to remedy this?

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#! 10 “Statler” r20110207 32-bit & Openbox

anonymous

The Mystery Member

From: Arch Linux Forums

Registered: 2008-11-29

Posts: 9,418

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Try this:

Openbox menu > Preferences > Openbox Config > Reconfigure.

Then check if your shortcuts work. Also try using different keys for the shortcuts.

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Note: ** Please read before posting **

nabilalk

#! Die Hard

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 531

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

Try this:

Openbox menu > Preferences > Openbox Config > Reconfigure.

Then check if your shortcuts work. Also try using different keys for the shortcuts.

Tried all those things, and no joy.  Here is my rc.xml. http://crunchbanglinux.org/pastebin/317

Let me know if anything looks awry. Thx

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#! 10 “Statler” r20110207 32-bit & Openbox

alef

#! CrunchBanger

Registered: 2009-02-05

Posts: 201

Re: Sony Vaio Function Keys

I pasted the codes into rc.xml and nothing happend after I restarted. For some reason none of the keys I programmed are functioning. Any ideas how to remedy this?

have you tried whether the following command has effect in the terminal :

smartdimmer -d

?

---

Eee-PC 1000H    |  Statler r20110207 Openbox
Vaio VGN-FE21H  |  CrunchBang 11 "Waldorf"
Thinkpad X1Carbon | Waldorf r20121015
-- I live well without owning a printer.