Laptop Driver Question

Furrything · Feb 29, 2004, 08:49 PM

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 and I can't seem to get the Fn-F7 (which changes whether it scales or there is a boarded) to work. It only works with the Dell Drivers, but I want to use the modded drivers or the Omega drivers. Is there some code or something like that that I can paste into the .ini file to make it so the Fn-F7 combonation toggles the screen scaling. It is annoying going into the Advancded>Display properties and changing manually. Thanks.

swimtech · Mar 1, 2004, 12:45 AM

My laptop isn't the same model as yours but I'll check mine at work tomorrow and post back, unless you get it solved before then...

The_Neon_Cowboy · Mar 1, 2004, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Furrything
I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 and I can't seem to get the Fn-F7 (which changes whether it scales or there is a boarded) to work. It only works with the Dell Drivers, but I want to use the modded drivers or the Omega drivers. Is there some code or something like that that I can paste into the .ini file to make it so the Fn-F7 combonation toggles the screen scaling. It is annoying going into the Advancded>Display properties and changing manually. Thanks.

what is your os?

Furrything · Mar 2, 2004, 12:20 AM

Windows XP Home.

Furrything · Mar 2, 2004, 12:21 AM

I also have a Radeon 9000 with 64mb of RAM. Wasn't thinking before. Sorry.

swimtech · Mar 2, 2004, 03:30 AM

Oh well,

The laptop I have at work is labelled "font" on the F7 key for use with the fn key - tried it and it made the screen blink for a moment, but otherwise I couldn't tell a thing. Doesn't seem to apply to your laptop as I was hoping. What is the default labelling on your F7 key?

I'm guessing that your wanting to know if the key combo can be use to scale the screen somehow or have it bordered. Sounds like something you'd want to use for playback of a DVD or movie file (AVI, Quicktime, etc...) right?

Could you give us more info on what you want the screen to do in some particular applications by name?

patje · Mar 2, 2004, 11:52 AM

It is possible that you are talking about a setting that is included in the dell drivers and not in the modded catalyst set. I wouldn't know what setting that is, otherwise i'd include it.

Patje

swimtech · Mar 2, 2004, 02:08 PM

By chance, I had messed with the key combo on my laptop yesterday and didn't know that I had toggled an odd number of times, so when I booted the unit this morning, the bootup Dell logo and text screens were not full screen - quickly toggled the fn-F7 key combo and boom, full screen text at bootup. This means the toggle is hardware or bios based.

The function just blinks the screen in Windows though, and must be doing something - I just don't know what yet - doesn't have an effect on Dos windows... More fiddling needed, if I find out, I'll let you know...

More - while posting this, I rebooted the unit after having used the key combo an even number of times and the bootup display and WinXP logo screen were bordered. Once the Windows desktop came up, it was full screen though. Evidently, something in Windows (or the video driver) is overriding the function or hiding its effect. Finally, if the bootup screen is set as bordered and you go into Windows, then hit the combo once and reboot, the bootup screens are no longer bordered (back to full screen) - so it is definitely having an effect even while in Windows that affects the screen globally (underneath Windows and the effect continues through reboots). Hmmmmm....

patje · Mar 2, 2004, 02:13 PM

I also believe the that function works if you attach an external monitor or projector to the portable.

Furrything · Mar 2, 2004, 11:13 PM

The button changes the scaling for windows--either it is streched or there is a boarder. My problem is that it just doesn't recognize the function once I get into Windows. The only time it works is the first time it boots after the dirver is installed (after you reboot for the first time once the driver is installed, it won't work), outside of Windows, or with Dell Drivers. Hope this helps, maybe I will try a little digging myself.

Furrything · Mar 2, 2004, 11:14 PM

My Fn-F7 key does have "Font" for a label, by the way.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Mar 3, 2004, 10:19 AM

should be in the inf's (do a little digging )

Furrything · Mar 3, 2004, 10:12 PM

Do you have any tips for what I should look for? What do I do if I find it. Copy and Paste?

Furrything · Mar 3, 2004, 11:25 PM

I have the *.inf if anybody wants to take a quick look.

http://members.fortunecity.com/campg...t/CX_07221.inf

swimtech · Mar 4, 2004, 02:10 PM

Just read the knowledge base article at Dell about fn-F7:

"Alters the font size at boot. If the Dell splash screen is very small, then this will enlarge it."

Also this: "To locate an index of function key combinations for your system and their uses, press the <FN> + <F5> keys at the same time while the system is booting.

My suspicion from this is that you have to load software that remaps the fn keys running under Windows.

Furrything · Mar 4, 2004, 11:50 PM

This is really weird. I noticed that the new ATi drivers (using the modder from Patje) seem to enable the key. Not sure what is going on, but it seems to work now. If I find anything more out, I'll post. You have all been a great help anyways! Thanks!

Feb 29, 2004, 08:49 PM	#1
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Laptop Driver Question I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 and I can't seem to get the Fn-F7 (which changes whether it scales or there is a boarded) to work. It only works with the Dell Drivers, but I want to use the modded drivers or the Omega drivers. Is there some code or something like that that I can paste into the .ini file to make it so the Fn-F7 combonation toggles the screen scaling. It is annoying going into the Advancded>Display properties and changing manually. Thanks.

Mar 1, 2004, 12:45 AM	#2
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	My laptop isn't the same model as yours but I'll check mine at work tomorrow and post back, unless you get it solved before then... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Mar 2, 2004, 03:30 AM	#6
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Oh well, The laptop I have at work is labelled "font" on the F7 key for use with the fn key - tried it and it made the screen blink for a moment, but otherwise I couldn't tell a thing. Doesn't seem to apply to your laptop as I was hoping. What is the default labelling on your F7 key? I'm guessing that your wanting to know if the key combo can be use to scale the screen somehow or have it bordered. Sounds like something you'd want to use for playback of a DVD or movie file (AVI, Quicktime, etc...) right? Could you give us more info on what you want the screen to do in some particular applications by name? __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Mar 2, 2004, 11:52 AM	#7
patje Former Mobility Modman Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium / Antwerp Posts: 1,475 Rep Power: 64	It is possible that you are talking about a setting that is included in the dell drivers and not in the modded catalyst set. I wouldn't know what setting that is, otherwise i'd include it. Patje __________________

Mar 2, 2004, 02:08 PM	#8
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	By chance, I had messed with the key combo on my laptop yesterday and didn't know that I had toggled an odd number of times, so when I booted the unit this morning, the bootup Dell logo and text screens were not full screen - quickly toggled the fn-F7 key combo and boom, full screen text at bootup. This means the toggle is hardware or bios based. The function just blinks the screen in Windows though, and must be doing something - I just don't know what yet - doesn't have an effect on Dos windows... More fiddling needed, if I find out, I'll let you know... More - while posting this, I rebooted the unit after having used the key combo an even number of times and the bootup display and WinXP logo screen were bordered. Once the Windows desktop came up, it was full screen though. Evidently, something in Windows (or the video driver) is overriding the function or hiding its effect. Finally, if the bootup screen is set as bordered and you go into Windows, then hit the combo once and reboot, the bootup screens are no longer bordered (back to full screen) - so it is definitely having an effect even while in Windows that affects the screen globally (underneath Windows and the effect continues through reboots). Hmmmmm.... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Mar 2, 2004, 12:20 AM	Thread Starter #4
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Windows XP Home.

Mar 2, 2004, 12:21 AM	Thread Starter #5
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	I also have a Radeon 9000 with 64mb of RAM. Wasn't thinking before. Sorry.

Mar 2, 2004, 02:13 PM	#9
patje Former Mobility Modman Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Belgium / Antwerp Posts: 1,475 Rep Power: 64	I also believe the that function works if you attach an external monitor or projector to the portable. __________________

Mar 2, 2004, 11:13 PM	Thread Starter #10
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	The button changes the scaling for windows--either it is streched or there is a boarder. My problem is that it just doesn't recognize the function once I get into Windows. The only time it works is the first time it boots after the dirver is installed (after you reboot for the first time once the driver is installed, it won't work), outside of Windows, or with Dell Drivers. Hope this helps, maybe I will try a little digging myself.

Mar 2, 2004, 11:14 PM	Thread Starter #11
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	My Fn-F7 key does have "Font" for a label, by the way.

Mar 3, 2004, 10:19 AM	#12
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	should be in the inf's (do a little digging ) __________________

Mar 3, 2004, 10:12 PM	Thread Starter #13
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	Do you have any tips for what I should look for? What do I do if I find it. Copy and Paste?

Mar 3, 2004, 11:25 PM	Thread Starter #14
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	I have the *.inf if anybody wants to take a quick look. http://members.fortunecity.com/campg...t/CX_07221.inf

Mar 4, 2004, 02:10 PM	#15
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 122 System Specs	Just read the knowledge base article at Dell about fn-F7: "Alters the font size at boot. If the Dell splash screen is very small, then this will enlarge it." Also this: "To locate an index of function key combinations for your system and their uses, press the <FN> + <F5> keys at the same time while the system is booting. My suspicion from this is that you have to load software that remaps the fn keys running under Windows. __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Mar 4, 2004, 11:50 PM	Thread Starter #16
Furrything DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	This is really weird. I noticed that the new ATi drivers (using the modder from Patje) seem to enable the key. Not sure what is going on, but it seems to work now. If I find anything more out, I'll post. You have all been a great help anyways! Thanks!