disable fn key on laptop

[PEO]

the kids are disableing the wireless network on the laptops by pressing FN + F11 keys.

 

any idea how i can disable this function?

 

cheers

[PEO]

*bump* :-)

[richard.thomas]

I'm guessing no one has a clue

 

I was going to suggest removing software from the laptop that controls the FN keys, but i had a look on mine and couldn't find any. Then i thought it could possibly be a BIOS settings? But i doubt that one to... You might have to install something that actually blocks the input somehow?

 

But basically... I dont have a clue- Just didn't want you to think you were being ignored

[jcollings]

Yes - slam the fingers of the offeneder in a door - that should disuade them.

[PEO]

so far i have looked ar sharp keys but no joy, no settings in the bios or software to disable it

[BKGarry]

Pull The Function Keys off, it's only a matter of time before the students will anyways

[PEO]

hahaha i like your idea jcollings

[plexer]

Remap the fn key to something else?

 

http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/topic298.html

 

Ben

[richard.thomas]

Yeh- I think ben is on to something there. I'd love to look at that site but Broadband Sandwell- in their wisdom- have blocked it. Or rather their NetSweeper; but I just like to blame them

[PEO]

nope no good the fn + f11 combo disables the wireless device in device manager. is the any way that i could stop a device in device manager from been disabled.... yikes

[plexer]

However if the fn + key to enable/disable the wireless is taken care of at the hardware level you are stuffed.

 

Ben

[PEO]

think i will give it to my work placement boy to sort out for me

[Busybub]

Try saving the following as a .reg file, run it, restart:

----------------------------------------------------

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]

"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,57,00,00,00,00,00

 

----------------------------------------------------

Should completely disable the F11 key

 

If it doesn't work, just delete the entry. I have something similar running which disables the F12 key so if you have problems I've probably mistyped something...

[PEO]

that worked, but the fn + f11 combo still works

[plexer]

Presumably because fn + f11 gives a different scancode to just the f11 key?

 

Ben

[PEO]

yep my thoughts exactly. I did use AutoIt3 window spy (Autohotkey) to try and pick up the scancode, but it dosent pick it up. great fun.

[PEO]

I've just used regmon to see whats changing as i press the keys. i've attached a screen shoot.

[plexer]

Rename S24Evmon.exe and see if it still disables?

 

Ben

[Bromcom_John]

Assuming that is a port value, you could also attempt blocking the traffic on that port.

Unfortunately It appears that renaming the file may stop your Wireless connection also.

---

s24evmon.exe is an application that gives access to your wireless network interface devices configurations and diagnostics. This program is a non-essential system process, but should not be terminated unless suspected to be causing problems.

---

[plexer]

Well I'd say try it and see as that description says about access to it's configuration so looks like pressing fn + f11 uses that program to send a command to the card to turn its radio off.

 

If the radio is allready off and you kill s24evmon.exe then you won't be able to turn it on.

 

Otherwise can you leverage s24evmon.exe yourself and run a startup script or something to use it to turn the wireless on?

 

Ben

[Busybub]

@Plexer

 

Just given me a thought. If the physical F11 key has another function assigned to it that is called by the Fn key (rather than the Fn key adding the F11 code to create a new code, ie the F11 key has two codes depending on the state of the Fn key) then you're probably looking at a hardware assignment which by definition may be different from machine to machine.

 

There is no scancode for Fn that I can see... MrHappy may turn out to be MrUnhappy by the sounds of it!

[Jason.Shields]

Re: the user account that the children log in with - is it an admin-level account?

 

If so, try changing them back to a normal user (not Power User!) and see if they can still disable it.

[PEO]

nope, kids are not power users. tht was the second thing i did, was look at permissions.

[PEO]

changing the filename ha no effect oooow happy days