Is it possible to recreate the Windows hotkey functions in addition to what is apparently stored in a present acpi module? MY netbook, a Novatech N1 2800 has its brightness and wireless and sleep keys catered to using the normal function 'fn' key and function keys, but when I tried to use the KDE keyboard shortcuts to add others like volume keys it would not recognise the fn key, though clearly the system can with the aforementioned keys. I've currently mapped volume to use the Windows key instead of the fn key, in tandem with the usual top row keys.

I understand I think that this sort of thing is inevitable with the number of laptop models around but would like to see if I can approximate the hotkey software myself if I don't get out of my depth.

Thanks.

Linux Mint 15 KDE, 64 bit, KDE 4.10.5

If you use a terminal to run "xev", does pressing the keys with it focused cause output to be generated in the terminal?

If it does not, then you should check "dmesg" to see if the system even saw those keypresses. If it did, you will probably see messages concerning keycodes. Many online guides exist which can help you to map these keycodes - after which KDE should be able to use them.

If you do see output, can you paste the full output in question please?

Using xev neither of the two fn keys register. I'm afraid I see no reference to key presses in any of the logs or dmesg. I may be missing some more basic knowledge that's relevant - maybe the wrong acpi module is running at present, I'll correct my naivety there and come back later.

Unfortunately that means that the Linux kernel does not have support for these keys I am afraid. See https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ex ... _scancodes for more information on this.

There is little that can be done here as a result to fix this - unless the manufacturer offers extra keyboard drivers or something along those lines. The brightness keys on my machine are similar (although they function fortunately - likely due to that functionality being BIOS driven).