FN-CTRL swap on all Lenovo laptops [SOLVED]

[middleton]

I've decided to gather all my CTRL-FN BIOS mods in one place. These patches were originally posted in different topics at official Lenovo forum (lenovo community).
If you want to swap FN and CTRL keys, then download and flash the modified BIOS.

Supported models:

Lenovo G430, G530
Lenovo G450, G550
Lenovo G455, G555
Lenovo N200 (type 0769)
Lenovo N500, G530 (MT 4446 only)

IdeaPad S9, S10
IdeaPad S9e, S10e, S10 with 3G (MT 4329, 4333)
IdeaPad S10-2
IdeaPad S10-3
IdeaPad S10-3t
IdeaPad U350
IdeaPad U450, U450p
IdeaPad Y430
IdeaPad Y450
IdeaPad Y530
IdeaPad Y550
IdeaPad Y550p
IdeaPad Y460, Y560
IdeaPad Y460p, Y560p

ThinkPad SL300, SL400, SL400c, SL500, SL500c
ThinkPad L410, L510, SL410, SL510
ThinkPad R400, T400
ThinkPad R500
ThinkPad R60, R60i (Machine types 94xx)
ThinkPad R61
ThinkPad T400s
ThinkPad T500, W500
ThinkPad T60, T60p
ThinkPad T61, T61p
ThinkPad W700, W700ds
ThinkPad X200, X200s
ThinkPad X200 Tablet
ThinkPad X300
ThinkPad X301
ThinkPad X60, X60s
ThinkPad X60 Tablet
ThinkPad X61, X61s
ThinkPad X61 Tablet


Disclaimer:

Lenovo has no relation to these BIOS-es. These patches are completely unofficial. They provided "as is" without any warranties from Lenovo. Lenovo has never tested or approved these patches and doesn't support them.
You will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from flashing or using of the patched BIOS.
Use it at your own risk.


Note: This forum spoils some links. To avoid problems, click on the first word of a link to download BIOS.


Attention to ThinkPad owners.
If you get error message during BIOS update:
"BIOS image file is same as BIOS ROM. An update is not necessary at this time."
OR
you flashed the patch but FN and CTRL are still not swapped

then you have to do the following:

1) Create "flash.bat" file in the folder with WINUPTP.EXE. Bat-file should have the following contents:

@echo off
echo Updating BIOS. Please wait...
winuptp.exe /s
echo BIOS flash completed. Reboot your machine now.
pause

2) Run flash.bat as administrator, you'll see "Updating BIOS. Please wait..." message.

3) Wait until "BIOS flash completed. Reboot your machine now." message is displayed.

4) Reboot your machine.

flash.bat is attached just in case.


If you want to bring back (for some reason) the original FN-CTRL layout, then follow the instructions below:

- For all non-ThinkPad models: just flash the original BIOS.

- ThinkPad owners have to do the following:

1) Download the latest BIOS update utility for Windows from the official website.

2) Run it and remember the folder where the update utility will be installed.

3) Uncheck "Install ThinkPad BIOS Update Utility now" on the last screen of the setup wizard and click "Finish".

4) Go to the folder where the update utility was installed, and then place flash.bat there.

5) Run flash.bat as administrator, you'll see "Updating BIOS. Please wait..." message.

6) Wait until "BIOS flash completed. Reboot your machine now." message is displayed.

7) Reboot your machine.

If flash.bat quits instantly, then something goes wrong. Read Winuptp.log (it will be created in the same folder with flash.bat) to determine the cause of the issue.
Run flash.bat again after eliminating all the causes.

[talin]

Flash your BIOS with an unsupported version at your own risk. I personally wouldn't do it. If something goes wrong, it will not be covered under warranty, and any fixes will come out of your own pocket. Just not worth the risk IMHO.

[middleton]

It's completely your decision: to flash or not to flash. Many people sent me requests about CTRL-FN BIOS patches. And many people have successfully flashed my BIOS mods. Check this link:

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T50...VED/m-p/221655

By the way, ThinkPad T410 has official CTRL-FN BIOS switch and don't need any patches.

[millermagic]

Can't you do this by software?

[middleton]

Unfortunately it's impossible to fully swap FN and CTRL by software.

[not.sure]

Originally Posted by middleton

By the way, ThinkPad T410 has official CTRL-FN BIOS switch and don't need any patches.

And I think that's true for all 2010/Calpella/"new" models.

[Mutnat]

Originally Posted by not.sure

And I think that's true for all 2010/Calpella/"new" models.

Yep, my T510 had it as a configurable BIOS setting right out of the box. One of the first things I did was to enable the swap.

[pem69]

You are an amazing person, middleton. We shall be eternally grateful.
Does this support the wake-on-(as-labeled)-fn-press that the newer models' BIOS switch does?

[middleton]

Originally Posted by pem69

Does this support the wake-on-(as-labeled)-fn-press that the newer models' BIOS switch does?

At the moment my patches don't support waking by pressing FN key but you can wake your laptop by pressing the power button.
I think I can fix this issue but only if several people will ask me about it because actually, I don't consider it as a problem at all.

[vince100]

Just post to say thank you, middleton.

With your bios I am able to work with thinkpad much more efficiently!

I feel your work is somehow under-appreciated in the lenovo forum. But don't let that discourage you, It's a work of pure genius!

You mentioned downgrading to a lower version bios was necessary if the latest bios was already installed. But I read somewhere later it may be possible to use "WINUPTP.EXE -s" to force an update. I missed my opportunity to test it though.