Reassign the ThinkVantage button to open Word or IE?

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to reassign the blue ThinkVantage button to open a program?

I left out most of the ThinkVantage software after doing a clean install but I'd like to use it for something. I'm using Vista in R61/T61.

So...is it possible?


EDIT: I'm posting the instructions here to give better visibility - scroll down for an alternative from Mikeee to get the ThinkVantage button to work without having to go into the registry. It's a small utility that seems like it will give more options and might be easier to deal with. I couldn't get it to work properly with Vista, but other have had success. It was last updated to work with XP.

The following instructions apply to VISTA 32-bit.

_____________________________________________________________________

There is a way to make the ThinkVantage button open programs, open multiple programs, or hibernate after completing a clean install. Thanks to Bighaugs (who started the thread and was the original poster for the question) and Erik from thinkpads.com (who explained exactly what to do to run programs) and Hellbore and Cherude (who expanded on the idea to make the button control hibernate and possibly more). I’m only compiling the infomation they described in one place in case someone wants to try this and add functionality to the big blue button. I’ll try to explain Erik and Hellbore’s instructions here in case Mikeeeeee’s utility find doesn’t work or you want an alternative. You can see the original instructions posted HERE

One advantage of creating a batch file and registry key is that you are able to open multiple programs with the push of just one button. Also, If you have the 'Thinkpad Power Manager' software installed, you can use the batch file to power off the display and lock the workstation (same as Fn + F3). You can even create a batch file to make the laptop hibernate.


The blue button can be programmed to run any executable file as long as you have the ‘hotkey utility’ installed. It’s owned by the hotkey features located in the registry at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY. Follow the instructions below to set it up to open notepad – if you want to use the Thinkvantage button to open a software program or hibernate, skip down to the next set of instructions:

_____________________________________________________________________

Make The ThinkVantage Button Open Notepad

Notepad.exe is the easiest to set up to open because you don't need to create batch files. You are only creating registry key (8001) that doesn't exist anymore because you performed a clean install.

1. Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

2. Paste the following text:



Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="C:\\Windows\\notepad.exe"



3. Save the file anywhere and name it whatever you want, but change the file extension from “.txt” to “.reg”

4. Open the .reg file you just saved and…walla, use the big blue button to open the notepad program.

_____________________________________________________________________

Make The ThinkVantage Button Open Any Program

If you want to open any .exe program, you need to create a batch file in order to make it open smoothly without error. Follow these steps to create a batch file, then create a registry entry to make the ThinkVantage button point to that program:

1.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

2.Paste the following text (I used the path to IE, but you can replace this with any path you want):


@echo off
cd "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer"
start iexplore
cls


3.Name the file as “runapp.bat”

4.Save the file in the following location: C:\


*Now you need to create the registry code to point to the above batch file*


5.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

6.Paste the following text that points to the batch file just created:



Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="c:\\runapp.bat"



7.Save the file anywhere and name it whatever you want, but change the file extension from “.txt” to “.reg”

8.Open the .reg file you just saved and use the big blue button to open the.exe program you specified in step 2.

If you want to change the program that opens with the blue ThinkVantage button, you only need to edit the batch file and not the registry. Right click on the .bat file and select ‘edit’. Just follow the pattern by changing the path to the application you want next to ‘cd’ and make sure to add the name of the application after the word ‘start’

_____________________________________________________________________

Make The ThinkVantage Button Open Multiple Programs Simultaneously

You can make the ThinkVantage button open multiple programs at the same time. Follow the instructions above, except at step 2 use the following batch code (replacing the path for whatever programs you want to control):

@echo off
cd "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer"
start iexplore
cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12"
start WINWORD
cls

You get the idea if you can follow the pattern and keep adding as many applications as you want. They will all open simultaneously.

_____________________________________________________________________

Make The thinkVantage Button Control Hibernate

(from post #27) If you want to make the ThinkVantage button put the laptop into hibernate mode, you need to create a batch file just like above. Follow these steps to create a batch file, then create a registry entry to make the ThinkVantage button point to that program:

1.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

2.Paste the following text:


@echo off
shutdown /h


3.Name the file as “hibernate.bat”

4.Save the file in the following location: C:\


*Now you need to create the registry code to point to the above batch file*


5.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

6.Paste the following text that points to the batch file just created:



Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="c:\\hibernate.bat"



7.Save the file anywhere and name it whatever you want, but change the file extension from “.txt” to “.reg”

8.Open the .reg file you just saved and use the big blue button to open the.exe program you specified in step 2

Note: These instructions are only valid for Windows Vista. Windows XP does not have the shutdown hibernate command.

_____________________________________________________________________

Make The thinkVantage Button Control Shutdown and Turn Off

(from post #30) If you want to make the ThinkVantage button put the laptop into shut down and turn off, you need to create a batch file. Follow these steps to create a batch file, then create a registry entry to make the ThinkVantage button point to that program:

1.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

2.Paste the following text:

@echo off
shutdown /s /t 5

Obs: t 5 means 5 seconds, the laptop will start to shut down and turn off after 5 seconds you press the ThinkVantage button. You can increase/decrease this time as you wish.

3.Name the file as “off.bat”

4.Save the file in the following location: C:\

*Now you need to create the registry code to point to the above batch file*

5.Open notepad (Start > Accessories > Notepad)

6.Paste the following text that points to the batch file just created:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]
"File"="c:\\off.bat"


7.Save the file anywhere and name it whatever you want, but change the file extension from “.txt” to “.reg”

8.Open the .reg file you just saved and use the big blue button to open the.exe program you specified in step 2

Note: These instructions are only valid for Windows Vista. Windows XP does not have the shutdown hibernate command.

_____________________________________________________________________

If you have the 'Thinkpad Power Manager' software installed, you can also use the batch file to power off the display and lock the workstation (same as Fn + F3) by using the following code:

@echo off
cd "C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities"
start PWMOSDV
rundll32 user32.dll, LockWorkStation
cls

Keep in mind that the above only works for 32-bit Vista. If you are using 64-bit Vista OS, the path will be slightly different. For 64-bit OS, you should replace (cd "C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities") with (cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\ThinkPad\Utilities").

_____________________________________________________________________

If you want to edit the registry, you can go to Start and type “regedit” in the search field. Once there, expand the folders to find [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM\TPHOTKEY\8001]. Right click ‘file’ and select ‘Modify…’ From there, you can point the value data to any executable program (like Notepad) or batch file you want.

In other words, you can create a batch file to run an application and hibernate and keep them in the "C:\" location. Use the steps above to point to whatever you want the button to control by entering c:\\runapp.bat or c:\\hibernate.bat in the registry.

_____________________________________________________________________

I should probably write a disclaimer that says that messing with your registry is not advised if you’re not comfortable with computers. You could mess it up more – so don’t do it if you think you’re going to blame me. You can probably tell from my posts that computers aren’t exactly my forte, but I was able to handle it by following simple instructions. In short - if I can do it, anyone can do it. Please let me know if there are any mistakes in the instructions I wrote above or if there is any way I can make it more clear.

 

love to hear this too...

see this thread...

 

I saw that thread too, but no one could help.

I can see that some people know that the ThinkVantage button is fully configurable from looking at a website at: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_get_special_keys_to_work but it’s waaaay beyond me and I’m lost after that.

Does anyone have the expertise to say how it’s configurable?

 

Pretty sure that link is all for linux on ThinkPads, not windows.
This one has a section relating to the ThinkVantage button under XP or 2000 (scroll down a bit), but nothing for Vista..
Might be worth a look to see if it's the same Registry Key though.

 

The website you mentioned contains instructions for Linux, not Windows. That is why it looks so difficult .

 

Ok, just had a rummage in my registry, there's nothing in there relating to the thinkvantage button that I can find.
Really need somebody that hasn't done a clean install of Vista to look and see what's in theirs I guess.

 

The registry key for the Thinkvantage in Vista is definitely NOT the same as that in XP, so that page in ThinkWiki is not a help.

 

Thank you Tim, that link is a good find. It looks like it's at least possible - but, how do you find the thing that controls the button?

If I removed the Productivity Center then there's nothing pointing to the button that I can change, correct? If true, is there a small utility that can find the blue ThinkVantage button and allow me to configure it any way I want?

Or maybe I'd have to load Productivity Center so the computer knows the button is there, disable Productivity Center, and change something in the registry that tells the button what to open (like described in ThinkWiki)? Would that even be worth it?

Those are a lot of questions - but I'd like to at least know if my thinking is correct before I start messing around too much. It seems like a simple thing, but it could be an interesting challenge to anyone with more expertise.

 

@ickysmits - you might have more luck with a question of this caliber over on the thinkpads.com forum. No offense to anyone here. I don't know the answer either. The bad thing about thinkpads.com is they don't seem to get the same volume of traffic as notebookreview, but there are some very witty folk over there. If you ever come up with an answer to the question make sure to share it with the rest of us.

 

http://www.schlackman.org/programs/thinkpad.html

Works on a T61, pretty sweet considering it's four years old. This utility only reassigns the thinkvantage button...which is what this thread is about, so here it is. I mapped it to run the utility, but you can make it open any application, in addition to a shutdown, resart, etc.

Theres also the IBM util, which does other stuff.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-67288