>>>>> David Wright <[email protected]>: > Acting as hot-keys (usually configured to require holding Fn, though > not in your case), they would typically produce a variety of outputs > in xev, varying from KeyPress/Release, through Focus*/Notify* etc, > to nothing. Nothing is where the action is dealt with entirely by the > firmware, with no need to inform the OS. (My keyboard backlight > hot-key, Fn-F5, behaves like that.)
Hm... trying F1 suspends the computer, no events in xev F2 toggles wifi and bluetooth, and events in xev F3 display darker, FocusOut, FocusIn and KeymapNotify in xev F4 display brighter, lots of events in xev F5 not sure what the hardware operation is, but lots of events in xev F6 switch display to HDMI (I think), no events in xev F7 toggle touchpad on and off, FocusOut, FocusIn and KeymapNotify in xev F8 toggle keyboard backlight on and off, no events in xev F9 toggle speaker on and off, FocusOut, FocusIn and KeymapNotify in xev F10 lower speaker volume, FocusOut, FocusIn and KeymapNotify in xev F11 increase speaker volume, FocusOut, FocusIn and KeymapNotify in xev F12 not sure what hardware operation is "Scr Lk" but lots of events in xev Also Fn has no events in xev at all. Its neighbours Ctrl, Windows and Alt has full event activity. Hm... could it be as simple as the Fn key being physically broken...? The key doesn't feel stuck in any way...? This wouldn't explain the unknown BIOS password, but that doesn't have to have happened now. I haven't tried to enter the BIOS since 2024 and so the password could have been set any time between then and now. > Again typically, the BIOS /swaps/ whether holding Fn yields F1 … F12 > or their hot-key equivalents, but doesn't turn either mode off. > (Of course, the OS could ignore F1 … F12 altogether if it so wished.) Right. But to be able to use the keys the OS have to get some events. And right now that doesn't seem to happen for the Fn key and some of the function keys... or have I misunderstood? > As for resetting the BIOS to eliminate mobo password(s), the "easiest" > way I know of is to completely discharge the mobo power. With a > laptop, the "ease" depends on how straightforward it is to remove the > battery, and coin cell where fitted. (That could involve finding a > competent person to do it for you.)¹ > Having done that (with AC power disconnected of course), it remains to > discharge the so-called flea-power by holding down the power key for > as long as you can. A couple of minutes should suffice, but YMMV. > When you reconnect the battery, passwords stored on the mobo should > have been reset (along with things like the RTC). Yes, this is one of the approaches I have found on the internet. Other approaches, are: - Intentionally lock the BIOS by typing wrong password three times and use one of the unofficial unlock generators [1], [2] (Acer washes its hand of this issue, which seems to be a common one. But... seems dodgy...? ) - Flash firmware modification, which requires a Windows installation I no longer have[3] - There seems to be two ways of draining the battery but unknown BIOS password doesn't seem to be listed as one of the causes for doing this [4] So far I have stayed away from these since the risk of bricking an otherwise functioning laptop far outweighs the nuisance of losing the Fn key (which may even not be connected in case it is the key itself that has stopped working...? How likely is that?) > ¹ There may be reset pads: jumper pins have disappeared AFAICT as > devices get ever thinner. Ditto coin cells. Insert disclaimers > re loss of warranties, risk of damage, etc. I think the warranty went away when I scrubbed Windows and installed debian just after purchase in 2022. Thanks! - Steinar References: [1] <https://www.biosbug.com/acer/> [2] <https://bios-pw.org/> [3] <https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Remove+a+BIOS+Password+From+Acer+Laptops/112250> [4] <https://community.acer.com/en/kb/articles/75-how-to-reset-the-internal-battery-on-your-acer-laptop>
