[SOLVED] Volume key malfunction

Hello, all. I have recently ordered a ThinkPad, and I love it. Recently my volume keys (only up/down, not mute) decided not to work. I have been unable to identity any changes in my setup that would account for such behavior. I finally restored the main functionality of my media buttons by mapping those keys to the command 'amixer set Master 5%+-' with ccsm. While adjusting the volume, however, this workaround doesn't let me know what the actual volume is. I used to have a little black OSD appear to let me know how far my volume was, where as now I am shooting in the dark. Does anybody happen to know how I can invoke the media controller directly, or perhaps why my keys have stopped working? Of course I'll be happy to supply any docs/info requested.
Thank you for taking the time!
Last edited by hamroctopus (2012-10-18 13:33:57)

Amazing! I was able to fix my problem thanks to the pointer.
After reading this thread [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1175368], I was able to downgrade the following packages and regain the use of my function keys and dialog boxes:
xf86-input-evdev (2.7.3-2 -> 2.7.3-1)
xf86-video-intel (2.20.9-2 -> 2.20.9-1)
xorg-server-common (1.13.0-2 -> 1.12.4-1)
xorg-server (1.13.0-2 -> 1.12.4-1)
Thanks for the help everybody. Wait a few days before going with the latest xorg-server.
Last edited by hamroctopus (2012-10-18 13:47:02)

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Problem with the volume keys on my keyboard.

Hey everybody,
I have a problem with the volume keys on my keyboard. This started a couple days ago and I can't seem to figure out how to fix it. When I press the volume up or down buttons, the graphic appears on the screen as it normally would, but has no effect on the volume of the sound coming out of my speakers. Therefore, the only way to change the volume of music or whatever I am listening to is to use the volume control within the program/website itself (itunes, youtube, etc.) Even changing the volume on the volume icon at the menu bar on top of the screen does nothing. If anyone has an idea of how to go about solving this issue, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

First look into the Preference > Sound > Outpur whether internal Speakers are choosen.
The only Preference to delete I can discover is com.apple.systempreferences.plist in your home Library folder. You can try to move it out to the desktop for example, not to loose all your settings. Restart and see whether the problem still persists. If you don't know how to do this here some Terminal (Applications > Utilities) commands. Enter them by copy and paste followed by <enter>
mv ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist ~/Desktop/
restart
to get it back:
mv ~/Desktop/com.apple.systempreferences.plist ~/Library/Preferences/
confirm with "y" if you are asked to replace this file.
marek

Up volume key no longer working after 10.3.1

Since OS update on Passport to 10.3.1.1581 the up volume key no longer works in an app. I first noticed it while watchin a YouTube video in browser, then in Neutron music player then the Music app. The button works fine to advance songs (long press). At first I rebooted and it seemed to work, then it stopped.
Then I noticed that it works on the home screen just not in any apps. It's a pain to have to exit the music app, go to the home screen to increase volume.
Down volume and pause/assistant works fine. Up button works fine in Camera to take shot.
Have rebooted many times since upgrading.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Paul
Torch 9810; PlayBook 64g; iPad1 64g; iPad2 64g; iPhone6 64g Passport
Provider Bell (tablets all WiFi)

Try reloading the 10.3.1 update again just in case something in the update went wrong.
Also, are you updating through BlackBerry link or over wifi or cellular? I always reccomend updating through BlackBerry link just to prevent a corrupt update in case the signal drops. BlackBerry link will greatly reduce the chance of a corrupt update as long as the USB cable is not disconnected.
Good luck and keep me posted.
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2. If a post has solved your question, please click ''accept as solution'' to verify your question has been solved.

Brightness, media, and volume keys broken

I am at my wit's end trying to restore functionality to my special keys on my late 2007 macbook running OS X 10.6.8.
Some time two days ago something happened and now suddenly I cannot use the mute key (F10), the volume keys (F11, F12), the brightness keys (F1, F2), or the media keys (play/pause (F8), forward (F9), rewind(F7)). Probably the media eject key is non-functional too, but I'm afraid to put in a CD and test it in case I can't get it out.
Interestingly, the exposé "all windows" button (F3) works fine, as does the dashboard button (F4).
I think I instigated the problem installing and poorly uninstalling logitech command center or maybe somehow poorly uninstalling logmein.com sound drivers, but that's just guilt by association AND I've tried everything I can think of in terms of uninstalling those apps, reinstalling them, and carefully uninstalling them correctly. Still, my half-baked best theory of what happened is that the logitech software reassigned some key functions somehow.
I am using a logitech K750 external keyboard and a M510 mouse via a unifying receiver. The keyboard is the version intended for a PC but was working pretty fine on my macbook (windows key worked as command key, Fn+volume keys worked as expected). I installed Logitech Control Center (LCC) for Macintosh because I wanted to adjust the horizontal scrolling via the mouse wheel (it was way too fast for my tastes). Installation of LCC prompted the keyboard setup assistant ("Your keyboard cannot be identified..."), even though I was only interested in adjusting the mouse and the keyboard was working fine. I ran through the setup assistant as instructed. Roughly since then, I've lost volume adjusting functionality on both the external (logitech) and built-in keyboard as well as all the other functions mentioned on the built-in keyboard.
I've been obsessed with this the last day and a half with no luck. Here is a pretty comprehensive list of what I've tried to fix the problem, though I may forget something since I've done so much:
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-use a different user account.
-SMC Reset
-PRAM reset
-Safe mode
-System preferences reset/ inspect all settings related to keyboard, universal access, text to speech according to the numerous help files I found online. (yes, I unchecked "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys"
-turned off all google chrome background apps and inspected the key bindings of all chrome extensions.
-Removed Cache folder from library folder.
-removed recently installed software that I suspected might be related, reinstalled, re-uninstalled.
-installed OnyX and run all the maintenance/restoration routines I saw in it that didn't sound too scary.
-Turned on keyboard viewer and verified that each guilty key is recognized by the system when I press it (they all are!).
No luck. I don't have a snow leopard install disk but I just bid on one on ebay because I'm starting to feel like my only option is a time-machine full system restore
Please help! I'm still holding out hope that there is some simple way to get under the hood and re-assign or reset the keys. I can't even figure out how to disconnect the logitech peripherals (keyboard and mouse), though I've removed all the logitech software I can find.

I have an early 2007 Mac Book Pro 17" and had to re-install OS X 10.6.8 because of some problems created while installing a 2nd operating system.
After installing 10.6. the screen brightness keys wouldn't work (F1 and F2), I tried updating to 10.6.8 that didn't solve the problem either.
I'm still having this problem and plan to try to fix it today. I had previously seen a link where someone was explaining which files or extensions in the Library folder/directory control those functions and to see if they were all present.
I will search for that link again as I forgot to save it. If that works i'll share the link with you later.

Nokia Lumia Black update broke volume key function...

Since I updated my Lumia 1020 to Nokia Lumia Black, the volume keys stop working while the phone is playing music from time to time.
It doesn't happen right after selecting the song or album, but after a while I try to + or - the volume and I see the volume indication on top of the screen going up or down, but the volume remains the same. If I stop the music and select another song it works again. So it has to do with continuous playing.
I have seen this issue reported in several other posts here and other websites, please tell me you are working on this. I can't believe my Lumia 1020, a VERY expensive phone and Nokia's flagship cannot change music volume with its dedicated keys.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Apparently after a soft reset the issue is no longer present.
I will keep trying it anyway since I have read that other people could not fix it with a soft reset.

Volume key on HP Pavilion dv7 stops responding from now and then, also issue with finger scanner?

First problem I've been having would have to be the finger scanner. I've only been using this to sign into Windows, but after a day or so of use it would occasionally stop responding (forcing me to sign in manually or reset to fix it).
For the Volume keys, I've been having trouble getting them to adjust the sound from time to time. Sometimes it works, others it wont (even though the icon screen appears showing they're being pressed, there's no change in volume). I'd end up having to bump the vol up or down manually in the bottom right corner to get it working again). But after awhile the issue ends up reoccuring again.
I can live with the finger scanning problem but this volume thing is starting to get to me.

Hello Laurie,
What is your product number and operating system? I'll send you a link to the steps to help get everything back, once I get this info from you.
Thanks!
↙-----------How do I give Kudos?| How do I mark a post as Solved? ----------------↓

HP Pavilion 500-009cb Volume Key (on keyboard)

What's up with the HP service on this bulletin??
I see all other posts being replied almost right away, but mine just keeps being ignored.
I can assure you this is not pleasant experience.
HP Pavilion 500-009cb Volume Key (on keyboard) Problem
‎08-28-2013 09:21 PM
It has been only 2weeks since I got the desktop.
The volume keys with speaker pictures stopped working, not to mention the mute key.
As well, the crescent moon sign beside the volume keys is not working as well.
Fn keys, for example, search button, work fine.
I believe I did two updates, because the system told me to do so when I turned off the computer.

Hello ellesense,
Please take a look at this document, which provides troubleshooting steps that I hope, helps to resolve your no-sound issue.
Let me know how it goes.
Also, your desktop should still be in warranty if it is only a few weeks old. You can call in and speak to a live rep.
If you live in the US, contact HP Here.
If you are in another part of the world, begin Here.
Good luck!
↙-----------How do I give Kudos?| How do I mark a post as Solved? ----------------↓

Keyboard volume keys no longer adjust

Using Mac keyboard that came with the Mini; until today the two sound keys above the numeric keys adjusted volume up/down. Today no effect. Icon in menu bar adjusts sound okay. I've check the various preferences including universal keys, display, sound and find nothing improper. Hummm
just had an idea. I''ll startup from an external drive that is a week earlier (before some updates) and see if that makes a difference before proceeding here.

Well, the situation solved itself. Opening to an external FW drive the volume keys worked perfectly. Restarted back to the internal HD and NOW they also work perfectly.
Significance?? temporary 'glitch'?? Who knows?

Hotkey driver 2.23 Windows 7 - Volume keys

I see that there is a new version of the Hotkey driver v2.23 that supports Windows 7 but it still doens't fix the issues I have with my T61p.
I don't get any on screen display when I press the hardware volume up or down keys, although those keys do work to change the volume in windows. Not a huge deal, but the latest version on the Hotkey drivers doesn't fix this at all.
The slightly bigger and more annoying issue is with the hardware mute key, this key will mute the audio (no on sceen indicator) but will not un-mute the audio. It also seems to mute the audio outside of windows, meaning the mute icon doesn't appear in the system tray and using the mute button or volume slider in the windows tray app does not make the audio come back. The only way to get audio back is by pressing the hardware up\down volume keys.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Found a soloution for this, in the On Screen Display tab found via the Advanced Settings for the Display Resolution, there was no font set, setting that makes everything work correctly, including making the mute key work.

Volume keys don't work anymore after Gnome 2.26 upgrade

I have two pc: a desktop and a laptop. The desktop doesn't have this problem. While on the laptop, a sony vaio fz21s, after the recent gnome 2.26 upgrade, the volume keys don't work. The osd appears on the screen but no change in volume is observed. Through the gnome-volume-applet i set "Principal" as main device. Controlling the volume with the gnome-volume-applet works.

ad1g3n wrote:I solve this problem with adding alsa to DAEMONS array in /etc/rc.conf
I have it too
My laptop works perfect, i need to solve only this

Volume Keys Laggy

Occasionally the volume keys lag, and are generally unresponsive. I will adjust the volume several times, and the volume will adjust delayed over the course of a minute or two.
Anyone else experience this?

You could try resetting your PRAM NVRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
see if this solves your problem.

The volume keys on my MacBook Pro stop working after using headphones.

The volume keys on my MacBook Pro recently stopped controling the volume after I've used headphones. I still have sound; I just can't make the volume increase or decrease. The mute, however, still works just fine. Because I have sound from the intenral speakers I know the computer doesn't think the headphones are still in the jack. A reboot fixes the problem, but as soon as I use headphones the problem starts up again. I want to fix this permanently.
I don't know if this helps but all the other keys (brightness, play/pause, etc) still work. I recently had to reset the PRAM because my computer refused to sleep when the lid was shut. I've checked system preferences and everything seems to be in order.
Can someone please help!?

I found this advice on another thread after encountering the same problem - I did the reboot and it worked fine and dandy!
I spoke with Applecare to fix my Macbook volume. Apparently there are pins inside the speaker/headphone jack that can get jammed. We fixed mine by doing some sort of reboot:
Turn off laptop.
Hold down the Option, Command, P, and R keys (all four at once, it's tricky!) and while holding down the four keys, turn on the computer. When you hear the second chime, release the four keys.
This re-set the sound toggle to internal speakers. Now I'm afraid to insert headphones again, but I assume this reboot will work over and over.

Sometimes volume keys or spaces don't work

Hi all,
A couple of months ago my macbook fell to the floor (something like 30-40cm fall). It didn't broke but the unibody frame got a bit dented by the zone it hit the floor (one of the battery corners).
From then on, I have noticed that, from time to time, when I boot the laptop, it sometimes:
a) boots slower.
b) volume keys stop working and I cannot access to the volume options via system preferences (I can open the system preferences window but when I select the volume pannel, it gets stuck)
c) Even if the ¿tap to click? option (first option in trackpad settings) is enabled, it doesn't work and I have to press the trackpad button.
d) Spaces shortcuts won't work. Spaces works (I have several desktops and moving from program to program changes my desktop), but neither of my shorcuts work (alt+arrows)
e) When I want to shut down the laptop and I push the power key it either doesn't show any shutdown dialog, or, if it shows it, I click shutdown and some programs close but some others (iCal, thunderbird, Firefox, and, eventually Finder) don't. I force exit them all, but, in the end, I'm stuck with a frozen Finder and I have to "hard-shutdown" (pressing the power button several seconds) the laptop.
It doesn't always happen, and not always with all the symptoms, but there are always a & e, and at least one from b,c,d. It began happening rarely, but during last week it happened 1/3rd of the time. My only workaround is to check if the volume keys work properly before I log in, in order to see if the system state is worth logging.
Any idea of what can I do?
Thanks in advance,
Txema

Try a SMC reset.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
You might also try A pram reset:
Power off the MBP Then power back up holding the following keys: option, command,P,R (no commas) continue to hold these keys till you hear the start chime 2 times then release.
Reboot.
Hope this helps

Volume keys not working on wireless keyboard

Hi guys!
My f10-11-12 keys are not working for volume purposes. I went into prefereces, keyboard, uncheck/check the "use F1, F2... blahblah" and the problem is still there.
I am using a macbookpro 13" 10.6.6.
By the way, if I try to do the same in the built-in macbookpro keyboard it works
This post did not help either https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2298682?start=0&tstart=0
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for asnwering... Yes, of course I have tried because is how it works
It could be that fn key does not work, but it isnt since If I uncheck the box "use fn key for f1 f2 standar.." the volume keys still not working.

Volume keys on wireless keyboard not working

I just re-installed Snow Leopard on my iMac (late 2009), and now the volume keys are not working any more. Now the volume down key brings up desktop, volume up brings up several gadgets... I can not upgrade OSx because somehow whenever I do it, it brick the iMac. So I have to figure something out without having to upgrade OSx. Any idea anyone? Thanks.

Hello yinming,
That should be fixed if you can get your iMac up to date. Try downloading the Combo update and install it that way instead of the traditional way through Software Update. The link below will get you started with downloading the install file and then launch it to update.
Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399
Regards,
-Norm G.

[SOLVED] Volume key malfunction

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