HowTo Fix Fn-F5 toggle on Eee PC running Windows XP
Written on November 4, 2008Reading this article could make you the lucky reader of the month if you Subscribe by Email.
Since I now have a Live Ubuntu Eee on my 8GB SDHC, I headed and installed Windows XP on Eee 701 that I own. I was able to grab a USB to IDE cable from Brando and installing the XP with an external DVD drive was a breeze. After installing all required drivers and the ACPI, everything works except the FN+F5 key which is used to toggle/extend the display to another monitor or a projector. I had no internet connection while I troubleshoot but I was still lucky to figure out how to fix it. Trials and Errors was effective that time.
I initially installed the Intel Graphics Driver that comes along with the Asus Eee PC restore CD, but it only supports up to 800×600 resolution with no scaling. So the whole Desktop doesn’t fit very well on the small monitor, thus, scrolling is required to go end-to-end on the screen. FN+F5 works prefectly during with this driver. Then I updated the driver with Intel Embedded Graphics Driver that supports scaling and the problem occurred.
Problem:
igfxext.exe not running. FN+F5 will be disabled.
It took me a while before I finally figured out a technique and I hope this might help you too in case you run the same problem.
- Install the original driver back. The FN+F5 will work again, but the resolution is quite big for the screen (not scaled).
- Run the “Setup.exe” of the IEGD driver but select Uninstall Driver instead of directly overwriting the existing one.
- Restart Windows XP
- When XP boots up again, it will prompt you for Graphics Driver. This time, follow the installation wizard but point the driver to use the IEGD.
- Graphics driver will be successfully installed with scaled resolution, and the FN+F5 still works.
Another problem that might happen to you but so unlikely is that the Eee PC Tray Utility won’t allow you to select a different resolution. Just make sure that your monitor uses the Plug n Play driver and not the ones with specific resolution. e.g Dafault(800×480).
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