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Jun 28th, 2003
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Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

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I have a Design Concepts(TM) for your Macintosh sleek profile keyboard. It's distributed by CompUSA and hence purchased from CompUSA (SKU 299283).

Needless to say, it's USB and I hooked it up to my iMac running OSX (Jaguar 10.2) The regular keyboard functions perfectly (and it's sooooooooo comfy) but the four multimedia keys don't work - 3 volume controls and the cd-rom eject key. I installed the OSX drivers that came on the included CD and the installer says it was successful. However, the multimedia keys still don't work. When I went into the system preferences thingie and clicked on Login Items, my keyboard was listed there without a check next to it. I checked it, restarted, and still nothing.

Can anyone please help me in solving this dilemma? It's very important because the non-functioning eject key on the keyboard is the only way I can seem to open and close my cd-rom drive!

However, the keyboard is soooo comfy and just about the best I've ever used. I really want to get it to work. Right now I actually have both keyboards connected to my iMac. This problematic one to use, and the default iMac keyboard just so that I could use the eject key. (Needless to say, that keyboard comes with the same four media buttons which work right out of the box without any 3rd party software, etc.)
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Jun 29th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Well, I figured out the problem, and now I just need a solution. When I install the keyboard drivers in the original OSX, it works perfectly, no problems.

When I upgraded to OS 10.2 (Jaguar) it didn't work at first. I re-installed the keyboard drivers, but still no go. Then, I unplugged the keyboard and plugged the old one back in, and it gave me an error with choices to use the keyboard driver, fix the keyboard driver, or not to use it. I chose fix and use. Then, the original keyboard stopped working and the one I wanted to work started working. Goodie!

But then I ran System Update software to upgrade to OS 10.2.6 and once I did that, it stopped working again. Now I don't know if there's any way to get it to work again.

Apparently the drivers aren't Jaguar compatible. What can I do to fix this??
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Jun 30th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Well, I figured some other things were screwed up as well, and, coming from the Windows world that I do, I took the time to reformat. I ran the iMac system restore CDs to restore my computer back to OS X. Then I installed the keyboard drivers as they were meant to be installed, and they worked flawlessly. Then I ran the Jaguar update CD to upgrade to OS 10.2 (Jaguar). When I got back into the operating system, it gave me the same message about "fixing" the keyboard security settings, and now it works. I'm afraid to run the system update because that is what screwed everything up before. In any case, I reinstalled all my programs and everything works now, so I'm pretty happy.
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Jun 30th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Can ya take a pic of the keyboard? I really want to see what it looks like. lol
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Jul 1st, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

It looks a lot like the standard iMac keyboard (translucent white mac-style design). It's just that the keys are slightly bigger and deeper and not as soft a touch. Is it just me or is the default iMac keyboard just a slightly oversized laptop keyboard for ultra miniature fingers?
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Jul 1st, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

As mentioned previously, the upgrade from 10.2 to 10.2.6 screwed up the keyboard drivers. While browsing the apple.com website about the 10.2.6 upgrade, I came across the following information:

Installation
You may experience unexpected results if you have installed third-party system software modifications, or if you have modified the operating system through other means. This precautionary statement does not apply to the normal installation of application software.

I guess that explains my problem. But does anyone know exactly what changes were made to the operating system when installing the keyboard drivers, so I could install this upgrade and then do a manual "fix" for the keyboard drivers?
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Jul 7th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Is there a particular folder that the keyboard mapping or keyboard drivers, etc are stored? This way I can create back-ups, do the update, and then manually copy them back into the folder if they were written over during the update?
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Jul 7th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Aaaahhh! Brilliant idea .... really.

Most OSX apps store drivers in either the preferences folder under the individual user name or in the system folder. But 8 out of 10 in the preferences folder. I would use Finder and search out all the references to your keyboard and determine where it may have been inserted. If the keyboard had it's own install software - there is still a chance it may have tucked away something in the system folder. Otherwise, they usaully go straight to the preferences folder. OSX is so much different than windows in that thrid party apps can install in a variety of places and still be functionable. But those darn updates will get you every time.....
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Jul 7th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Oooh I'm one step ahead of you. Last week, when I was all frustrated trying to figure this out, I did a search and found a few files containing all of the information about the keyboard I use buried in the system folder (in extensions or something??)

But this is my first time using OS X and I'm an inexperienced mac user. I wasn't sure if maybe it scattered its drivers in multiple locations on the drive, etc.
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Jul 7th, 2003
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Re: Can't get multimedia keys to work on mac keyboard

Extensions would be correct.

And then there was this one time - at band camp.... well, forget it.

Ya know, it's hard to be a know it all if your going to be continually one step ahead of me. :oops:
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This thread is more than three months old

No one has posted to this discussion for at least three months. Please let old threads die and do not reply to them unless you feel you have something new and valuable to contribute that absolutely must be added to make the discussion complete. Otherwise, please start a new thread in this forum instead.
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