XPS M1210: Media buttons freeze my system

[kramerica]

After doing a fresh install of Windows, everything was working great - even the media buttons on the front. However, recently they have started acting screwy. If I press any one of them, they won't light up and the system will freeze - and NOTHING can unfreeze it except holding the power button for 5 secs.

So is there some software or a driver that would help me out ? I find this especially odd since they were working as recently as 2 days ago, and I haven't made any significant software installs that would compromise their functionality.

And oddly enough, they work beautifully under Ubuntu. (Another of the many reasons I'm thinking of dropping windows altogether :) )

[galahad05]

The only advice that I can give is: run diagnostic software on your machine. Plus, take a look at your events log--this is Windows XP logging what it sees as problems (warnings, errors, notes). Maybe you will get lucky and find an entry that shows the problem...

[PEBKAC]

system restore did nothing?

[chaitanyak]

Did you install Dell Quickset?

[galahad05]

^Not installing Quickset would make the buttons not work, not hard-lockup the system...

[kramerica]

Well here's a bit more evidence to help figure this out.

Firstly, the computer doesn't actually hard-lockup, per se... The mouse still moves, alll the processes I was running still run, but I can't control anything. None of the programs will accept keyboard input or respond to being clicked or ALT+F4.

Secondly, I got a new keyboard - wireless logitech - and turning the volume knob on there ALSO causes the system to go nuts.

And lastly, when I shut of my computer I get a window that says 'Ending Program - Explorer.exe' and the option to end now. ?!

[Yoob@NBF]

wow considering all the hassle if this were my notebook it would have gotten the wipe. You wouldnt have anything actively running to cause all this mess would you?

[T4K]

Maybe you shouldn't install pirated versions of windows. Which I did and it started acting like 'shit'. So I put the restore disk in and it fixed everything. Since media center is windows xp pro.

[kramerica]

I have nothing actively running which could affect this AND i am running a fresh NON-PIRATED install of Windows XP Pro.

I did use the System restore to rollback a fair bit after installation. I'm just gonna assume that contributed to the problem.

That said, these two tiny problems aren't enough of a hassle to me to bother reformatting again. Was just hoping someone could point me to a quick fix. :)