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Volume and Eject Keys No Longer Work After Boot Camp 2.1 Update

Earlier this evening I allowed the Apple Software Update app in Windows to update Boot Camp to version 2.1. I allowed the computer to restart following a successful installation of the update. I've restarted two more times since then. Ever since the update (including before the computer restarted for the first time following the update), the volume and eject keys on my keyboard don't work. I also have an Apple Wireless Keyboard (one of the 2003-2007 era white/clear ones) and it exhibits the same problem. Both keyboards otherwise work fine. The computer also otherwise works fine, and there's no evidence of any driver problems.

Some other potentially relevant information:
1- The Boot Camp icon is no longer present in the Windows System Tray.
2- The Boot Camp Control Panel is still present in the Windows Control Panel and it works fine.
3- All settings in the Boot Camp Control panel are unchanged from their defaults. In particular, I have confirmed that "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" is still unchecked.
4- The Windows Device Manager properly recognizes both keyboards as Apple Keyboards.

I'm using Windows Vista Ultimate on an early 2008 MacBook; system specs are in my signature. Any ideas?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and double-thanks if you can respond with any suggestions!

Macbook, Black, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB HD, Mac OS X (10.5.2), iPod touch 16 GB; iPod 4G 20GB; Airport Express

Posted on Apr 24, 2008 11:46 PM

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Posted on Apr 25, 2008 7:54 PM

Same for me too.

Thinking it was a windows problem, I ended up formatting and reinstalling windows another three times, applying BC 2.1 each time. Each time, the eject and volume keys did not work.

Running out of ideas, I finally decided to install then reinstall the BC 2.1 update and everything works again.

So, in my case I need to install the 2.1 update then re-install it again and then it the keys work.

Hope this helps.
12 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 25, 2008 7:54 PM in response to jrkagan

Same for me too.

Thinking it was a windows problem, I ended up formatting and reinstalling windows another three times, applying BC 2.1 each time. Each time, the eject and volume keys did not work.

Running out of ideas, I finally decided to install then reinstall the BC 2.1 update and everything works again.

So, in my case I need to install the 2.1 update then re-install it again and then it the keys work.

Hope this helps.

May 17, 2008 7:13 PM in response to jrkagan

I have a very similar setup: Early 2008 MacBook, Windows Vista Business. I no longer see the Boot Camp icon in the system tray, and the volume and brightness keys no longer work after installing BootCamp 2.1 update. I'm downloading the BootCamp 2.1 update again now. I'll post in a few minutes if it worked.

May 25, 2008 7:45 AM in response to jrkagan

I had the same problem after I updated to 2.1 and then to xp service pack 3,

My Solution,
The icon in the system tray is called KbdMgr.exe located in 'c:\program files\boot camp' if its not there try a search on its name.
Once found double click and the icon appears in the system tray, try the volume, eject and brightness keys on the keyboard to see if this solve the problem.
If when you do a restart and the icon doesn't appear then it will need to be applied to the startup menu.

Let me know if it helps

Message was edited by: microlock

Jun 6, 2008 10:27 PM in response to microlock

Ah, the joy of working with computers...:( Apparently, from my woes with the same problem, the Apple Keyboard Manager is rightfully entered into the Run directory in the Windows registry at HKLM/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run.

Why it doesn't start I still have to find out, but this may be because I have Parallels Workstatio installed as well and switch back between a virtualized Windows and a Bootcamp Windows. However, after installing Bootcamp 2.1 first and then SP3 IN THE BOOTCAMP ENVIRONMENT everything seems to work, except the Energy Options taskbar icon and Apple Keyboard Manager.

Will keep you posted on any progress I make.

Apple Support, BTW, was absolutely abysmal, with them even refusing to accept the ticket at all, on the grounds that they have no knowledge about Windows. Apple, get your support fixed!

Volume and Eject Keys No Longer Work After Boot Camp 2.1 Update

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