"Fn" key on a keyboard

Edward · Joined: 01 Dec 2002 Posts: 3075

I have a keyboard that has an Fn key on it. The description on the box states that pressing it with one of the F keys from F1 to F8 will control the repeat speed of the keys, and with F12 will lock the keyboard.

The Fn key does not appear to be doing anything when held down, as the F keys work like normal F keys. F1 as well as holding down Fn with F1 brings up a Help function.

I have seen references to this key pertaining to the Mac, and on some non-Mac notebook computers.

For such a key to work, could it possibly be BIOS-dependent, or perhaps only works with certain types of programs??

Ed

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows 98; U) Opera 7.01 [en]

SillyDog701 Moderator
User of SeaMonkey under Mandriva Linux.

terra · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 59

My mom's got a Memorex "spillproof" keyboard with a key that locks the keyboard. I must have hit it accidentally, and was going nuts for a while trying to figure out what happened.

That keyboard also has a battery compartment sort of hidden on the underside. I think it takes 2 AA batteries. There's nothing in or on the box that explains what you gain by installing batteries. Confused

Maybe your keyboard requires batteries for the Fn function?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01 (Compact)

Edward · Joined: 01 Dec 2002 Posts: 3075

No batteries, just a regular keyboard that plugs into a PS/2 port. Since the PC has an AT connection for a keyboard, I have to use an adapter for it.

I'm going to try it on a different computer today, if it works as intended on that, then I'll know perhaps my system doesn't like it. If it doesn't, then it's defective and will be returned.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01

SillyDog701 Moderator
User of SeaMonkey under Mandriva Linux.

Edward · Joined: 01 Dec 2002 Posts: 3075

terra · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 59

A google search for "Fn keyboard" got tens of thousands of results. Some pertained to emulating Windows key functions on a Mac, some were about remapping notebook keyboards, and on... and on...

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01 (Compact)

Edward · Joined: 01 Dec 2002 Posts: 3075

I ran a similiar search and came up with more or less the same results.

I have another keyboard which has a "Turbo" key on it, in the same position as the Fn key, and it does the same, hold it down, press F1 through F8 and it speeds or slows the repeat, except F11 is for the keybord lock, and that key worked, so I'm thinking that perhps the Fn key is not working, and would have to return this for another.

UserAgent: Opera/7.01 (Windows 98; U) [en]

SillyDog701 Moderator
User of SeaMonkey under Mandriva Linux.

Fulvio · Joined: 19 Jun 2002 Posts: 10431

Edward · Joined: 01 Dec 2002 Posts: 3075

terra · Joined: 02 Jan 2003 Posts: 59

The Memorexes (got 2) were free after rebate from Best Buy, and they're pretty decent. I got a free Belkin keyboard too, from CompUSA, and it's barely even worth free. That reminds me, I also got a free Belkin mouse from CompUSA, and I returned it! Not worth a postage stamp to get the rebate. Laughing

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:1.0.2) Gecko/20021120 Netscape/7.01 (Compact)

Chiefshredsonax · *Fred* Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Pennsylvania

I am having the same problem. Im operating an HP notebook and my fn key doesnt work. When I try to brighten my monitor (fn+f1) it brings me to Help and support (f1). Im guessing that theres some way i turned off the fn function, but i cant find any information anywhere on how to fix it. my internet search brought up your thread though. If you figure out how to fix it, or anyone else does, please email me! chiefshredsonax@hotmail.com. ill be checking back here also and let you know if I figure it out.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.0.3705)

mmsc19274 · *Mike* Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

I've inherited a Time Laptop Sad

The Fn Key appears to be switched on all the time. I have to srike the Fn key to get the usual operation of the keys which have functions on, rather than striking the Fn key to get to the function. Can anyone help? I'd like to be able to switch it over.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; DigExt; SV1)

Mike

Antony · Joined: 18 Jun 2002 Posts: 11834

Josh · Joined: 21 Jun 2002 Posts: 683

Speaking from a Mac POV, the fn key on my iBook seems to override the function the key is for for another. Example: since I upgraded to Tiger, I use the fn key + F12 to open up Dashboard (it's currently used to eject the CD drive).

I don't know about PC laptops, but this is how my Mac works.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.8) Gecko/20051111 Firefox/1.5

Josh
SD701 Moderator
User of Firefox

2.0 on

HoshieMix on iTMS (USA)

slim · *01 Oct, 2006 10:47 am* **FN key**

my acer 4000 laptop has a FN key to brighten the screen you press the right arrow or left to fade it slim

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1; BTOW; InfoPath.1)

off for a nap now.j.

PaulD · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 523

The Theory of Evolution, as it applies to Keyboards:

First there were Letter keys and Digit keys. Then there quickly developed the Shift key. These were called Typewriter.

We'll skip telegraphs and teletypes.

When paper was no longer the medium, it was necessary to develop the Insert, Delete, arrow, etc. keys

When Computers came along, soon there grew the Alt- key, because the Letter (and Digit) keys didn't have enough to do. Then came Program Function keys (later renamed as Function keys (F1 ... F12 [... F24 on some keyboards])).

Keyboards were now approaching their maximum utility size, so the Ctrl- key grew. It is possible to use all three of these simultaneously, it is up to the OS to interpret or pass to an application the key(s) pressed. But, generally, BIOS has reserved to itself the Ctrl-Alt-Del combination, although that can be redefined sometimes.

With small computers and limited keyboard geography available (notebooks, laptops), the numeric key pad has been mapped to a section of the letter keys, and other key usages also have been doubled-up. Enter the Fn key (not to be confused with the F1-F12 keys), which is used for additional functional controls. These are hardware manufacturer / BIOS - dependent, not OS defined. On some computers the Fn key engraving is in blue, and the Fn-functions of the keyboard keys also are in blue, above/below/on-the-keyfront of the 'regular' definition in white.

Recalling that the Fn key is for hardware configuration controls, some Fn functions are: Screen intensity, external monitor control, speaker volume. Thus, refer to the User manual, or possibly to the manufacturer's Help files on the computer, for the usage on your specific system.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.7) Gecko/20060909 Firefox/1.5.0.7

	Forum Index > Windows (and Microsoft talk)	All times are CST (GMT -6)
page 1 of 1