Moderated Problem with Function Keys
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Lori Lynn
Good Afternoon,
Let me start by saying that I’ve attempted to find the answer to my question without any success. The crazy part is I know I fixed this problem on my old laptop with a simple key stroke. Now I’ve got the same problem and can’t find the keystroke anywhere!
Most of my Function keys are not working as they should. Alt+F4 does close a file, but F7 does not perform spellcheck. When I searched I found instructions to change the bios, but I know that wasn’t what I did before. When I press F1, it does bring up a help screen.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lori Lynn
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Lori,
The key takeaway here is that we need to know what to do for the specific make and model of laptop you have at hand. There are a select few that allow toggling the function row keys from media keys/hotkeys via some keyboard-based method, but most do require turning that off in UEFI/BIOS and without knowing the make and model it is impossible to advise specifically, or further. -- Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044 Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. |
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Curtis Chong
Lori:
While I do not guarantee this procedure will work, you might try pressing the FN key with Escape. This is referred to sometimes as the FN lock function. It is unfortunate that a growing number of new computers these days are configured by default so that the function keys do not work as function keys by default. My preference is to avoid altogether the need to lock the FN key by asking the seller (and paying extra for this) to program the function keys in the BIOS to work as function keys. Remember, the FN Escape method may (emphasize may) not work on your system. This is merely one suggested approach to attacking the problem.
Yours sincerely,
Curtis Chong
From: main@jfw.groups.io <main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of Lori Lynn
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2022 1:17 PM To: jfw@groups.io Subject: Problem with Function Keys
Good Afternoon,
Let me start by saying that I’ve attempted to find the answer to my question without any success. The crazy part is I know I fixed this problem on my old laptop with a simple key stroke. Now I’ve got the same problem and can’t find the keystroke anywhere!
Most of my Function keys are not working as they should. Alt+F4 does close a file, but F7 does not perform spellcheck. When I searched I found instructions to change the bios, but I know that wasn’t what I did before. When I press F1, it does bring up a help screen.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lori Lynn
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K0LNY
Hi Lori Lynn,
I think you may get better info by including the
make and model of the computer, since the solution will vary between different
computers.
Generally, sometimes the FN key in combination with
the desired function key can make the F-key work as expected, until you get it
changed permanently.
HTH.
Glenn ----- Original Message -----
From: Lori
Lynn
To: jfw@groups.io
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2022 2:17 PM
Subject: Problem with Function Keys Good Afternoon,
Let me start by saying that I’ve attempted to find the answer to my question without any success. The crazy part is I know I fixed this problem on my old laptop with a simple key stroke. Now I’ve got the same problem and can’t find the keystroke anywhere!
Most of my Function keys are not working as they should. Alt+F4 does close a file, but F7 does not perform spellcheck. When I searched I found instructions to change the bios, but I know that wasn’t what I did before. When I press F1, it does bring up a help screen.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lori Lynn
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Lori Lynn
My new laptop is an HP running Windows 10. My old one that had the same problem where the mystery keystroke worked was a Dell also running Windows 10. I realize I should know the models, but I’m sorry, I don’t. @jfw.groups.io <main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of Brian Vogel
Lori, Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044 Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. |
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Lori,
In this case, just knowing it's an HP is enough, since I have 4 HP laptops in my household (3 different models). Unless they've changed something radically, which I doubt, this is a settings change that requires getting into UEFI/BIOS. And since there is no screen reader assistance on any machine until the operating system itself has loaded and applications can be launched. The HP support page, HP Notebook PCs - How to lock or unlock the fn (function) key, gives detailed information on turning the hotkeys/action keys functionality off (or back on again) via UEFI/BIOS for the various HP laptop model ranges. -- Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044 Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. |
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On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 03:40 PM, Brian Vogel wrote:
And since there is no screen reader assistance on any machine until the operating system itself has loaded and applications can be launched.- That should have been followed by, "you are going to need a sighted assistant, and preferably one who is comfortable with tweaking UEFI/BIOS or perfectly OK about following the explicit instructions that HP gives." -- Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044 Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. |
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nocm@...
Hello Lori,
Depending on the manufacture of the laptop the steps to change the function
keys and how they act very. On Lenovo's FN + Escape toggles the function
keys from Function key mode to multi media mode. On other manufacture
models FN + Shift will change the setting and on some the only way to change it
is through the bios and the termonology that is used for the setting in the bios
changes from one manufactuer to the next.
On Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:17:15 +0000 "Lori Lynn" <grandma.lori@...>
writes:
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Lori Lynn
Thanks Everyone,
It looks like I’ll be visiting my local computer guy tomorrow. I made the assumption that this was an easy fix. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Lori Lynn
From: main@jfw.groups.io <main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of
nocm@...
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2022 2:51 PM To: main@jfw.groups.io Subject: Re: Problem with Function Keys
Hello Lori,
Depending on the manufacture of the laptop the steps to change the function keys and how they act very. On Lenovo's FN + Escape toggles the function keys from Function key mode to multi media mode. On other manufacture models FN + Shift will change the setting and on some the only way to change it is through the bios and the termonology that is used for the setting in the bios changes from one manufactuer to the next.
On Sun, 14 Aug 2022 19:17:15 +0000 "Lori Lynn" <grandma.lori@...> writes:
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On Sun, Aug 14, 2022 at 04:28 PM, Lori Lynn wrote:
I made the assumption that this was an easy fix.- It will be - for him. This takes less than 10 minutes, start to finish, if the machine is brought in a completely shut down state. Still likely less than 15 if he has to shut it down completely then power it up again and enter into UEFI. -- Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044 Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. |
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nocm@...
Hello Lori,
Until you get the function key fixed you can always hold down the FN key
and then hit the key combination that you want and it should work as a temporary
work around.
On Sun, 14 Aug 2022 20:28:09 +0000 "Lori Lynn" <grandma.lori@...>
writes:
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