Make laptop function keys behave like desktop function keys

[Mark Tangard]

Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are extremely basic --
we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that on the nearby desktop PC,
specifically the function keys (F1, F2, etc.). Dell has a different idea, and we
find we must hold down Fn before pressing any of the function keys to make them
recognized for their usual (as in: desktop PC) function. Is there some simple
adjustment to make this happen? TIA.

 

[BillW50]

In news:etOdncSdoNOc97XRnZ2dnUVZ_qwAAAAA@speakeasy.net,
Mark Tangard typed on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:23:09 -0800:
> Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are
> extremely basic -- we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that
> on the nearby desktop PC, specifically the function keys (F1, F2,
> etc.). Dell has a different idea, and we find we must hold down Fn
> before pressing any of the function keys to make them recognized for
> their usual (as in: desktop PC) function. Is there some simple
> adjustment to make this happen? TIA.

Are you sure that is a Dell laptop? As the only ones I know that does
this is those Dell netbooks. And no, you can't change it because it is
firmware coded into the BIOS. So the only way around it (besides not
getting a Dell netbook) is to use an external keyboard.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Windows XP SP3

 

[Mark Tangard]

Ah yes, sorry, it's the sub-laptop variety (their "mini"). Bummer. (We do
already have an external KB for home, but that's no fun to take on a plane...)
Thanks.

BillW50 wrote:

> In news:etOdncSdoNOc97XRnZ2dnUVZ_qwAAAAA@speakeasy.net,
> Mark Tangard typed on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:23:09 -0800:
>
>>Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are
>>extremely basic -- we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that
>>on the nearby desktop PC, specifically the function keys (F1, F2,
>>etc.). Dell has a different idea, and we find we must hold down Fn
>>before pressing any of the function keys to make them recognized for
>>their usual (as in: desktop PC) function. Is there some simple
>>adjustment to make this happen? TIA.
>
>
> Are you sure that is a Dell laptop? As the only ones I know that does
> this is those Dell netbooks. And no, you can't change it because it is
> firmware coded into the BIOS. So the only way around it (besides not
> getting a Dell netbook) is to use an external keyboard.
> --
> Bill
> Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Windows XP SP3

 

[BillW50]

In news:w9GdnWL9vrzPVLXRnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@speakeasy.net,
Mark Tangard typed on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:09:48 -0800:
> Ah yes, sorry, it's the sub-laptop variety (their "mini"). Bummer.
> (We do already have an external KB for home, but that's no fun to
> take on a plane...) Thanks.

Yes, really no fun on a plane for sure. I did see a mini external
keyboard on eBay that looks interesting. Although I don't think it would
be a lot of fun on a plane either. But probably better than a regular
keyboard. There are others selling this one too and I just grabbed this
one as an example.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-Size-USB-RF-Wireless-Keyboard-Trackball-Mouse-/150461210957

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Windows XP SP3

 

[Aaron]

> Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are extremely
> basic -- we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that on the
> nearby desktop PC, specifically the function keys (F1, F2, etc.). Dell
> has a different idea, and we find we must hold down Fn before pressing
> any of the function keys to make them recognized for their usual (as in:
> desktop PC) function. Is there some simple adjustment to make this
> happen? TIA.

First, I do not have a netbook, but I googled and did some searching and
found this, I hope this helps:

"Regarding the function key behavior on the Dell Mini 10 and 10v, there
is a setting in the BIOS setup, under the "advanced" tab for changing
the function key behavior between "multimedia" and "function". This was
one of the first things I went looking to change and I was pleased that
it was there."

Found here:
http://www.liliputing.com/2009/09/dell-inspiron-mini-10v-review.html
in the comments near the bottom; comment made by 'Phil'.

--

I'm glad my Mom named me Aaron,
That's what everybody calls me.

 

[Mark Tangard]

Aaron wrote:
>> Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are extremely
>> basic -- we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that on the
>> nearby desktop PC, specifically the function keys (F1, F2, etc.). Dell
>> has a different idea, and we find we must hold down Fn before pressing
>> any of the function keys to make them recognized for their usual (as in:
>> desktop PC) function. Is there some simple adjustment to make this
>> happen? TIA.
>
> First, I do not have a netbook, but I googled and did some searching and
> found this, I hope this helps:
>
> "Regarding the function key behavior on the Dell Mini 10 and 10v, there
> is a setting in the BIOS setup, under the "advanced" tab for changing
> the function key behavior between "multimedia" and "function". This was
> one of the first things I went looking to change and I was pleased that
> it was there."
>
> Found here:
> http://www.liliputing.com/2009/09/dell-inspiron-mini-10v-review.html
> in the comments near the bottom; comment made by 'Phil'.
>
> --
>
> I'm glad my Mom named me Aaron,
> That's what everybody calls me.

Wow! Thanks for this, Aaron. That fixes it just fine... and so easy.

MT

 

[Richard Bonner]

Mark Tangard (mtangard@speakeasy.net) wrote:

> BillW50 wrote:

> > Mark Tangard typed on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:23:09 -0800:
> >
> >>Laptop newbie here. Our needs for our Windows (XP) laptop are
> >>extremely basic -- we just want its keyboard to act exactly like that
> >>on the nearby desktop PC, specifically the function keys (F1, F2,
> >>etc.). Dell has a different idea, and we find we must hold down Fn
> >>before pressing any of the function keys to make them recognized for
> >>their usual (as in: desktop PC) function. Is there some simple
> >>adjustment to make this happen? TIA.

> > Are you sure that is a Dell laptop? As the only ones I know that does
> > this is those Dell netbooks. And no, you can't change it because it is
> > firmware coded into the BIOS. So the only way around it (besides not
> > getting a Dell netbook) is to use an external keyboard.
> > --
> > Bill

*** There may be a CMOS function to change this.


> Ah yes, sorry, it's the sub-laptop variety (their "mini"). Bummer. (We
> do already have an external KB for home, but that's no fun to take on a
> plane...)

*** You might look into a folding or roll-up keyboard.

--
Richard Bonner
http://www.chebucto.ca/~ak621/DOS/