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    Not so documented Fn keyboard functions / tricks

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by gaah, May 31, 2010.

  1. gaah

    gaah Notebook Deity

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    I've been trying to track down all the special key combinations for the Studio XPS 1645 for awhile. There's a couple I came across and can't figure out what they do, and I think there's some advanced diagnostic and settings you can change with them. Here's a few I've came across:

    Fn+Power button = Power on and immediately run startup diagnostics program
    Ctrl+Alt+Enter = Same as F2
    Fn+F1 = Same as F2
    Ctrl+Alt+D during boot = Run hard drive test
    Ctrl+Alt+F10 during boot = Boot utility partition
    F3 during boot = Boot PXE/LAN
    Ctrl+Alt+F8 = Same as F12
    Ctrl+Alt+\ or Ctrl+Alt+# = ???
    Fn+X = Turn off manufacturing mode/enable normal operating mode (how to enable manufacturing mode?)
    D+Power = Some type of special boot mode, maybe for diagnostics (still trying to find out how and what it does).
    Fn+D = Turn off display
    Fn+H = Turn off hard disk?
    Fn+Z or some other key combination = Does something to disable certain CPU features, such as interval timer. Not sure of exact key combination. Must re-flash BIOS with clear cmos option to correct unless you know the right key sequence to toggle it.

    On some Dell minis/netbooks, Fn+Z and Fn+X act as F11 and F12 keys.

    Haven't confirm XPS 1645 supports:

    Fn+F10 = eject CD
    Fn+End = Disable internal speakers
    Fn+H = Turns hard disk off
    Fn+A = Suspends to disk/hibernates
    Fn+left arrow = decrease contrast
    Fn+right arrow = increase contrast
    Fn+F3 = Display battery status
    Fn+F7 = Toggle expanded and regular video mode
    Fn+F5 = Toggles regular and reverse video mode in text video mode
     
    gaah, May 31, 2010
    #1
  2. chewyeong90

    chewyeong90 Notebook Evangelist

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    I tried Fn+D but it doesnt turn off the display -.-
     
    chewyeong90, May 31, 2010
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  3. gaah

    gaah Notebook Deity

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    i'm looking for more documentation on it, there's all sorts of key combinations...

    Fn+D does something but doesn't turn the display off here....

    I just updated the list and didn't confirm a bunch of combinations, and the descriptions might be wrong because they work differently on some Dell models....

    There's some keys like Fn+F7 that changes the aspect ratio or scaling mode on some Dell's, Fn+right/left might adjust different light sensors and LEDs on some models, .... there's many different things, but it's hard to find any documentation ..
     
    gaah, May 31, 2010
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  4. JKleiss

    JKleiss Notebook Evangelist

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    Power + D does a display diagnostics
     
    JKleiss, May 31, 2010
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  5. funky monk

    funky monk Notebook Deity

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    Fn+Esc puts it to sleep
     
    funky monk, May 31, 2010
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