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    Is it possible to invert the function keys?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by jaidanwolf, Mar 22, 2009.

  1. jaidanwolf

    jaidanwolf Newbie

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    Hi guys, I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop and am trying to get used to the new keyboard (my old laptop was a Dell as well but had a different setup). I was wondering if it's possible to invert the function keys...right now, I have to do Fn+F5 to refresh a webpage and this is a bit annoying since my old laptop refreshed simply using the F5 button. On this keyboard, the F5 button adjusts screen brightness, which is not something I'm interested in using much.

    So my question is, is there a way to toggle between the function of the function buttons? Invert them when I want and then switch back when I'm done with my website work? Any info would be great. Thanks in advance!
     
    jaidanwolf, Mar 22, 2009
    #1
  2. whizzo

    whizzo Notebook Prophet

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    there's probably an easier way, but Microsoft's Keyboard Layout Creator would do the trick.
     
    whizzo, Mar 22, 2009
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  3. jaidanwolf

    jaidanwolf Newbie

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    Hmm...I was hoping for a simple toggle option and would rather avoid any additional downloads. But I'll look into that suggestion, thank you!
     
    jaidanwolf, Mar 22, 2009
    #3
  4. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    What model Inspiron? F5 to refresh a page should refresh the page withouth the FN key
     
    millermagic, Mar 22, 2009
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  5. jaidanwolf

    jaidanwolf Newbie

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    Inspiron 1545. My old laptop was an Inspiron 6000, and yes that was able to refresh with F5. But on this one, the F5 button is set to primarily be a screen brightness adjuster and the F5 button is the function option.
     
    jaidanwolf, Mar 22, 2009
    #5
  6. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Something is weird with your laptop. It should not be doing that.
     
    nizzy1115, Mar 22, 2009
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  7. JohnBraham

    JohnBraham Newbie

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    Relax, you can invert the function keys in the BIOS setup.

    While it's booting up tap the F2 key (i don't think you need to press FN at the same time) and it will go into a setup screen with a tree view selection on the left, one of them will give you the option to toggle the F keys behavior.

    The way it's behaving at the moment is normal, factory default behaviour.


    John Braham,
    Analyst Programmer
     
    JohnBraham, Mar 30, 2009
    #7
  8. jaidanwolf

    jaidanwolf Newbie

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    Thank you! I knew it wasn't abnormal (not sure why the above poster interpreted it that way) since the keyboard is set up for the F keys to be secondary. I just prefer it to be the other way around so thanks a lot for telling me how to sort that out, things are much easier now! I do a lot of html and having to hit function+F5 to refresh every few seconds was really a pain. Glad to be back to normal.
     
    jaidanwolf, Mar 30, 2009
    #8
  9. Fragilexx

    Fragilexx Get'cha head in the game

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    I do not understand why Dell ship the notebook in this fashion without telling people how to swap it round; but c'est la vie
     
    Fragilexx, Apr 17, 2009
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  10. Cammerv8

    Cammerv8 Notebook Consultant

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    i think is kinda OSX like
    you know macs are as simplistic as you can get so Fkeys are volume brightness and so and so.
    when i used my friends 1545 i got used to it right away. and she isn't complaining. but shes only using it for chat and facebook so not much of an Fkey users!!

    i think the new studio 1555 is layout this way too, so i think is gonna become a trend of dell
     
    Cammerv8, Apr 18, 2009
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  11. KingRaptor

    KingRaptor Notebook Evangelist

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    More than a few people will try to Alt+F4 and find some weird behavior before realizing what Dell pulled... :rolleyes:
     
    KingRaptor, Apr 19, 2009
    #11