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    fn key

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by afinch1992, Jun 10, 2010.

  1. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    Ive been searching for hours and can not find anything that works. i have an alienware m11x and it has various functions on the f keys, like screen brightness and sound. is there any way to have those be the priority over the f1-12 keys? i had a macbook pro before this and really liked the way it was on it
     
    afinch1992, Jun 10, 2010
    #1
  2. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    Install Dell Quickset and toggle the option there. If you don't like Quickset, go into the BIOS and toggle the option there. If the option doesn't exist in either of those, you could try to remap the keys, although I haven't used any remapping programs recently so I couldn't suggest a good one.
     
    woofer00, Jun 10, 2010
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  3. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    coolguy, Jun 10, 2010
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  4. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    thank you guys. ill try both of those out and see

    well i couldnt get the dell thing to work, cause i have windows 7. key tweak almost worked, but when i press the one to change the screen brightness, it only shows the thing on the screen, but will not actually move the brightness. there has to be an easier way to just switch the functions
     
    afinch1992, Jun 10, 2010
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  5. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    You need to install the software that came with your laptop for the Fn key brightness control. Use can control brightness with Win+X keys too by launching Windows mobility center.
     
    coolguy, Jun 10, 2010
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  6. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    no, its working fine right now if i do the fn and then f4 or f5, but when i try to switch the fn and f keys, it wont change the brightness.
     
    afinch1992, Jun 10, 2010
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  7. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    would there be a way to have the fn key be locked as on? it only controls those functions on the f1-12, so locking the fn in on would probably be easier
     
    afinch1992, Jun 10, 2010
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  8. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    quick set hides in the mobility center in win7. i still suggest checking the BIOS though. I can toggle fn-* either way on my Studio 1558, so I'm guessing the option should be available with the M11x since they're somewhat in the same release cycle.
     
    woofer00, Jun 11, 2010
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  9. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    woofer00 is right. It is a bios option that controls this.
     
    Trottel, Jun 11, 2010
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  10. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    i wen thru the bios atleast 3 times. there was nothing about the keyboard or anything

    i went thru the bio 3 times. theres nothing on the keyboard even in there
     
    afinch1992, Jun 11, 2010
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  11. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    I just went through the manual and you're right. I wonder why Dell is taking a step backward with this?

    You should complain and maybe they'll add the option in a future bios update.
     
    Trottel, Jun 11, 2010
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  12. afinch1992

    afinch1992 Notebook Consultant

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    maybe. im going to try online support and see if i can get a complaint going
     
    afinch1992, Jun 11, 2010
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