[nabs-l] Computer keyboard trouble

[Rania]

That's interesting. I have a dell labtop and have never herd of an FN key 
before.
Rania,
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Computer keyboard trouble


> Sydney,
>
> Most laptops have the ability to have the keys you mentioned used as a 
> sort of numeric pad.  You almost certainly accidentally turned this 
> feature on by accident.
> How this feature is activated varies some from computer to computer.  It 
> is even different between models from the same company.  For example, 
> different models of
> Dell computers are different.  However, here is an overview of how it 
> generally works.
>
> Usually a laptop has an "FN" key which is a sort of shift key that makes 
> your keyboard behave differently when the key is held down.  It acts as 
> sort of another shift
> key.  Normally, it provides access to keys that may not be on your 
> physical keyboard and it also controls laptop functions as well.  For 
> example, on my Dell laptop,
> pressing the LEFT and RIGHT ARROWS with the FN key down makes them act as 
> PGUP and PGDN.  The UP and DOWN ARROW keys with the FN key held
> down make my screen brighter or darker.  When I hold down my FN key, the 
> keys you mention become a numeric keypad, but normally they return to 
> normal when I
> let it up.
>
> Generally, the FN key pressed with function keys controls a number of 
> laptop functions and particular keys.  Unless you can see your screen or 
> have someone
> handy to look at it, I wouldn't experiment with these because there is 
> usually one that turns off the sound.  However, one of these function 
> keys, together with the
> FN key, likely acts as a NUM LOCK key.  In the case of a laptop, this NUM 
> LOCK key turns on the use of the keys you mention as a numeric pad even 
> when the
> FN key is not pressed.
>
> If you have your manual or know the exact model number of your computer, 
> you need to find out which key combination creates the NUM LOCK key. 
> There may be
> a manual on your computer.  Finding that combination and pressing it again 
> should correct it.  If you remember when it started, you might be able to 
> make an
> educated guess as to what you pressed.  Still, your best bet is to know 
> for certain if you can find the documentation.  On my computer, the NUM 
> LOCK key is
> emulated by FN with F4.  I can accidentally hit this combination when 
> pressing CONTROL F4, for example sinct CNTRL is right next to my FN key. 
> I use that as an
> example, though, don't assume it is F4 on your computer.  <smile>
>
> I hope this background helps you find an answer.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> On Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:10:24 -0500, Sydney Walker Freedman wrote:
>
>>Greetings!
>
>>For some reason, my laptop keyboard is acting strange.  I do not have
>>it set to laptop mode and have a num pad connected to it.  However,
>>the letters m, j, i, u, etc. are registering as numbers even when JAWS
>>is off.  I can't type anything properly because of this problem.
>>Nothing seems to be awry in any keyboard settings, so I have no idea
>>why this is happening or how I can fix it.  (At least I have a
>>BrailleNote. :) ) Any thoughts?  Thanks!
>
>>Pax,
>>Sydney
>
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>
>
>
>
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