[nabs-l] Computer keyboard trouble

[Sydney Walker Freedman]

Yes.  i did know of the laptop keys being able to switch, but i
couldn't figure out how I had actually switched them.  I tried the fn
key and such and then finally figured out that there is actually a
numlock key to the left of my insert key.  :)  So, problem solved!

Sydney

On 4/10/09, Rania <raniaismail04 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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