[nabs-l] Computer keyboard trouble

Tue Apr 14 04:02:30 UTC 2009

IN my experience, the Fn key has always been the second key to the left

On Fri, Apr 10, 2009 at 5:35 PM, Rania <raniaismail04 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Glad to see you were able to fix it.
> Rania,
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sydney Walker Freedman" <
> freedmas at stolaf.edu>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 6:08 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Computer keyboard trouble
>
>
>  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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