What are the function keys on laptop - LATITUDE Dell Computers & Internet

You need to restart (to enter in BIOS) your computer to change this.
While first black screen comes Press F2 or del (this may differ in your laptop).

If you post exact type of laptop i can see what bios you have, but you can look for yourself for it.

If a bios screen (may be unknown to you) appear then find Function Key Behavior select Multimedia Key First or Function Key First.

Function Key First

This is the default option. Press any function key to perform the associated function. For multimedia action, press Fn + the required multimedia key.

Multimedia Key First

Press any multimedia key to perform the associated multimedia action. For function, press Fn + the required function key.

In the bottom-left corner of your keyboard, you'll see a key labeled "Fn". You must hold that key down while pressing the "F10" key or any other Function key to activate the Function.

Are you pressing the 'Fn' key (usually blue lettering) to the left of the space bar before trying the function key for brightness?

Laptop function keys are either set to function as regular function keys or as system specific function keys, like volume and brightness control, when the system starts up. When you hold the Fn key, it makes that key do 'the other' function. These settings can be changed in the BIOS, of EFI settings. Though changing them is easy, you may want a semi-tech-savy friend to help the first time.

All the best to you,
KerryHos

The purpose of a laptop's function key is to activate the secondary function of any dual-purpose key.

The function key can accidentally be locked into place if you hit the wrong combination of keys so that all of the keys only perform their secondary function.

The exact process for unlocking the function key will vary depending on the make and model of your laptop and whether you have recently used an external keyboard.

1
Check the manual that came with your laptop and locate the section on the function of each keyboard key.

Open a Web browser and navigate to the support section of the laptop manufacturer's website if you do not have the manual that originally came with your laptop.

Use the drop-down menus on the support page to choose the specific product line and then model of your laptop.
2

Click on the "Product Support" link and then navigate to the "Manuals" section of the page. Click on the link to open a PDF version of the manual for your laptop.

Browse down to the section about the functions of the keyboard keys.
3

Find the sequence of keys you need to press to unlock the function key on your laptop.
Press and hold the function key on the keyboard and then press the other keys required to unlock it.
4

Try using the most standard keyboard combinations if you don't have the manual or it does not give any information about the function key.

Press the function key and then the shift key and see if it successfully unlocks the function key. Attempt using the other standard keys in conjunction with the function key, such as the "F11," "F12" and "Ctrl" keys.
5

Plug a USB keyboard into the USB port on your laptop if you have recently used an external keyboard with the laptop.

Check the light above the "Numlock" key on the external keyboard and see if it is turned on. Press the key and make sure the light is turned off and then remove the keyboard to unlock the function key.

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/support
Acer Support

Step 1:
The purpose of a laptop's function key is to activate the secondary function of any dual-purpose key. The function key can accidentally be locked into place if you hit the wrong combination of keys so that all of the keys only perform their secondary function. The exact process for unlocking the function key will vary depending on the make and model of your laptop and whether you have recently used an external keyboard.

Check the manual that came with your laptop and locate the section on the function of each keyboard key. Open a Web browser and navigate to the support section of the laptop manufacturer's website if you do not have the manual that originally came with your laptop. Use the drop-down menus on the support page to choose the specific product line and then model of your laptop. Click on the "Product Support" link and then navigate to the "Manuals" section of the page. Click on the link to open a PDF version of the manual for your laptop. Browse down to the section about the functions of the keyboard keys. Find the sequence of keys you need to press to unlock the function key on your laptop. Press and hold the function key on the keyboard and then press the other keys required to unlock it. Try using the most standard keyboard combinations if you don't have the manual or it does not give any information about the function key. Press the function key and then the shift key and see if it successfully unlocks the function key. Attempt using the other standard keys in conjunction with the function key, such as the "F11," "F12" and "Ctrl" keys. Plug a USB keyboard into the USB port on your laptop if you have recently used an external keyboard with the laptop. Check the light above the "Numlock" key on the external keyboard and see if it is turned on. Press the key and make sure the light is turned off and then remove the keyboard to unlock the function key.
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The icons you see on the function keys only work if you press the Fn key (lower left of the keyboard). Otherwise, each key functions just as it should--as a Special function key with a number on it.

HOW-TO: Disable The Fn + Function on HP Laptops - HP Communities

h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/The-Next-Bench...Fn-Function-on-HP-Laptops/.../77527May 1, 2012 - On most HP and Compaq notebook PCs, it is necessary to press and hold the function key (fn) while pressing one of the f1 through f12 keys to activate ... Use the up-arrow or down-arrow keys to navigate to the Action Keys Mode option, and then press the "enter" key to display the Enable / Disable menu.

you can fix the problem by following the steps

1. tep 1 Check the manual that came with your laptop and locate the section on the function of each keyboard key. Open your web-browsing program and navigate to the support section of the website if you do not have the manual that originally came with your laptop (see Resources below). Use the drop-down menus on the support page to choose the specific product line and then model of your laptop.
   
2. Step 2 Click on the "Product Support" link and then navigate to the "Manuals" section of the page. Click on the link to open a PDF version of the manual for your laptop. Browse down to the section about the functions of the keyboard keys.
   
3. Step 3 Find the sequence of keys you need to press to unlock the function key on your laptop and note them down. Press and hold the function key on the keyboard and then press the other keys required to unlock it.
   
4. Step 4 Try using the most standard keyboard combinations if you don't have the manual or it does not give any information about the function key. Press the function key and then the shift key and see if it successfully unlocks the function key. Attempt using the other standard keys in conjunction with the function key, such as the "F11," "F12" and "Ctrl" keys.
   
5. Step 5 Plug a USB keyboard into the USB port on your laptop if you have recently used an external keyboard with the laptop. Check the light above the "Numlock" key on the external keyboard and see if it is turned on. Press the key and make sure the light is turned off and then remove the keyboard to unlock the function key.
   

thanks

If you connect the projector to the laptop and power up the projector first and then the laptop, the video data will automatically divert to the video port/projector .
On most Presario press the Fn key and the F4 key The function key will have a screen symbol printed on the key.

If you connect a laptop projector or external monitor before you boot up your laptop, the video most likely will go directly to that external device. To have both the laptop LCD and projector you will need to press the Function key that has the monitor/laptop symbole (this key will be a dual function key and you will need to press the Fn key first and then the Function key with the monitor/laptop symbole. This Function can be any key between F3 and F12, it depends on the brand of the laptop.
When you press this key it will toggle between
LCD only
External monitor/projector only
or both LCD and external monitor/projector