My computer responds like the Fn key is permanently 'on'

[TOM ???]

Since this morning my pc is responding like the Fn key is permantly being
pressed. The only way to type is to press the Fn key. It is like the
function of the key has been reversed.

 

[Echo S]

Since this morning my pc is responding like the Fn key is permantly being
pressed. The only way to type is to press the Fn key. It is like the
function of the key has been reversed.

It may be stuck. Do you have another keyboard around you can try? If it
works okay, chances are you need to either clean your keyboard or get
another.

 

[magrat_garlick]

It may be stuck. Do you have another keyboard around you can try? If it
works okay, chances are you need to either clean your keyboard or get
another.

Echo (I take it your mother had a thing about Greek goddesses...? Not that
Echo was a goddess, depending on whether you read the Greek or Latin text,
she was a nymph) the only time I've ever seen a Fn key was on a laptop - and
it's going to be a helluva job at no modest expense to replace the built-in
keyboard. The OP should, as you suggested, just use an external board to work
around the problem.

 

[Echo S]

Echo (I take it your mother had a thing about Greek goddesses...? Not that
Echo was a goddess, depending on whether you read the Greek or Latin text,
she was a nymph)

Nah, comes from a really early Warren Beatty movie -- All Fall Down. But my
mom's name is Cassandra, so the mythology connection works, too.

the only time I've ever seen a Fn key was on a laptop - and
it's going to be a helluva job at no modest expense to replace the built-in
keyboard. The OP should, as you suggested, just use an external board to work
around the problem.

I dunno how expensive it is to get a laptop keyboard fixed. I know I was
with Beth Melton once when she was having problems with her laptop keyboard
and correctly diagnosed a stuck ALT key. It may have still been under
warranty, but I don't remember her saying it cost an arm and a leg or
anything.

I guess it depends on the laptop in question. <shrug>

 

[Rob Giordano \(Crash\)]

I usually turn mine upside down and hit the bottom with a mallet, that
usually shakes all the cornflake crumbs out of it.

 

[Keme]

Since this morning my pc is responding like the Fn key is permantly being
pressed. The only way to type is to press the Fn key. It is like the
function of the key has been reversed.

Sounds to me like an electronics problem. Maybe the keyboard controller
got the triggering reversed for some reason. Try resetting: Turn the
computer off, disconnect from external power and remove the battery.
That should remove any electrical hangups. Power up again and see if
it's resolved.

If it's mechanical error, and cleaning doesn't fix it, don't despair. On
the portables I've worked with, changing the keyboard wasn't that
difficult. Try looking for latches round the edge of the keyboard. On
many computers you don't even need any tools. (Finding a replacement
keyboard can be harder in some cases.)

 

[iporta]

Sounds to me like an electronics problem. Maybe the keyboar
controller
got the triggering reversed for some reason. Try resetting: Turn the
computer off, disconnect from external power and remove the battery.
That should remove any electrical hangups. Power up again and see if
it's resolved.

If it's mechanical error, and cleaning doesn't fix it, don't despair
On
the portables I've worked with, changing the keyboard wasn't that
difficult. Try looking for latches round the edge of the keyboard
On
many computers you don't even need any tools. (Finding a replacement
keyboard can be harder in some cases.) *

I had the exact same problem (keyboard responding like the Fn key i
permantly being pressed) and this solution worked for me. I took ou
the battey, replaced it and powered up, and the problem was fixed.
Thanks for saving me a call to tech support


-
iport

 

[Jay Kay]

I had a similar problem, but it was my ctrl button and the tech people
told me it'll cost $80+ to get a new keyboard for my laptop.

So I made an order for parts, but then went back to my laptop,
unplugged it, took out the battery, popped the cap, cleaned the area
with a compressed-gas duster and placed the little piece of rubber that
came off under the transparent film (hard to understand, I know...I am
not being very technical) and voila! My key is no longer being
registered by my laptop as being pressed down.

Now I can use that $80+ for something more fun!

 

[Beth Melton]

I dunno how expensive it is to get a laptop keyboard fixed. I know I

was
with Beth Melton once when she was having problems with her laptop
keyboard
and correctly diagnosed a stuck ALT key. It may have still been
under
warranty, but I don't remember her saying it cost an arm and a leg
or
anything.

That was fun, wasn't? We had to hold the ALT key if we wanted to do
anything on the computer. lol

You remembered right - thankfully it was still under warrenty so they
replaced it. They (Dell) sent me a shipping box, I removed the HD put
it in the box and called for a pick-up. I got it back in about two
days.

~Beth Melton