Function keys F1 - F10 not working in any case

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Function keys F1 - F10 not working in any case

Hello, I've a problem with my MacBook Pro 15" 10.4.11. Function keys f1-f10 don't work for brightness, volume etc. I remember that the bloc num F6 key became light green when pressed. Now it seems stuck and doesn't work at all. Then f12 activate dashboard and f11 exposeé. I tried everything, it's not a system pref issue....Help!!!

Thank you a lot!

MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Mar 12, 2008 2:32 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 12, 2008 5:09 AM in response to Wichwetyl

Welcome to the Forums!

I tried everything, it's not a system pref issue

I presume that 'everything' includes unchecking the box for "Use F1, F2 etc. keys as standard function keys" in System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard tab. With that checked, you need to use Fn+Fkey to control hardware. That checkbox only affects F1-F10, since F11/F12 don't have hardware associations.

Hope this helps...

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Answer 2

Wichwetyl Author

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Mar 12, 2008 6:59 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Yes, I ment exactly that checkbox....Volume, brightness, bloc num, F7, 8, 9 don't work either alone or using fn button.... Sometimes I use an external usb keyboard and mouse, maybe the os just get stuck and doesn't remember I'm not using them now! Is there any way to set things as original? Maybe a terminal command.....

P.s.: I didn't install any driver for ext keyboard..

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Answer 3

Wichwetyl Author

Level 1

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Mar 12, 2008 7:41 AM in response to neuroanatomist

No way after resetting PRAM. I noticed that, normally, when the checkbox isn't flagged, f12 is dashboard, f11 desktop and f10 shows the keyb light with a prohibition sign. Then if i check the box, f10 do exposeé... It seems a mapping problem..

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Answer 4

Mar 12, 2008 8:04 AM in response to Wichwetyl

The F10 issue you mention is not a mapping problem, most likely. F8 - F10 control the keyboard backlight, which is only active in very low light conditions (unless overridden by the 3rd party utility LabTick). So, unless you can see your keyboard lit up, pressing F10 will give you the prohibitory sign (so will F8 and F9). What happens with the box unchecked when you press F1 or F2?

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Answer 5

Mar 12, 2008 10:38 AM in response to Wichwetyl

So with the room lights off, after hitting F10 to bring the keyboard backlight up, F9 does not bring it down?

One more thing to try is System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard Shortcuts tab and click the Restore Defaults button, in case some remapping was done.

If the answer to the first question is yes, and the suggestion above doesn't help, it's starting to sound like a hardware problem.

You can test that by doing the following: System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard tab and check the box to "Use F1...". Then, go to System Preferences > International > Input Menu tab, and check the box next to Keyboard Viewer. A flag will appear in the menu bar, click that and select Show Keyboard Viewer, which brings up a keyboard image that shows keystrokes. See if the Fkeys flash when pressed (note that with the Use F1... box unchecked, they won't flash).

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Answer 6

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

Mar 21, 2008 4:10 AM in response to Wichwetyl

Mmm,

maybe, but I'd also be wondering about a Preference Pane or other system or Library issue.

Have you tried booting from an external HD with a "clean" system on it, or even from the MacOS dvd that came with your computer?

You might even simply try creating a new "user" and seeing if the problem occurs then.

Cheers

Rod

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