It seems the function key is stuck on my MacBook Pro keyboard

Question

It seems the function key is stuck on my MacBook Pro keyboard

I cleaned up my keyboard today and it seems that the Fn key is stuck. I can click on it, so I'm guessing nothing is stuck underneath it but as it seems its a software problem. All the F1 F2 keys, the Delete key and the Arrow Keys are working with their alternate functions ... Page Up, Page Down, actual Delete and not backspace ... when I activated in the Keyboard configurations the "use F1, F2, F3 keys as regular keys", they work as mac shortcuts (Brightness, Play/Pause, Expose and all that) this is obviously working agaisnt me and well, its almost imposible to ge used to such an arrangemente. PLEASE I need an answer since I've tried most of the answers , reboots and technical things but nothing has worked!!!

MacBook Pro (Late 2008), Mac OS X (10.6.3), Fn key

Posted on May 23, 2010 7:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

necronym

Level 4

1,434 points

May 24, 2010 2:39 AM in response to Miguel Angel Calabria

What did you use to clean your keyboard? How hard did you depress the keys when cleaning them?

If the function key is stuck (or shorted out?) you need to speak to Apple tech support, make an appointment with a Genius at your local Apple store or contact an Apple authorised Service Centre.

There are a number of things which could cause the problem you're experiencing, since it's apparently hardware based, you really need to speak to one of the above suggestions for further assistance or arrange a repair.

Reply

Answer 2

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 24, 2010 2:55 AM in response to Miguel Angel Calabria

Sorry mac2487, but I'm not clear about what you are saying here.

The keys have one function when the " "use F1, F2, F3 keys as standard function keys" is selected, and differently when it is not? But the selections are inverted from what you would expect? Is that what the problem is?

It is very unclear from your post what is happening with the fn keys when the "fn" key is depressed and what is happening when it is not depressed? If you could clarify this a bit it would make it much easier to give good advice about the matter.

Cheers

Rod

Reply

Answer 3

May 24, 2010 6:00 PM in response to Rod Hagen

What was happening was that the functioning of the Keys was backwards. They were working as if Fn was pressed all the time, and when I ACTUALLY pressed the Fn key, they work how they are supposed to work normally. My biggest problem was not with the Function Keys themselves but with the Delete and Arrow keys. Since the computer was working as if Fn was pressed all the time, I had Pg Up, Pg Down, End and Home activated on the arrow keys instead of their regular function. Fortunately, when my frustration got the best of me, I put the computer on standby by closing it and let it rest for about 4 hours, when I came back, it was extremely hot, but when I rebooted it ... the keyboard worked fine. Is it possible that the alcohol product I used to clean it was not well dried and the heat helped?

Reply