Keyboard F8, F9, F10

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Level 1

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Keyboard F8, F9, F10

Hi
fairly new to macs but pick up things real quick, just need to shown once and i'm away. i have 2 really simple questions that i am sure will get inundated with the best way to fix, so here goes
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1. on my keyboard the function keys F8, F9, F10 did light up and dim the keyboard keys, these no longer work. when you press F8 it brings up the superimposed rounded corner square or but it has a white no entry symbol at the bottom indicating its not on or activated. F9 and F10 behave the same. i would like to restore these keys functions, how?
also lets say i am using an application that happens to use one of the function keys like F8, how do i tell the mac when and when not to apply built in functions, how does mac know, F8 = dim keys or F8 = custom macro in FCP?

2. when installing software i have noticed that some programs automaticlly install to "Applications", some others prompt you as to where you require the installation and others install a wired kind of memory card looking file to the desktop. i just downloaded and installed latest firefox however this has installed to the desktop rather than applicatos, i dont want to install to the desktop, i want to install to my hard drive how do i tell the mac to do this?

hope that makes sense, as time goes on and i pick up the mac termonology im sure i will be advising and helping out too.

thanks v much

powerbook g4 17" Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 22, 2006 5:01 PM

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Answer 1

Tuttle

Level 7

29,553 points

Jun 22, 2006 8:10 PM in response to tsediting

it has a white no entry symbol at the bottom indicating its not on or activated. F9 and F10 behave the same. i would like to restore these keys functions

Go to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Keyboard and make sure that the box, 'Illuminate keyboard in low light conditions' is checked.

using an application that happens to use one of the function keys like F8, how do i tell the mac when and when not to apply built in functions,

In the same pane of System Preferences, check the box, 'Use the F1-F12 keys to control software features.' This will require that you press the fn key and the appropriate F key when you want to control hardware features (volume, brightness, etc.).

2. See this document for information on how and where to install third-party software via CD/DVD, disk image files and drag and drop.

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

733,445 points

Jun 22, 2006 8:17 PM in response to tsediting

1. Does this article contain anything useful?

2. It depends on the mechanism used for the installation. When you get an item which creates a new icon on the desktop, open that icon and drag the application inside to the Applications folder to open it there, or double-click the item which has an icon looking like a package if there is one.

(13447)

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Answer 3

Jun 24, 2006 6:39 AM in response to tsediting

Hello

Welcome to the Mac world. 🙂 I "converted" over a few years ago, and have never looked back. Let me see if I can help with part of your question #2:

"...and others install a wired (sic) kind of memory card looking file to the desktop".

OK - my guess here is that you are downloading a "disk image" - the file extension should be .dmg - while I don't know the technical stuff, I do know that a disk image is (among other things) a file format - and it will mount on your desktop with a "memory card looking icon" and that you can open it up as you would any other disk. From there you can install your program, or even run it from there, though you should properly install the application first. And while I don't use Firefox, I know that Safari can be setup to automatically mount these disk images for you, so that way when you download the file, the icon automatically appears on your desktop (check under Preferences in the Firefox menu for something that looks like "Open Safe Files After Downloading" to turn this on/off).

hope this helps
Richard

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