any way to work around a laptop without the *fn* key?

[Jay]

The Keyboard on my Dell laptop broke. Dell says it is the motherboard and a
replacement keyboard will not help. So I am using an external Keyboard.

Only problem is: There is no fn button on that, and I have no way to adjust
the screen brightness!

Any idea?

 

[Grand_Poobah]

--->

The Keyboard on my Dell laptop broke. Dell says it is the motherboard and a
replacement keyboard will not help. So I am using an external Keyboard.

Only problem is: There is no fn button on that, and I have no way to adjust
the screen brightness!

Any idea?

I don't know about Dell, but my Sony Vaio has both the Fn keys (on the
keyboard - which you can't use) but also has a icon down in the
notification area (near the clock) that allows me to use the mouse to
adjust color, contrast, brightness and a host of other things. Does
your laptop have this sort of thing? If not, then how about opening
Control Panel and looking for your graphics adapter (Intel, NVidia, etc)
and see if that has the required controls on one of the tabs.

GP

 

[Jay]

I have tried that. Unfurtunatly on Dell, there seems to be no other way of
doing it besides for the fn key. Not even changing the BIOS will work on this.

The only solution I see, is to buy an external keyboard which has the fn
key, which cost $99.99 at Staples!

 

[Grand_Poobah]

Bummer. I wonder if you can find the correct key code for the "Fn" key
using Alt-### on the keypad. It's a longshot at best. It could even be
that the "Fn" key on the 99 buck keyboard isn't the right code for your
Dell (unless you already checked).

GP

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