I am running Windows 7 on an HP Vision laptop. The model is Pavilion dv6 (full name: Pavilion dv6-2010us Entertainment Notebook.)


Hi. I just got a new laptop about a week ago. I use it for a variety of things but one of those is gaming. Unfortunately, the fn key make it harder for me to play. As in several games, the f keys (f1, f2, ETC) are used for hot key skill bars. My problem is that on this laptop the f keys only work like that when pressing the fn key. If I don't press the fn key, a different effect takes place. For example, my f3 key brightens the screen when fn is not held. My f10 increases volume and f11 mutes. All 12 have a different function when fn isn't pressed. I've never had a laptop before (my old comp is a 2005 windows XP Emachine desktop) but I used my mom's a bit and I know that fn causes different functions. However, on my mom's laptop the f keys work as f keys when the fn button is NOT held and affect volume and other things when fn IS held. In other words, the exact opposite of mine. This presents a problem in gaming as I have to either hold the fn key down a lot or click the hotkey bar ICONS which is much slower.

My question is, is there a way to toggle fn key functions or to change it in anyway so I can access the f keys more easily?

I have tried repeatedly searching the internet, checking the manual that came with the computer, checking the help sections in my computer, and look around in the control panel but I can't FIND anything about it. I was able to find some info when looking on the internet but it involved a num lock key which my comp doesn't seem to have. I only see a caps lock. No num or scroll lock.

Here is a picture of my laptop's keyboard. I'm sorry it's a bit blurry. It was the best picture I could get. http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1589/1000551e.jpg

I understand it's a bit hard to see the key names in that picture. I'll type in the name of every key, if need be.

Please & thank you.I seem to remember my laptop doing the same THING when I got it. I think the setting for it was in the bios.
Start up your laptop and hit F2 or Del when the laptop first starts up and before windows starts. There is usually a prompt for it. Browse through the bios and look for SOMETHING that relates to Fn or function keys.Thank you very much for your fast response! The problem has been solved now.

I tried doing f2 like you said and I came on some different menu thing where all I could click to test certain system things. I did see the message about hitting f2 before I did it as well. However, I could find anything on the fn key. I tried again, planning on trying delete, but I noticed a different message this time that said to press escape for system menu. It was here that I found a way to reverse the fn key functions so that the f keys are the default.

This will make playing games much easier. Thank you so much!my Fn key is locked on. How do I make it function only when I need it?