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How to swap the "Fn" and "Ctrl" Keys to their normal position....?

post #1 of 37
4/25/06 at 5:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hi
This "Fn" key in the "ctrl" keys place is really annoying me.
So I want to swap their places to the normal positions.
It's easy to remove the two keys next to each other and swap their places but how to I change the funktion of the keys?
Is there a way to swap the function of the "Fn" "ctrl" keys?
Or does something have to be changed in the bios?
Would a different xp keyboard driver from toshiba solve the problem?
Or does the original driver have to be changed?
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post #2 of 37
4/26/06 at 4:44am
Windows allows you to re-map characters via the registry. Due to the way that the mappings are stored, you'll want to use a utility program that you trust for this purpose. There are a number of them out there if you search the web for "remap keys Windows". Here's one: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C18...64194%2C00.asp

Hope that helps.
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post #3 of 37
4/26/06 at 5:10am
Theres so many complaints on the Fn key. I had to do a bios upgrade a year after i got my Sager 4080 to swap mine. I wonder why vendors still insist on putting the #@! Fn key on the bottom left.

Thanks for your pointer. Ill save it for my next laptop, which for sure will have the same problem.

Hey, PC Mag wants dollars for their little friendly switcher. Apparently Microsoft (of all) made an updated free utility for Win2K. I imagine it would work for XP as well. I havent tried it, but it was recommended in Annoyances.org.
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post #4 of 37
4/26/06 at 5:35am
Thread Starter 
Thanx for the Tip, I googled and found a couple of free dowload links to the program,
http://freyder.net/dist/trdkeys.zip
http://www.vegazone.com/atach/trdkeys.zip
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post #5 of 37
4/26/06 at 5:47am
Apparently the FN and specialist keys are not handled by the keyboard driver, but rather extra drivers developed by the notebook manufacturer. Hence remapping of the FN key will be tricky, as this one is seldom/never (?) included in the standard keyboard setup.

One may have to look for firmware and patches for ones particular model/brand developed either by laptop manufacturers or some wiz out there.
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post #6 of 37
4/26/06 at 5:55am
Thread Starter 
Trade Keys 2 doesn't work with "Fn"
Quote:
You'll be able to re-map any key on the keyboard except for PrintScrn/SysRq, Pause/Break, and any manufacturer-specific keys (such as internet access keys, volume control keys, etc.). Since those keys are reserved for special purposes, they will not appear in the lists and TradeKeys will not attempt to re-map them.
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post #7 of 37
4/26/06 at 5:56am
Thread Starter 
So I'm still looking for the way to swap the "Fn" "Ctrl" keys... any other ideas?
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post #8 of 37
4/26/06 at 9:54am
sirius have you tried those program listed above and they have all failed?

I suggest continue googling it and test out as many programs as you can, till one works.

and someone mentioned a bios upgrade and then it worked, could you explain more?

Thanks,

MysticGolem
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post #9 of 37
4/26/06 at 10:15am
Hi, The Fn/Ctrl swap was a huge issue on the Sager 4080 on this forum when I bought it in 03, as the generic patch that Sager had prepared did not work.

Eventually, though, they got it right, and it was just a matter of emailing them and they'd send it to you. Worked like charm, and now my Ctrl button is back in the left corner. Had to manually switch the buttons, but that was easy.

While the customized vendors like Sager, Alienware and Hypersonic may prepare such patches, I am a little doubtful if IBM, Dell and others will use their time on this.
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post #10 of 37
4/26/06 at 10:32am
Thread Starter 
I phoned Asus today and they didn't have a solution to swap keys
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post #11 of 37
4/26/06 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
THe other suggested software further up "Remapkey" doesn't work either!!
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post #12 of 37
4/27/06 at 2:33am
Dude. Weak. I didn't know about the Fn limitation with the remapping thing. Sorry.
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post #13 of 37
4/27/06 at 2:34pm
They should start making laptop keyboards like this one
http://www.artlebedev.com/portfolio/optimus/
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post #14 of 37
4/27/06 at 3:16pm
Thread Starter 
probably costs half the price of a laptop....
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post #15 of 37
4/27/06 at 3:27pm
how did you physically remove the keys
have done this before in another laptop but in this one they seem very solid as if they are glued
give me some advice before i actually need glue to reattach them
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post #16 of 37
4/27/06 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
they're not glued, they're "clipped" into plastic holders. They are easy to remove but be carefull not to break the holding section!!

Anyway what's the point swaping the keys when they have the same function!!!

Asus costumer service couldn't help solve the key swap issue so I suppose there is no other way untill asus releases a solution...
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post #17 of 37
4/27/06 at 9:39pm
Where exaclty is your FN key anyway can you post a pic? The FN key on my laptop is in a normal place.
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post #18 of 37
4/28/06 at 2:25am
Thread Starter 
"Fn" key is in place of "Ctrl" key in bottom left corner
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post #19 of 37
4/28/06 at 2:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sirius
"Fn" key is in place of "Ctrl" key in bottom left corner

Are you missing the left CTRL or what ?? in the left of my keybaord I have in order from left to right FN, CTRL, WINDOWS, ALT
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post #20 of 37
4/28/06 at 4:14am
That is the problem. They have the Control button on ther right of the Fn button. The bottom far left is easier to hit without looking than the one next to it.

Some people dont mind the Fn button at the far left, but others are so used to use their little pinkie to do their Ctrl for them, be it for games or quick editing in photoshop or whatever, that eventually they come to hate that the Fn button is there instead - doing you no favours for your current tasks.

It interrupts your workflow having to look down on the keyboard to hit the second button (Ctrl) instead. And the Ctrl is used a lot for shortcuts in software and of course gaming.
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