Inspiron 8000: How to turn off purple function keys

I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. When my wife logs on to her Windows 2000
login account, the purple function keys are active, and we're not sure
how to deactivate them. When I log into my Windows 2000 account, the
purple function keys are not active. This problem with my wife's
accout just started; she's been using that account since 2000.

How do you get out of the mode in which those purple function keys are
active? I tried looking in the software help but the original
installation of Windows is gone and most of those files don't show
anything.

Many Thanks,

Greg

err..... it's an option in bios i think.....

--

Splitskull

"Greg Lovern" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. When my wife logs on to her Windows 2000
> login account, the purple function keys are active, and we're not sure
> how to deactivate them. When I log into my Windows 2000 account, the
> purple function keys are not active. This problem with my wife's
> accout just started; she's been using that account since 2000.
>
> How do you get out of the mode in which those purple function keys are
> active? I tried looking in the software help but the original
> installation of Windows is gone and most of those files don't show
> anything.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Greg

Splitskull wrote:
> err..... it's an option in bios i think.....
>
>
> "Greg Lovern" <> wrote in message
> news: om...
>> I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. When my wife logs on to her Windows 2000
>> login account, the purple function keys are active, and we're not
>> sure how to deactivate them. When I log into my Windows 2000
>> account, the purple function keys are not active. This problem with
>> my wife's accout just started; she's been using that account since
>> 2000.
>>
>> How do you get out of the mode in which those purple function keys
>> are active? I tried looking in the software help but the original
>> installation of Windows is gone and most of those files don't show
>> anything.
>>
>> Many Thanks,
>>
>> Greg

In the I8000 BIOS you can choose whether the Fn key or the NumLock key
invokes the numeric keypad. I don't know how/if this extends to the other
function keys. Personally I always stick with Fn-. Fn is the default. You
can reset the I8000 BIOS by pressing Alt-F (I think) from the BIOS setup
screen.

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Greg Lovern wrote:
> I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. When my wife logs on to her Windows 2000
> login account, the purple function keys are active, and we're not sure
> how to deactivate them. When I log into my Windows 2000 account, the
> purple function keys are not active. This problem with my wife's
> accout just started; she's been using that account since 2000.
>
> How do you get out of the mode in which those purple function keys are
> active? I tried looking in the software help but the original
> installation of Windows is gone and most of those files don't show
> anything.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Greg

If the Fn-key system is not in BIOS setup, then examine the startup apps
via msconfig; many laptops use a background application for these.
Start/Run command/Type in: msconfig [OK]/Select Startup tab. Examine
each entry and see if it is the Fn key application. For help with
identifying startup applications use this site:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup...artup_full.htm

Q

Thanks all; it was the num lock key.

Funny, I'd tried Fn + Num Lock, Shift + Num Lock, Alt + Num Lock, and Ctrl +
Num Lock. But I hadn't tried just Num Lock.

Greg


"Greg Lovern" <> wrote in message
news: om...
> I have a Dell Inspiron 8000. When my wife logs on to her Windows 2000
> login account, the purple function keys are active, and we're not sure
> how to deactivate them. When I log into my Windows 2000 account, the
> purple function keys are not active. This problem with my wife's
> accout just started; she's been using that account since 2000.
>
> How do you get out of the mode in which those purple function keys are
> active? I tried looking in the software help but the original
> installation of Windows is gone and most of those files don't show
> anything.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Greg