Changing keyboard responses

I've had many problems with Mac Peripherals in the past. Which is why when my third apple keyboard kicked the dust, I bought a cheap Advent keyboard.

Here's the problem: the top line of keys do nothing. ESC, and F1 to F12.

It's frustrating how these problems never seem to end. Anyway, I'm wondering if it's possible to edit the behavior of these keys when they are pressed, using hotkeys or something similar. The key's do work - I'm pretty sure of it, but they are coded to something different than ESC and the F1's.

So I'm looking to change what happens when a certain key on my keyboard is pressed.

 

No help there.
I contacted the manufacturer.


This thread is still open to anyone who has information on hotkeys and how to edit keyboard responses. I'm sure there is an app for that, or something.