Function Key

[D-macdude]

My question is concerning the F keys (F1-F12). I recently installed Leopard and to activate Spaces it said to use the F8 key. It somehow doesnt work. To activate spaces I have to use Funtion F8. It seems to be like this for the other F keys as well. For example: F10 which is used to view all application windows currently open can only be activated on my computer using Function F10. When I press these keys(F8 and F10) they control the keyboard illumination like it is engraved on them. Pretty much the main idea is that I have to push the fn key down to activate any of the actions that I used to just use the F keys for alone.

Thanks a lot for all the help.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Normally on Apple's notebooks the Fn key is used to initiate the F keys. So when you are pressing F5 without the Fn key you get volume up. You can switch that behavior in System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Click "Use all F1, F2, etc keys as standard function keys"

Alternatively, so you don't screw up how your brightness & volume keys work, you can go to System Preferences > Expose & Spaces > Spaces Tab > "To Activate Spaces" and change the key for Spaces. Just click the box select F8. That ought to fix it for you.

 

[D-macdude]

Thanks man

Dude, thanks a lot man. Your reply was so fast and fixed the problem. Who would have known it was so easy. Haha. Your awesome.

-david

 

[AndyR]

Just had this problem on mine. F8 is set to turn keyboard backlighting on-off by default so I have to use FN + F8 for spaces.

 

[macuser880929]

what if i have the windows vista os on it? how do i switch it then? thanks alot@