Help an old guy?

[rjf]

Hi,
I have a G4 Powerbook.
Keyboard shortcuts seem to be a problem for me. I have a mighty mouse but like to use the keyboard shortcuts for Expose (f9 10 11). I configure this in preferences and then when I start up they don't work; I have to access system preferences and reset the defaults again. Is there some way of locking the preferences? or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks in advance...
Robert

 

[Legolamb]

Re: prefs not being saved

Try "repair disk permissions" from the Disk Utility application

 

[mad jew]

Do they work immediately after you change them or do they need the FN key?

 

[2nyRiggz]

Are your settings being saved or is it everytime you open up the system prefs it reverts back...repair permissions(recommend) could be the problem solver or moving the plist file could be another.



Bless

 

[iSaint]

Do they work immediately after you change them or do they need the FN key?

Right as usual, madman. With the G4 Powerbook, you use fn-F9 and fn-F10 as your hot keys for Expose'. F11 should give you a desktop view without the function key. The F9 and F10 keys are for your keyboard brightness when they are backlit.

However, under System Preferences>Keyboard, you can select the "Use the F1-F12 keys to control software features" button, and you won't have to use the function key for Expose'. But, you will for brightness, volume, and keyboard brightness functions.

 

[rjf]

Thanks everyone...

Hmmm... well it's a bit like when the tv repair man comes... and the tv works! I booted up this morning and it was ok. The F keys were as I had set them. In response to your suggestions I repaired my permissions, and in reply to 'madjew', no, I don't have to use the fn key to work them.
I guess I messed about with the Dashboard and Espose/ Keyboard and mouse preferences yesterday so much that I didn't know which end was up. Funny though that for ages now I have had to do a restore default settings every time I booted up to get the F9 etc. keys to work and this morning it's ok... It's all a mystery - maybe this site is so good it fixes problems by just having them published...!
Thanks again to all who helped... Happy New Year.

 

[Mac'Mo]

once you set your preferences, they should be saved

 

[someguy]

In my experience, keyboard shortcuts other than the defaults for Expose and Dashboard don't seem to stick unless you change them in either/both the "Keyboard & Mouse" and "Dashboard and Exposé" preference panes.