F Lock Key Flip & Eliminator

By Herby
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

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Herby

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The F Lock key on the Microsoft Keyboards is a relatively new concept facility for Microsoft Keyboards. Introduced with the Office Keyboard and used in later keyboards, it essentially allows keys to do more than one operation. The F Lock key, depending on its state, will allow either a function key's "normal" operation or a new "enhanced" operation. The initial state of the F Lock key is "off", and in this state, the function keys use their "enhanced" operation.

The F Lock key is a hardware switch in the keyboard. Its state cannot be controlled programmatically. Its default condition is "off". As a result, whenever the keyboard is reset, or loses power, the F Lock key will always be in an "off" state.

For some, this is not a desirable default; some people want "normal" function key operation.

While there is no way to control the F Lock key state programmatically, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 provide a method whereby keys can be remapped by using the Scan Code Mapper. The Scan Code Mapper can be used to change the functions of the function keys. Unfortunately, this functionality is not available for earlier Windows versions.

With the application of that knowledge, the two zip files below contain registry files that will alter the key mappings after Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 is started up. When F Lock key is in the "off" position, the function keys will have their "normal" function, and when the F Lock key is in the "on" position, the function keys will have their "enhanced" function. Note that these files will only alter the functionality of your function keys (for those who have Natural Multimedia Keyboard, Multimedia Keyboard, Wireless Optical Desktop Keyboard, Wireless Optical Desktop Pro Keyboard, Basic Wireless Optical Desktop Keyboard or Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard, the function(s) of the PrtScn/Insert & Pause/ScrLk keys will not be changed).

F Lock Key Flip (Source & Download)

If you do not like the "enhanced" function keys at all, a variation of the above method can be used to make the F Lock key irrelevant by using Scan Code Mapper. Essentially, this will make the function keys operate as "normal" function keys regardless of the F Lock key status.

F Lock Key Eliminator (Source & Download)

Please note that there are some limitations to this method:

? A system reboot is required to activate these key mappings

? The scancode mapper only works when the keyboard is plugged into the computer using a PS/2 port. It doesn't work when using a keyboard plugged into the computer using a USB port (this includes the Bluetooth keyboard set)

? The mappings stored in the registry work at system level and apply to all users. These mappings cannot be set to work differently depending on the current user

? The current implementation restricts the functionality of the map such that mappings always apply to all keyboards connected to the system. It is not currently possible to create a map on a per-keyboard basis

? The mappings only take effect after Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 has loaded

? It may not work in games that use the keyboard via DirectInput; and

? the Pause/Break key cannot be remapped or remapped to using the scan code mapper (for the inquisitive, it is because the pause key doesn't generate break codes).

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https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/272273-f-lock-key-flip-eliminator/
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Striker317

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The F Lock key on the Microsoft Keyboards is a relatively new concept facility for Microsoft Keyboards. Introduced with the Office Keyboard and used in later keyboards, it essentially allows keys to do more than one operation. The F Lock key, depending on its state, will allow either a function key's "normal" operation or a new "enhanced" operation. The initial state of the F Lock key is "off", and in this state, the function keys use their "enhanced" operation.

<snipped>

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to let you guys know that I updated the (abovementioned) page(s). The method that I previously used was the scan code mapper, which unfortunately didn't help those that used USB connections. I've now included a method that works with USB keyboards; however, you need to have Intellitype Pro (5.2 or higher).

Give it a try/read and hopefully it is something that will be useful to you.

http://jtsang.mvps.org/flock.html

The old http://mvps.org/jtsang/flock.html URL should still work (it should redirect to the above site).

I also added some info that might help Logitech and Linux users.

If you have any comments, feel free to leave them here.

Enjoy!

Edited by Striker317
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