New (used) laptop Fn key seems to be locked on??

[Gaston]

I received a laptop from a friend who decided she didn't want it anymore.  It is a gateway laptop with a Pentium 3 processor and windows XP installed.   When any key that has a "Fn" function assigned to it is pressed the assigned function is what is typed.   It is as if the "Fn" key is locked on.    I have never owned a laptop before so I am sure I am missing something simple like a function lock/unlock key.     I am wanting to make this a portable SC4 machine.    That is really the only thing that will be on it.     I will download stuff with the desktop and put it up CD if I want it on the laptop even thought the laptop works very well connected to the highspeed connection.

Thanks in advance.


---Gaston

[SC4BOY]

You probably can find a manual for it on the Gateway web site

If the key is "gummed up" you can probably just pop off the key by gently prying with a nailfile or similar "prybar" and clean under it with mild detergent or windex or alchohol, etc. Most portable keyboards are membranes and can actually be completely detached and washed, but you may not be up to doing that if you're not comfortable with mechanical/electrical things

If the electonic chip that strobes it is bad, you're probably out of luck as it probably would require a motherboard replacement and I expect that would cost a L O T

How did the person who owned it manage with it?

[Gaston]

Thanks for the info.    Hmmmmm a manual.    Hmmmm, that's like instructions.   I might have to try that.    As far as how they managed,   lol   that is why I got it for nothing.   LOL


---Gaston