Solved Acer laptop fn key doesn't work

Yaskovitch

New Member
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5
For some reason my brand new Acer laptop doesn't have a functioning fn key. Everything else is perfect though, as it should be coming right from the box. I can't quickly mute, change screen brightness or put my computer to sleep. This is very annoying. Do I need to install a driver even though the rest of my keyboard is functioning properly? Help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5
Sometimes the Fn keys work in weird ways that I don't expect... have you looked in the manual? Chances are there's some Acer-specific utility that lets you configure how they work (you may be able to change something in the BIOS that has the same effect, but I'd look for the utility first).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
In the case of this instance there appears to be nothing different I have to configure. The manual shows the hotkeys and what they are supposed to do but the fn key is useless. Do I have to turn on hotkeys somehow? Can that even be done?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5
I imagine there will be a way (unless you're *really* unlucky and have a busted Fn key, but I think that's unlikely). What model of Acer is it? Did it come with Windows 8 pre-installed from new?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
I know some laptops are set up the wrong way round (to my mind anyway) so that pressing F8 (rather than Fn+F8) would Mute/Unmute, and if you wanted a regular F8 you had to press Fn.

Does it affect all keys or is it just the F1-F12 keys at the top of the keyboard - for instance does Fn+up arrow/down arrow change the volume?

You might find something in the BIOS settings (but care is needed as changing BIOS settings can cause all sorts of problems).

Close Windows 8 using the option to Restart (rather than Shut Down) and press the key (probably F2) to get into the BIOS settings. Then look to see if there are any options about Hotkeys or similar? If you don't find it then I'd always be sure to Discard Changes on exit from the BIOS settings, just to be on the safe side.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Re-installing launch manager seemed to be the popular fix that I have been told but unfortunately it didn't help, and yes, it unfortunately is for all keys not just the F1-f12 keys. :mad:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5
Did you get a chance to look at the BIOS settings? There may be something there?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
So I had my school IT department check BIOS and tried the Launch Manager and when I brought it back to the store I got it from they discovered it was a defective computer. Thanks so much for the help though everyone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V5
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