Looking for a way to toggle the F-Lock key at startup.

NJMorf · 02 Jul 2023

I think I'm probably out of luck. Serves me right for being happy with a 21-year-old keyboard instead of buying a new one every couple of years like Microsoft probably wants me to do.

(For the record, in addition to the MS Natural 4000 keyboard, I also have an MS Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop, which is a wireless keyboard, mouse and number pad set which has laptop-style short travel keys (which I'm sure are still rubber domes) and an F-Lock implemented as a two-position switch, which is, if anything, an even worse implementation than the original's F-Lock key. Oh, and the mouse isn't all that comfortable either. I used it for about a week before I put it back in the box and ignored it.)

MisterEd · 03 Jul 2023

I sympathize with your problem. I have a Logitech Elite keyboard that I bought in 2003.

Looking for a way to toggle the F-Lock key at startup.-f-lock-logitech-elite.jpg

The things suggested so far were to change the behavior of the Functions keys. Actually that would have been unnecessary if the keyboard manufacturers had provided a way to change whether the F-Lock key was enabled or not using software.

I lost track of how many times when I booted a computer and realized I missed hitting the F-Lock key because I needed to hit a Function key. I was unhappy when I missed that because it meant rebooting again.

I remember one time I even called Logitech to complain about the stupid design. I told them it would have made more sense to design the keyboard so the Function keys had the traditional functionality by default. Then the F-Lock could be used to enable the special functions if the user wanted to use them. Since this behavior only made sense in Windows then software could be used to control whether the F-Lock key was enabled or not.

BTW, when I bought this keyboard I didn't care at all whether it had special functions. The main thing I was looking for was a keyboard with volume and mute keys.

EdwardMatthew · 03 Jul 2023

If you want to change the state of the F-Lock key at startup, you'll need to check if your keyboard has any specific software or firmware support that allows you to customize its behavior.