F keys in windows

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I like to be able to use the F keys in OS X to control dashboard widgets, screen brightness, volume, but when i go to play a few favourite windows games in XP via bootcamp, the games like FSX need access to the standard Windows F key functions. How do I do this? Can I get the keyboard to default to normal Win Xp functions for games and the standard OS X functions for iMac stuff?
 

vansmith

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Try Fn + Fx key (x = a number).
 
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vansmith is right. Holding function (fn) when pressing an F key will operate the command printed on the key. Ex: fn+F1 will dim the screen. By default, the F keys are set to act as F1, F2 etc. in Windows. So if you are in Windows and press F1, the screen will not dim, it will just be you pressing F1.
 

cwa107


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Note that you can change the preference either in the Boot Camp Control Panel Applet in Windows or via System Preferences => Keyboard in OS X.
 
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Thx, just discovered the Fn key! Also found the keyboard prefs in bootcamp/Win xp but it seems to work in reverse - it says check box if u want to use special functions, but when i check the box the win xp games use the function keys in a 'normal' way.
 

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