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I did a fresh install of Windows so I don't have any programs that use the function keys provided by the manufacturer.

When I turn on my laptop at the bios stage I can control the screen brightness with function keys but this does not work in Windows.

Why not, and is there a way to make it work?

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  • Basically it boils down to: you'll need a tool from the manufacturer which you can either get on the CD/DVD that was included (if one was even included) or otherwise hopefully it's still downloadable from their website. Add which laptop maker/model to your question and someone can hopefully help further :)
    – glenneroo
    Dec 18, 2010 at 19:35
  • Why do they work at the bios stage, but not in Windows? If they work at the bios stage they should work in windows without needing any special driver. My laptop is an Asus V1V and there is no windows 7 64bit software available.
    – Jenny
    Dec 18, 2010 at 19:43

1 Answer 1

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It probably does. The function keys are usually a BIOS thing that has to be enabled in the OS to work, usually with software the computer company provides. Google <your computer make and model> drivers and you'll probably get some result.

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  • No, I have no software available for my version of windows. WHy would it work in the BIOS stage and not after the OS has loaded? I can't imagine why the OS would do something to disable functionality that works at a lower level. For things like volume control maybe...but screen brightness?
    – Jenny
    Dec 19, 2010 at 2:51
  • It's not disabling it, it just doesn't have the right software to handle it. In other words, there are such things as keyboard drivers. It's just a matter of recognizing the unique codes that the keys emit (different for every make) and interpreting them into keypresses.
    – digitxp
    Dec 19, 2010 at 5:47
  • I should rephrase my question so it is clearer. If the function keys work at the BIOS level, why would they then need a driver for the OS? For example the function keys to switch my my output between LCD and whatever work fine without drivers. The fact that brightness controls work at the BIOS level and not in windows indicates that Windows is doing something that negates them from working, not that I need a driver.
    – Jenny
    Dec 19, 2010 at 17:02
  • The BIOS can be thought of as a meta-operating system. It has its own drivers and so on. Similarly, some old computers can't boot from USB even though Windows can read USBs. Just a matter of drivers really.
    – digitxp
    Dec 19, 2010 at 19:00
  • The point I am trying to make is that once the bios driver for the function keys is loaded it would stay loaded, right? I mean, why then can I switch between LCD and TV with function keys without a driver, but not control the brightness? I should also note that I was able to control the brightness with function keys without drivers on w732bit, it just seems not to work on 64bit.
    – Jenny
    Dec 19, 2010 at 21:26

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