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Laptop troubleshooting forum: Reassign Inspiron N5110 (2011) "special" function keys

by: a_p3rson August 18, 2012 4:53 PM PDT

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Reassign Inspiron N5110 (2011) "special" function keys

by a_p3rson - 8/18/12 4:53 PM

I recently bought a Dell Inspiron N5110, and I absolutely hate the functions of the three top buttons (top right, above the keyboard, level with the power button). Is there any way I could reassign these to something else? I really doubt that they are a hardware function (the blackout screen button might be, however), so it sounds like something could be sniffing for the key signals and perform a macro instead. And of course, after talking to Dell phone support, "they hardware keys, you cannot make them do others keys", so no luck there.


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Clarification request: Did you try other methods?

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/18/12 6:15 PM

In Reply to: Reassign Inspiron N5110 (2011) "special" function keys by a_p3rson

Example at http://www.ehow.com/how_7332709_program-function-keys-dell-inspiron.html


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Old, unfortunately.

by a_p3rson - 8/18/12 7:15 PM

In Reply to: Did you try other methods? by R. Proffitt Moderator

This eHow article seems to be for a (much?) older Dell Inspiron, and the "Hot-keys" tab is not in the Keyboard applet anyways. I am looking at information for a 2011 Dell Inspiron N5110. Thanks anyway, though!


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Looks like it's been discussed in the Dell forum.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/18/12 7:31 PM

In Reply to: Old, unfortunately. by a_p3rson

Example at http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19394795.aspx


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A less destructive way?

by a_p3rson - 8/18/12 9:19 PM

In Reply to: Looks like it's been discussed in the Dell forum. by R. Proffitt Moderator

I did look at that previously, and I think I would like to be able to preserve the Dell Support Center, so is there a less destructive way to change them?


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Sure.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/19/12 1:36 PM

In Reply to: A less destructive way? by a_p3rson

Change it to what you want and then make a shortcut to that Dell .exe file.


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Really didn't think about that...

by a_p3rson - 8/24/12 8:25 AM

In Reply to: Sure. by R. Proffitt Moderator

I suppose I could do that, but I wouldn't run into trouble with renaming the Dell's .exe?


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Sorry

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/24/12 10:54 AM

In Reply to: Really didn't think about that... by a_p3rson

But renaming files is a basic skill. Also we can always rename it back.

Sorry if I offend anyone here but renaming is a basic computer skill.
Bob


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Not what I meant.

by a_p3rson - 8/25/12 12:37 PM

In Reply to: Sorry by R. Proffitt Moderator

I didn't mean that I was unable to rename the file, I was asking if renaming the Dell Support Center's .exe would cause any problems with the support center. I am also aware that I could just rename it back, but I really don't know what kind of stuff Dell has put into their programs, and it isn't impossible for one thing to break and cause irreversible damage to the program (think like anti-piracy measures, not that anyone would want to pirate DSC).


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I wonder.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 8/25/12 12:43 PM

In Reply to: Not what I meant. by a_p3rson

Remember that I read other posts in the Dell forums to find a way to replace that app. So far no one posted any issue with renaming the files in question.

But a lot of folk fret about this and maybe for them, this is not a good solution.
Bob


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