F-Lock

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FLock redirects here. For other uses, see Flock

The F-Lock key on a Microsoft keyboard

The F-Lock key is on some Microsoft keyboards and a new concept facility for Microsoft Keyboards. The F-Lock key, depending on its state, will allow either a function key's (i.e. F1 through F12) "normal" operation or a new "enhanced" operation. The initial state of the F-Lock key is "off", and in this state, the function keys use their "enhanced" operation. In older keyboard models, the F-Lock key state would revert to off after a reboot or keyboard reset. In newer keyboard models, the F-Lock key state is retained.

Other keyboard manufacturers (such as Logitech and Viewsonic) have now also implemented the F-Lock onto their keyboards. Ironically, however, the F-Lock key commonly appears only on keyboards that already have specific buttons to which the function keys have already been assigned.

Many users have complained about programs not closing when they held down Alt+F4 (as holding Alt and F4 will close a program). Alternatively, many people press F5 when F Lock is off and get the 'Open' dialog, rather than getting the usual F5 function (usually 'refresh') or pressing F2 to rename a file in Windows Explorer, only to have their last file operation to be 'undone'.

There are a few companies that have not implemented the F-Lock key, including Labtec.

There are a few ways to disable the F-lock function and alter the settings so that the keyboard would function as regularly when the key is off:
1. Windows Registry change reverting the f-lock usage:

Behavior without Registry change:
when F-Lock light is off - F5 is 'Open' dialog
when F-Lock light is on - F5 is Refresh

Behavior with Registry change:
when F-Lock light is off - F5 is Refresh
when F-Lock light is on - F5 is 'Open' dialog

Registry change for Microsoft "Office" Keyboard:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,19,00,00,00,3b,00,3b,e0,3c,00,3c,e0,\ 3d,00,3d,e0,3e,00,3e,e0,3f,00,3f,e0,40,00,40,e0,41,00,41,e0,42,00,42,e0,43,\ 00,43,e0,44,00,23,e0,57,00,57,e0,58,00,58,e0,3b,e0,3b,00,3c,e0,3c,00,3d,e0,\ 3d,00,3e,e0,3e,00,3f,e0,3f,00,40,e0,40,00,41,e0,41,00,42,e0,42,00,43,e0,43,\ 00,23,e0,44,00,57,e0,57,00,58,e0,58,00,00,00,00,00

Download as reg file: [1]

Registry change for Microsoft non-"Office" Keyboard:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,19,00,00,00,3b,00,3b,e0,3c,00,08,e0,\ 3d,00,07,e0,3e,00,3e,e0,3f,00,3f,e0,40,00,40,e0,41,00,41,e0,42,00,42,e0,43,\ 00,43,e0,44,00,23,e0,57,00,57,e0,58,00,58,e0,3b,e0,3b,00,08,e0,3c,00,07,e0,\ 3d,00,3e,e0,3e,00,3f,e0,3f,00,40,e0,40,00,41,e0,41,00,42,e0,42,00,43,e0,43,\ 00,23,e0,44,00,57,e0,57,00,58,e0,58,00,00,00,00,00

Download as reg file: [2]

Disabling all of the registry changes: