Still haven't been able to resolve this issue and I've upgraded to BIOS A08 as well, I have even reinstalled the Windows OS and still no luck. I can't use the backslash key or the FN key and I've searched all over the web for ideas and no luck.
My keyboard did exactly this as well on my 5150! I can't figure out how to change it back to UK :(
I hope someone finds out soon because it's very hard to code when you need to change keyboard layouts just to get at some of the characters I need to type...
Does Dell even check these forums? Has anyone called Dell to find out? I'm in the Philippines right at the moment so it's hard for me to call them. Has anyone else ever had this problem??? Why is it set to Japan? Why is it not a user-modifiable function (it's greyed out in BIOS so there is no way to fix it there)? I tried reflashing the BIOS several times and no luck.
After 20 more minutes of holding, Dell Tech answered. Went over BIOS settings and tech did a bunch of head scratching (at one point suggesting that maybe there was a Japanese BIOS -- there isn't. Now I'm holding for three more minutes while the tech, "Gathers more information." ...
Tech had me remove the hard drive and boot it back up into BIOS. Also had me try Fn up/down (no effect).
Removed battery and remove hinge cover at top of screen/keyboard. Unscrewed the four screws mounting the keyboard to the mb. Unplugged the keyboard from the MB (looks like a centronics connector). Plugged it back in. Noted that the back of the keyboard does say "US". $crewed the keyboard back in. Replaced the cover. Replaced the battery. Booted back up. F2. Still says Japan.
Tech said we gotta replace MB and Keyboard. He's now setting up that replacement. Thank goodness for 3 yr. warantee.
Had the same issue with an Inspiron 1150 that actually was built with a Japanese Keyboard. I replaced the keyboard with a US keyboard and then noted the problem with the function key and others not working. The BIOS setting was stuck on JAPAN keyboard layout and could not be changed. Resetting BIOS to defaults did not help. Also flashed the BIOS several times without any success. Did a complete reinstall of Windows XP which also did not help. I downloaded and ran a couple of Dell Applications...one called "Driver Reset Tool" and the other "Access Direct". I'm not sure which program fixed the problem, but on the next reboot the keyboard in BIOS was set to United States. The Keyboard now functions as it should.
mindragon
12 Posts
0
December 28th, 2005 02:00
princec
1 Message
0
December 30th, 2005 11:00
I hope someone finds out soon because it's very hard to code when you need to change keyboard layouts just to get at some of the characters I need to type...
Cas :)
mindragon
12 Posts
0
December 30th, 2005 15:00
mindragon
12 Posts
0
January 7th, 2006 13:00
mindragon
12 Posts
0
January 7th, 2006 14:00
mindragon
12 Posts
0
January 7th, 2006 14:00
Removed battery and remove hinge cover at top of screen/keyboard. Unscrewed the four screws mounting the keyboard to the mb. Unplugged the keyboard from the MB (looks like a centronics connector). Plugged it back in. Noted that the back of the keyboard does say "US". $crewed the keyboard back in. Replaced the cover. Replaced the battery. Booted back up. F2. Still says Japan.
Tech said we gotta replace MB and Keyboard. He's now setting up that replacement. Thank goodness for 3 yr. warantee.
rockpiles
1 Message
0
June 6th, 2008 06:00