What do all of the 'F' buttons (F1, F2, etc. ) do? Any special combinations to do cool things?

Answer 1

depends on your software?

A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard which can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions. On some keyboards/computers, function keys may have default actions, accessible on power-on.

A 102-key PC keyboard layout has function keys on a terminal may either generate short fixed sequences of characters, often beginning with the escape character (ASCII 27), or the characters they generate may be configured by sending special character sequences to the terminal.

On a standard computer keyboard, the function keys may generate a fixed, single byte code, outside the normal ASCII range, which is translated into some other configurable sequence by the keyboard device driver or interpreted directly by the application program. Function keys may have (abbreviations of) default actions printed on/besides them, or they may have the more common "F-number" designations.

Apple Macintosh: variously no function keys, or function keys F1 through F12, F1 through F15, or F1 through F16 across the top of the keyboard, depending on model.

Apple Macintosh laptops: F1 through F12, with pre-defined actions for F1 through F7 or F10, depending on model.

The old Apricot PC/Xi: six unlabelled keys, each with a LED beside it which illuminates when the key can be used; above the keys was a liquid crystal display—the 'microscreen'—that is used by programs to display the action performed by the key.

Atari 8-bit family (400/800/XL/XE): four dedicated keys (Reset, Option, Select, Start) at the right hand side or on the top of the keyboard; the XL models also had a Help key. Atari 1200XL had four additional keys labeled F1 through F4 with pre-defined actions, mainly related to cursor movement.
Atari ST: ten fancy parallelogram-shaped keys in a horizontal row across the top of the keyboard, inset into the keyboard frame instead of popping up like normal keys.

The ancient BBC Micro: red/orange keys f0 to f9 in a horizontal row above the number keys on top of the computer/keyboard.

Commodore VIC-20 and C64: F1/F2 to F7/F8 in a vertical row of four keys ascending downwards on the computer/keyboard's right hand side, odd-numbered functions accessed unshifted, even-numbered shifted; orange, beige/brown, or grey key color, depending on VIC/64 model/revision.
Commodore 128: essentially same as VIC-20/C64, but with (grey) function keys placed in a horizontal row above the numeric keypad right of the main QWERTY-keyboard; also had Help key.
Commodore Amiga: ten keys arranged in a row of two 5-key groups across the top of the keyboard (flush with the ordinary keyboard top row); function keys are 1½ times the width of ordinary keys.

HP 2640 series terminals: first known instance—late 1970s—of screen labeled function keys (where keys are placed in proximity or mapped to labels on CRT or LCD screen).
HP 9830: f1–f8 on two rows of four in upper left with paper template label. Also on HP 2640 terminals. An early use of function keys (1972).

IBM 3270: early models had 12 function keys in a 3×4 matrix at the right of the keyboard, later 24 in two rows on top of the keyboard.

IBM PC AT and PS/2 keyboard: F1 to F12 usually in three 4-key groups across the top of the keyboard (the original IBM PC and PC XT keyboards had function keys F1 through F10, in two adjacent vertical rows on the left hand side; F1|F2, F3|F4, ..., F9|F10, ascending downwards).

MCK-142 Pro: two sets of F1–F12 function keys, 1 above QWERTY and one to the left. Also, 24 additional user programmable PF keys located above QWERTY keys.

Sharp MZ-700: blue keys F1 to F5 in a horizontal row across the top left side of the keyboard, the keys are vertically half the size of ordinary keys and twice the width; there's also a dedicated 'slot' for changeable key legend overlays (paper/plastic) above the function key row.

So if your using windows and the ps2 keyboard, then in a word processor (Microsoft Word), under tools, we see that that we can use the F7 key to do a Spell and grammar check. Most games running in windows use the F2 key to start a new game.

Answer 2

F1 is help, no matter what program you're in. As others said, alt + F4 will close your active windows. Other than that, they are program/event specific. For example, F2 will "open" a cell in Microsoft Excel, and during boot-up, you can press F9 or F12 (depending on the computer) to access the boot menu.

Some good keyboard shortcuts (not involving the F keys) are alt + tab, to quickly switch between programs, alt + space to access that menu at the very top left of every program/file/whatever, and the standard copy/cut/paste keys of ctrl + c, ctrl + x, and ctrl + p. In Mozilla Firefox, you can open a new tab using ctrl + t, and to tab between them, hit ctrl + page up/page down.

Google "keyboard shortcuts" for some websites with VERY comprehensive lists.

Answer 3

I think that is in BIOS. When you first start the computer, hit F2 a few times. Find an option about the function keys on the keyboard, and switch it. Then all of the "extra" functions are executed by holding "Fn" while hitting the F key.

Answer 4

a lot of games use the F buttons.

if you have a laptop, there should be some other letters/symbols on them in a different color. when you push "FN" and another button, stuff happens.
eg. on my dell, FN + F2 is the wireless card.

Answer 5

F4 is find, F5 is refresh, F6 highlights the address for editing,F10 goes to File in IE.

Oh yea thats on my dell laptop!!!!!

Answer 6

If you press ALt+F4 you will get to the menu of shutting off/restarting/standing by your computer. It also shuts off any folders or programs that you have turned on.

I use it very often

Answer 7

I just know F8, it use to go to safe mode incase there is a problem with your pc and you want to uninstall things. You go to Safe Mode

Answer 8

pong ching pong

Answer 9

hard point. query onto google. that can assist!

Answer 10

Try http://www.danzibrothers.com/