Trouble with FN and CTRL Key Placement on New HP K160 Keyboard

[Koshalsisodya]

Hello HP Community,

I recently purchased an HP Wired Keyboard, model K160 (P/N: 9Z4V7AA#ACJ), and I’m having trouble with the keyboard layout. Specifically, the FN key is placed to the left of the CTRL key, whereas I’m used to having it to the right of the CTRL key on my previous keyboard. This change is causing some difficulty and impacting my typing efficiency.

I’ve checked the HP website for drivers or solutions but haven’t found anything specific for this issue. I also tried using third-party applications such as SharpKeys or KeyTweak and AutoHotkey to remap the keys, but I haven’t been successful in resolving this problem.

Has anyone else experienced this issue or found a workaround? Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated as I adjust to this new layout.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Best regards,
Kaushal Sisodya

[Raj_05]

Hi @Koshalsisodya,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

The placement of the FN and CTRL keys can indeed disrupt muscle memory, and it’s frustrating that remapping the keys with tools like SharpKeys, KeyTweak, or AutoHotkey hasn't worked for you. Unfortunately, many keyboards with hardwired layouts don’t allow easy software-level remapping, especially for special keys like FN.

Here are some possible solutions and tips you can try.

Remapping with AutoHotkey (Advanced Setup)

AutoHotkey can potentially remap these keys, but it often requires a more advanced script. Here's a script you could try:

• Download AutoHotkey if you haven’t already.
• Create a new script with this code to swap the FN and CTRL keys:

LCtrl::Send {vkFF}  ; Remap Left CTRL to FN 

vkFF::Send {LCtrl}  ; Remap FN to Left CTRL

• Note: The exact virtual key code for the FN key might differ depending on the keyboard. You may need to use a key scanning tool (like KeyEvent Viewer) to identify the key code for the FN key if the default vkFF does not work.

Windows Registry Edits

• Another approach is remapping through the Windows Registry. While tools like SharpKeys help make these changes more accessible, direct registry edits might offer more flexibility. You can follow guides on Microsoft’s documentation for mapping key codes.

Physical Key Swap (Custom Key Caps)

• If software solutions aren’t viable, you could look into physically swapping the keycaps (if your keyboard allows it). Some mechanical keyboards with customizable keycaps allow easy physical swapping, but this depends on the design of the HP K160.

Adjusting Typing Habits

While it’s not an immediate fix, adjusting to the layout over time might help, especially if remapping proves too difficult. You could try:

• Using the Sticky Keys feature in Windows to change how certain keys function.
• Training yourself with typing exercises that focus on the new layout.

These solutions might take some experimentation, but one of them should help you adjust or remap the keys to improve your typing experience!

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support