How to switch funktion keys on Elitebook 840 G5?

[unusualch]

There are a lot of articles how to change the Fn Key back to normal.

But the BIOS on my new EliteBook 840 G5 does not have an "Action Key" option.

Also I need to use the INS key, but there is no one - this is a must to work with Norton Commander and Total Commander

Great Notebook, but keyboard is useless - why are the keys so different than other notebooks and on a regular keyboard!?

[TechSingh · Accepted solution]

Kindly refer these articles:

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c02035108

https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c02951398

Hope this helps!

[jorkki]

I think it would be more helpful to know where the Insert key is on this machine as there is not even the User Guide available on the support site and not really any good photographs of the keyboard either on the web.

Often it is fn+PrtSc on many keyboards  but in the pictures it seems Prt Sc would be on the Shift key now.

There seems to be a key looking like a screen where the Prt Sc used to be in the previous model.

[KevinP5]

Two options on the Insert function.  First, try Fn+E... this should work on the HP collaboration keyboard on the HP 840 G5.

Another option is to use the on-screen keyboard.  This is clunky, but the onscreen keyboard does have the insert key.  Type "keyboard" in the Windows search & the option to enable the on-screen keyboard is shown.

More details on the HP collaboration keyboard can be found on this user guide: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05402785.  Check pages 14 & 15.

[KevinP5]

In the User Guide for the 840 G5 (http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05922740), page 28, it highlights how to enable/disable the action keys.

• "NOTE: The action key feature is enabled at the factory. You can disable this feature by pressing and holding the fn key and the left shift key. The fn lock light will turn on. After you have disabled the action key feature, you can still perform each function by pressing the fn key in combination with the appropriate action key"

Changes to the keyboard were implemented to enable the collaboration features for improved conferencing experience.  The collaboration keys are very helpful when quickly accessing online meetings that are on your calendar, starting & ending calls.

[jorkki]

Ahemmm..that's the Maintenance and Service  guide and lists the part catalog on p. 28

Would be nice to get the User guide on the web too..please.

[KevinP5]

Thanks jorkki for the clarification.  Note on action keys is on page 18.

Let me check with the team on the 840 G5 User Guide

[EnvagyokJeromos]

@Kevinp5

You are very kind, but FN+E does not work with remot desktops 😞

And my fingers are getting fetige from that combination 🙂 

I considered to quit my job because the insert key is missing - i srs!

[hrk7]

There are these 3 useless conferencing buttons on top. Cannot one of them have Insert assigned as FN function, so when the FN lock is in place it works like a normal Insert button, like on a normal computer?

I have 3-5 meetings every day and I would still much prefer having a normal keyboard then this one. I misclick delete and it hands up my call, very unprofessional. I'm not sure who is the target audience of this keyboard change, but the research done before the implementation seems to be very focused on that group...

[Randolf123541]

INSERT key is an absolute must for Total Commander.