Disabling Function Keys in Windows 8 with Autohotkey

The Question: I would need to use Autohotkey to disable Function keys ( F1 -F12 ) on my
Lenovo ideapad u310, running a Windows 8. I need this in order to use the F1-
F12 in applications such as Ableton Live. Additionally, if it’s possible to
program the Windows 8’s stock features behind an Fn key (see nb below) that
would be even better.
The autohotkey program itself is working just fine, I’ve tried bunch of things
successfully. But for some reason, I can’t disable the Function keys or re-map
them. Function Keys in Windows 8 are by default programmed to do things like
opening up Charm, controlling volume etc.
In Windows 8, the F10 key, for example, opens the second screen option. This
means I can’t use it for other purposes, because every time I press it the
second screen option opens up. The audio software I use would badly require
freeing those F1-F12 keys from Windows 8 features, such as the second screen
example. Simply: I’d like the Function Keys do nothing at all by default, thus
being /”available/” for certain software to utilize.
I tried the basic /”F1::Return/” but nothing. Any ideas? Any help would mean a
lot 🙂
So is it even possible to override these Windows 8 interface features with
autohotkey?
nb: There’s a feature in Mac OS that I’m actually trying to somewhat emulate
here. On a mac computer, you can choose to have the function keys’ features
behind the Fn button, so you have to always press Fn+function. This way the
user can execute OS features BUT still use the function keys without the Fn
button in any software (like pressing F5 for refresh on an internet browser
etc.).

Solutions: Please watch the whole video to see all solutions, in order of how many people found them helpful

The behavior of Windows 8 on the Surface Pro (with the Type Pad keyboard) is as
follows:
* F1 acts as mute by default, and F1 only if the Fn key is simultaneously
depressed.
* F2 acts as volume down by default, and F2 only if the Fn key is
simultaneously depressed.
* F3 acts as volume up by default, and F3 only if the Fn key is
simultaneously depressed.
* And so on.
My understanding of the hardware is, therefore, that the F1 signal is only
being sent to the OS when the Fn+F1 combination is pressed. Effectively, the Fn
key on the Type Pad keyboard is behaving in the opposite direction of the Fn
key on most other laptop keyboards.
Therefore, if the OP wants to make the F1 do nothing by default, they can’t use
the /”F1/” shortcut, and must use the scancode for this specific F1 key. The
scancode would also allow the remapping to F1, and probably F1 to the scancode
– if done for all 12 keys, the behavior of the Fn key could be returned to be
inline with what other laptops do.

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