Problem with function-key with Acer/Samsung laptop

I have an ACER laptop model TM4152LMI with Windows XP installed.

The problem is the function key acts as if it is being held down, therefore
a section of the keypad turns into a number pad. I have had the same problem with another Samsung laptop, and fixed it with a format, however this seemed a little overkill for solving the problem, I just got frustrated.

The keypad works as normal if you hold down the function key, as if its role has been reversed. It seems to be the same as the scenario of holding down shift as oppose to hitting caps-lock, however there doesn't seem to be a 'caps-lock equivalent' for this situation.

The problem started after adding a ps2 keyboard to the system, and then removing it. The frustrating part is the laptops keypad works the way it should with the ps2 keyboard plugged in (but this defeats the purpose ).

I have tried plugging the keyboard back in, rebooting, removing it, rebooting again, etc, to no effect.

As far as I can tell this is a windows problem, I was just wondering if there was a nice easy fix for it. (ie, just a simple key combo to disable it)

Thanks in advance

Okay, figured it out. It was Fn + NumLock.

Knew it had to be easy

I solved the same problem with the Fn key for an Acer Laptop, just PRESSING Fn + NumLk. Thanks to the community ! I am smiling againg. Traian

My boss was almost killing me for letting the keys disturb her....thank you guys

wow, this is so awesome completely irritated that I couldn't figure it out. Now I am happy! Thank you!