OSX Questions RE: Keyboard

Hi, I have some questions regarding the way my keyboard functions.

There are two aspects:

1. The way the top row of the keyboard (f1, f2, f3, etc.) functions.
f1 and f2 correspond to brightness down and brightness up.
The way it is currently configured is that if i simply press f1 or f2, the computer doesn't register it at f1 or f2 but instead registers it as brightness up or brightness down. If I want to the computer to register it as f1 or f2 I have to hold down the "fn" key.

Is there any way to reverse this arrangement so that by default, pressing f1 corresponds to f1 rather than brightness down?

2. When I press "Shift + 3" I get the following sign: £
When I press "Alt + 3" I get the following sign: #

Is there any way to reverse this?

Thanks a lot.

 

Apple menu-System Preferences-Keyboard

Select "Use all F1, F2, etc keys as standard function keys."

 

What about the wired keyboard, that doens't have an Fn key? How do you switch between regular F keys and brightness, mission control, etc.?

 

Which keyboard are you talking about? If it's the Apple keyboard with the numeric keypad, the fn-key is placed to the left of the Home-key.

 

Yeah, I found it in the pictures afterwards