turn off fn keys so F1-F12 work normally

On a lot of Dells you don't have to go into the BIOS. Open Windows Mobility Center (search for it) and there's a Fn Key Row tile where you choose function keys or multimedia keys. Lenovo puts the same setting in the Vantage app, usually under hotkey mode.

Try Fn + Esc first. Lots of laptops have a little padlock on the Esc key, that's Fn Lock, and it toggles which row is default. No padlock? Then it's in the BIOS. On HP it's called Action Keys Mode, on Dell something like Function Key Behavior. Set it so the F keys are the primary action and save.