if you're referring to the keys acting as the volume, brightness, KB brightness, etc. then you just need to go to the keyboard prefs pane and there is a checkbox there to have the keys operate as default F1-F12. You can still use their secondary function (brightness, volume, etc) by holding "fn" and pressing the appropriate F key.
PS The reverse also applies so if by default they act like the volume/brightness, press fn and the F keys they will perform the functions of the standard F keys.
Ruahrc