Error activating XKB configuration

[Sparragus]

Hey there! Everytime I restart the computer (or restart X as well) I get this error.

Error activating XKB configuration.
It can happen under various circumstances:
- a bug in libxklavier library
- a bug in X server (xkbcomp, xmodmap utilities)
- X server with incompatible libxkbfile implementation

X server version data:
The X.Org Foundation
10400090

If you report this situation as a bug, please include:
- The result of xprop -root | grep XKB
- The result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd


The result of xprop -root | grep XKB:
_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "mac", "lv3:ralt_switch"
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "mac", "lv3:ralt_switch"


And The result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd is
layouts = []
model = macbook78
options = [Compose key compose:rwin]
overrideSettings = true

I'm using Ubuntu 8.04 on a Macbook Core Duo.

Any help on how to fix this is greatly appreciated.

[HuoMaKe]

I have the same problem, same configuration except with a dvorak variant.

I think it started after I tried switching to a French keyboard (with dvorak variant), but even after I switched back it won't work.

xprop -root | grep XKB:

_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us-dvorak", "", ""
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us-dvorak", "", ""


gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd:

layouts = [us-dvorak]
model =
options = [compose compose:lalt]
overrideSettings = true

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Rog-Mahal]

*Bump* Same problem as Sparragus.

:~$ xprop -root | grep XKB
_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "mac", "lv3:ralt_switch"
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "mac", "lv3:ralt_switch"


:~$ gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd
layouts = []
model = macbook78
options = [lv3 lv3:ralt_switch,lv3 lv3:switch]
overrideSettings = true

[undertakingyou]

I have the same issue with a third gen MacBook Pro. Has anyone gotten a workaround here?

[cyberdork33]

Since this asks for technical information to be posted, it might be helpful to find / start a bug report in launchpad.

[undertakingyou]

Since this asks for technical information to be posted, it might be helpful to find / start a bug report in launchpad.

Wonderful suggestion, I guess this should have been my first thought on the matter. There is a bug here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xkeyboard-config/+bug/67188, and it says that it has 7 duplicates. Interesting also that this has been an issue since Edgy, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence that it will be fixed.

There is a post on the bug that is noteworthy. A friend of mine, Christer Edwards, gave a sort of workaround on the matter. I'll have to check it out and post back if I can find anything.

The reason that this bothers me so much is because NumLock doesn't work. I figure that the reason is because the keyboard layout isn't set right, so I try and change it and get the bug. Does anybody else have this same symptom? Where the NumLock light goes on but the keys don't work?

[cyberdork33]

Wonderful suggestion, I guess this should have been my first thought on the matter. There is a bug here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xkeyboard-config/+bug/67188, and it says that it has 7 duplicates. Interesting also that this has been an issue since Edgy, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence that it will be fixed.

There is a post on the bug that is noteworthy. A friend of mine, Christer Edwards, gave a sort of workaround on the matter. I'll have to check it out and post back if I can find anything.

The reason that this bothers me so much is because NumLock doesn't work. I figure that the reason is because the keyboard layout isn't set right, so I try and change it and get the bug. Does anybody else have this same symptom? Where the NumLock light goes on but the keys don't work?
The numlock thing is actually another bug, but for Apple keyboards only... Pressing F6 twice should turn numlock on/off. There are several issues affecting Apple keyboards right now. Read through these bug reports and see if any of the information helps.
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/mactel-support/+bug/201887
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/mactel-support/+bug/207127
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/mactel-support/+bug/214786
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/mactel-support/+bug/201711

[undertakingyou]

So two things that relate to this thread. I was able to change the keyboard layout to MacBook/MacBook Pro by running gksudo gnome-keyboard-properties Once I did it as root it worked just fine. My theory for doing that being that maybe the gnome tool would need to edit the xorg and didn't have the permissions. I don't know if that is true but, that is what I did.

Second thing: with my numlock issues, I found that if I edited the xorg.conf and added this Option "XkbOption" "numpad:mac" my numlocked worked as designed. I don't know if anyone else had the same problem I did but, that seemed to fix it.

[cyberdork33]

So two things that relate to this thread. I was able to change the keyboard layout to MacBook/MacBook Pro by running gksudo gnome-keyboard-properties Once I did it as root it worked just fine. My theory for doing that being that maybe the gnome tool would need to edit the xorg and didn't have the permissions. I don't know if that is true but, that is what I did.

Second thing: with my numlock issues, I found that if I edited the xorg.conf and added this Option "XkbOption" "numpad:mac" my numlocked worked as designed. I don't know if anyone else had the same problem I did but, that seemed to fix it.
gnome and xorg can use two different keyboard settings. That might have actually been the problem.

That is a nifty option, though there really was a bug in the kernel and i think it is supposed to be fixed upstream.

[Motorhead Kaze]

I just developed this bug today. While trying to get over an issue with Gnome breaking down, then going WHITE, somehow my Japanese keyboard settings no longer work. The settings are correct in the keyboard menu, but my keys are wrong for my keyboard now.

I tried going through the terminal
gksudo gnome-keyboard-properties

But I got my hopes up too fast, it READS that things are right, but they are not.

Why in the heck would Gnome and xorg have different keyboard setups? Any other workarounds for this annoying XKB error issue? Reporting the bug will help people...in like, Jeopardized Jaguar or something like that, but I need this fixed like...by tomorrow?

So, "Bump" and "Bump" again for good measure.

[Motorhead Kaze]

How weird, I am sure I responded to this after I fixed the problem but...

Get into xorg.conf

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

went to "InputDevice" and deleted all these options (the red text)
[code]
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
option us 105
option japan 106
option... (something, I forget what it was)

EndSection

I had all these Options right after "driver 'kbd'" that were in conflict with the settings in my keyboard prefs. I deleted all of those options, did ctrl+alt+bksp, then went to system/preferences/keyboard and reset my keyboard to the way I want it (Japanese keyboard, 106keys). Now my keyboard is back to normal.

[Ceylo]

I was having the same "Error activating XKB configuration" message on my MacBook (4,1) with Ubuntu 8.04 because I had chosen the "MacBook/MacBook Pro (Intl)" layout instead of the "Apple" one. I don't really know the differences between these keyboard layouts but everything is working fine now.

[ramnarayan]

Have the same problem and it appeared after updating my 9.04
so its quite sure some update messed my system up - the question is what ??

..

Get into xorg.conf

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

went to "InputDevice" and deleted all these options (the red text)
[code]


ok i tried that but the following are the entire editable contents of my xorg.conf
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
SubSection "Display"
Virtual 2424 1050
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

seems like nothing to do with the keyboard is in it.

??

ram

[betaparadogma]

Same thing here with german USB Apple Keyboard (on Ubuntu 9.04). No AT sign, no EURO, no nothing instead I also receive this funky error message.

(AT) Motorhead Kaze
Sadly your hint with removing all the trash from the
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
but in my case there is no entries for "inputdevices" neither!


Please Mr. Shuttleworth help us willing Mac guys to switch to Ubuntu... ;)