[ubuntu] Shift, control key and other keys problem with VmWare running

[Barmaleychik]

If I start VmWare usually but not always immediately I am getting problems with shift and control keys - they simply don't work. In addition if I work with mouse Firefox works fine, but if I press any key it crashes. Turning off VmWare does not help, but after rebooting everything is working again.

I got this message in another forums:

Originally Posted by Zardus ... the thing with VMWare killing control and shift and such is a known issue. Running: # setxkbmap fixes it temporarily (I think at least until you restart vmware). It's still a pain in the ***, though.

In my case it does not work unless I used the command wrong: at the prompt I copied and pasted: # setxkbmap and pressed enter.

Any ideas?

[fjgaude]

A few folks seemed to have an issue like you describe, most don't though. What kind of computer are you using... just trying to tie the problem to some hardware or BIOS.

[Barmaleychik]

I built my system around ASUS A8N VN CSM motherboard with 2 GIG of RAM, which has built in video and sound. I use seagate SATA 500gig harddrive and which I do not think affect my VmWare

[fjgaude]

Well, it's the "built-in" that's likely something the Ubuntu, Linux developers haven't fully taken into account... there is likely a workaround but I don't know what it might be.

Good luck with finding a solution.

[jonofan]

did you have any luck finding a solution barmaley?

i'm having the exact same issue. my graphics are however not inbuilt. running an hp dv2000 notebook with an nvidia go7200.

[robgolding63]

I have the same issue. I'm running Ubuntu 8.04 on a Dell Dimension, with a PCI-E nVidia graphics card. The only way I can resolve it is to logout of gnome (cannot use Ctrl+Alt+Backspace for obvious reasons), then restart X with the aforementioned key combination.

Strange, and annoying really.

Rob

[biggreen03]

Hey all,
In most posts where people type a command they will use the # sign as an indication of a command prompt. Not sure if I'm stating the obvious, but I think its worth pointing out that # is not part of the command. When Barmaleychik said: "at the prompt I copied and pasted: # setxkbmap and pressed enter." It made me think s/he included the #. Use the command setxkbmap but don't paste the #. I solved the same issue using this command.

[dvaey]

I found this solution on another forum. Simply create a script called "/fix" with the following content. When your control keys stop working (often after switching out of vmware), you can either run /fix from an xterm or from the run dialog. Dont forget to run chmod u+x /fix to allow you to use the script.

This isnt a fix for the problem, but it is a bandaid solution to allow you to continue using your X session after vmware mucks up your keys.

As a side note, Ive found the 'alt' key is untouched, but if you want to switch to a text terminal, you must first click in the vmware window to give vmware full keyboard control, then use Ctl-Alt-FN to jump to text terminal, as the Ctl key wont be recognized unless vmware has keyboard focus.

--- /fix script below ---

#!/bin/sh
/usr/bin/xmodmap - << XXX
clear shift
add shift = Shift_L Shift_R
clear lock
add lock = Caps_Lock
clear control
add control = Control_L Control_R
clear mod1
add mod1 = Alt_L Alt_R
clear mod2
add mod2 = Num_Lock
clear mod3
clear mod4
add mod4 = Super_L Super_R
clear mod5
add mod5 = Scroll_Lock
XXX

--- end of /fix script ---

[insulae]

Originally Posted by dvaey I found this solution on another forum. Simply create a script called "/fix" with the following content. When your control keys stop working (often after switching out of vmware), you can either run /fix from an xterm or from the run dialog. Dont forget to run chmod u+x /fix to allow you to use the script. This isnt a fix for the problem, but it is a bandaid solution to allow you to continue using your X session after vmware mucks up your keys. As a side note, Ive found the 'alt' key is untouched, but if you want to switch to a text terminal, you must first click in the vmware window to give vmware full keyboard control, then use Ctl-Alt-FN to jump to text terminal, as the Ctl key wont be recognized unless vmware has keyboard focus. --- /fix script below --- #!/bin/sh /usr/bin/xmodmap - << XXX clear shift add shift = Shift_L Shift_R clear lock add lock = Caps_Lock clear control add control = Control_L Control_R clear mod1 add mod1 = Alt_L Alt_R clear mod2 add mod2 = Num_Lock clear mod3 clear mod4 add mod4 = Super_L Super_R clear mod5 add mod5 = Scroll_Lock XXX --- end of /fix script ---

great script!! you save my life , i hate this vmware problem.

[trmentry]

there is a bug filed on this.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...rg/+bug/195982