The number '2' key on my keyboard cause X to restart

[PcPrisoner]

 This has become madening. I did a liveusb install, and whether in kwrite or a terminal, when I about every 5th time I hit the number '2' key X restarts, just like I hit CTRL-ALT-Backspace.

 

[T6]

more info please

kde4?  laptop or desktop

have you changed keyboard options?

is the keyboard working properly?

[PcPrisoner]

Yep, KDE4, pclos 2010.11, on a liveUSB, on an Acer Aspire1 netbook. I didn't have this problem with a full install on the netbooks internal SSD, just on an external flash drive. Or on my desktop PC with 2011. Its not *every* fifth time I hit '2', but occasionaly when I bring up kwrite or terminal, I'll hit the '2' key and X crashes so I end up back at the login screen. I have to select the keyboard options before I can login on boot; I've always choosen "US". And yes, my keyboard works properly aside from this.

Although on my desktop, to make my trackball scroll I, have to put     "Option         "allowmouseopenfail"" and some mouse-stuff in my Xorg.conf file which then knocks out my Ctrl-Alt-Backspace hotkeys to abort and restart my X-session.

I don't get it when I want it and get it when I don't want it.

Aaarrrgggghhhhhhhh 

[Was_Just19]

That is using the Guest account?
Yes this is there not only for you

If you are using Persistence, try creating a new account and report if the problem is present in the new account also, please.

regards.

EDIT
           Here if I hit the 'R' key, one of the keyboard lights toggles on/off.
Hitting the '2' key gives immediate log off.
Does not happen in other user accounts.

[PcPrisoner]

No, I'm working as root to set things up.

I'm trying to use persistence. I get my desktop documents to stick, but not my keyboard selection or fstab (which really bugs me since, as another I found here, wants to run /tmp in ram to minimize SSD wear, and I also have a bunch of other configs, like the IO schedular and disk-caching configs and stuff I'm afraid isn't being kept either).

I've butchered my initrd in the hopes of deducing something about where the changes= and the union file system is being setup, so I might be able to change how the union file system  ???gets mounted to save my fstab and system settings, but they aren't in initrd, or in /etc from my word-searches. Perhaps in the kernel? At least I was able to discern (and belatedly remember) those liveusb initrd's don't like ext4 filesystems.

Tried hitting the 'r' and 'R' keys, and all the rest, then the '2', but it only seems to do it when I'm just normaly typing either in a terminal or kwrite. Quit intermittent.

[Was_Just19]

fstab is rebuilt at each boot, as I understand it, which is a requirements for a portable USB stick being plugged into different hardware.
There have been changes to the 2010.12 series of ISOs in regard to how they run live from USB device. Those changes were made to the rc.sysinit and linux rc files in /usr/share/mylivecd.

You *may* be able to build your own remaster with the boot options changed ......  never tried it myself so do not *know* if that will work.

Using persistence here, my keyboard selection does stick ....  on each boot my selection is highlighted and just requires a press of the Enter key. All other locale settings are also remembered.

I create a different user from the default 'guest' and auto login to that user.

regards.

[smcs_steve]

Yep, KDE4, pclos 2010.11, on a liveUSB, on an Acer Aspire1 netbook. I didn't have this problem with a full install on the netbooks internal SSD, just on an external flash drive. Or on my desktop PC with 2011. Its not *every* fifth time I hit '2', but occasionaly when I bring up kwrite or terminal, I'll hit the '2' key and X crashes so I end up back at the login screen.

Hi PcPrisoner,
I've been trying to track down this "number '2' key issue".  So far the problem appears to be limited to laptops. You may have some luck if you disable the synaptic pad and use a mouse instead!  I suspect there may be some synaptic interference / noise from thumb dragging while pressing the '2' key??

Also I see some chatter on the Vista forums regarding similar symptoms>

Example. on my ACER Laptop Model Aspire 5720Z I have on the number 2 key it has -- the number 2, the @ Sign in black colour, the (") Sign in Green Colour and the @ Sign again in Green.

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/275005-keyboard-error-green-key-symbols.html
Whatever.....

Hope this gives you some clues.
>Steve

[Was_Just19]

I've been trying to track down this "number '2' key issue".  So far the problem appears to be limited to laptops. You may have some luck if you disable the synaptic pad and use a mouse instead!  I suspect there may be some synaptic interference / noise from thumb dragging while pressing the '2' key??

It is not confined to laptops .....  the 'problem' shows on Desktops too.

I suggest that a new user be created  -- does the problem still show? .....

then changes made to the Desktop of the new user -- and monitor the problem.

Do you also see, before pressing the '2' key, that pressing the 'R' key has an effect on the keyboard lights?

[smcs_steve]

I suggest that a new user be created  -- does the problem still show? .....

Yes... Already tried that possibility.... Problem persisted with new user I created.
>Steve

[smcs_steve]

The other thing in common with the 'unstable machines' I have identified is they all have 1GB of RAM or less!
Most of these PCs also have integrated video so the amount of available RAM is smaller still.
My Gigabyte MB PC (2GB RAM) runs LiveOS persistence fine.
All purely coincidental I suspect!
>Steve

[PcPrisoner]

Acer Aspire 1 netbook:
2 gig ram (only 1.5 GB works).
i945 video, 262,144 MB memory

And I tried typing "2" while tickling the synaptic pad. It won't do it now.

Yay!  You've fixed it!

[smcs_steve]

That is using the Guest account?
If you are using Persistence, try creating a new account
Hitting the '2' key gives immediate log off.
Does not happen in other user accounts.

Just to clarify some details -- I use a LiveOS USB stick as part of my daily work. (dd data rescue stuff)
I initially setup the USB stick with a new user account (Owner) and deleted the Guest account.  I've set auto login to Owner.  
When the stick boots to the inital X session desktop I press <ctrl> + <alt> <bs><bs> to logout and then login manually to Owner again.
After this procedure the session is stable with no '2' key issue.
Why is it so?
>Steve

EDIT>  Is there a way to clear the keyboard/inputs buffer(s) to work around this problem? 
(I'd like to try it as an addition to the Autostart scrip.)

[JALU]

For possible solution see here>
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,93158.msg783024.html#msg783024

Thanks Tex..
Well I'm back from Gnome purgatory Wink (Gnome PCLOS is an attractive clean distro BTW)
I built a LiveUSB stick from the Gnome 2010.12 iso and tested persistence stability with the "2" issue.  Same result with Xsession restart there too!. (Intel on board graphics)
However..
In my browsing of the forum today I came across and unrelated post by djohnston> http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,93235.msg782937.html#msg782937
Quote
I've seen this on both ethernet and wireless. The fix is pretty simple, actually. As user root, edit the file /etc/sysconfig/speedboot. Find the line: (last line in the file)
SPEEDBOOT=auto
Change auto to no. That should correct it.


The startup race with my Xsession sounded eerily similar so I edited /etc/sysconfig/speedboot to speedboot=no
The "2" issue - Xsession crash disappeared! Yippee!

Just to double check this I reset speedboot back to auto and yes> "2" issue returned.  Set speedboot to no and problem corrected again!

Cages