Ubuntu virtual machine keyboard problem

Anima

I'm currently running Ubuntu 8.10 on VMware. I'm intending to install it natively but I'm having a few problems with the keyboard. Its acting as if the function key is held down all the time which means some letters such as J, K and L always return numbers when hit. I can get the letters if I hold the function key and hit the letter. So its like its inverted.

The laptop is a Dell Vostro 1510. I've tried all the different Dell varients in the keyboard layout section with no luck. There doesn't seem to be a specific Vostro one either. I've been googling for a while with no luck so far.

I don't think its VMware but its always a possibility. Might try another distro and see.

Any ideas?

Orion

This sounds like it's on a laptop. I've had this before using VPN - I'd guess the numlock was on when you installed it and now it's off. Try toggling the Numlock and see what happens.

Anima

Yeah that was it alright. How retarded, seems I have to toggle it when I start the virtual machine now. Ah well at least it works now.

Thanks Macros42

ethernet

Not using Ubuntu but there should be an option tucked away in some menu (possibly under Other --> Preferences --> Keyboard something or other) that allows you to enable or disable num lock on boot.

generalmiaow

ethernet wrote: »

Not using Ubuntu but there should be an option tucked away in some menu (possibly under Other --> Preferences --> Keyboard something or other) that allows you to enable or disable num lock on boot.

You can access this by pressing F2 just after starting the VM, you enter a PhoenixBIOS setup screen, and on the first page there is an item called "Keyboard features".

ethernet

generalmiaow wrote: »

You can access this by pressing F2 just after starting the VM, you enter a PhoenixBIOS setup screen, and on the first page there is an item called "Keyboard features".

That's a handy alternative. I know it's definitely in KDE.