[ltp] T30 Keyboard Problem

[linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org]

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005, Kenneth DiFiore wrote:

> I am a linux newbie running RH WS on a IBM TP T30. I
> was typing along a of couple days ago, when suddenly
> every keystroke resulted in a system 'beep'.  The
> keyboard works normally when I am logged in as Root,
> or any other user.

Kenneth - you'd really have to say what desktop you're running
(Gnome, KDE etc.), and what terminal application you're running
(gnome-terminal, kconsole, etc?), and if it happens on a console login,
for instance - someone may be able to help then.  At the very vaguest
guess without this information, you could try turning keyclick off -
type "xset c off" - but I can't imagine why it might be on in the
first place and it doesn't sound like your symptoms, or hardware
failure if it doesn't happen for other users.  It's probably
a terminal application setting.

Another route if you're prepare to sacrifice your desktop settings
would be to delete all dot files and directories relevant to your own
desktop, if you're sure it doesn't happen for other users.  For Gnome,
for instance, this would be to delete (or probably rename for safe
keeping your directories like ~/.gnome*, ~/gconf* and ~/.gtk*).
Very brute force though - better to get into looking at Gnome settings
with gconf-editor, but beyond the scope of this mailing list I think.
Similar for KDE.

You could also pop into the #rhel channel on irc.freenode.net.  It's
quiet but can be very helpful if you're patient and give full details
of your setup, and what you've tried.

> I think the people at RH Support do not believe my
> story, and frankly, I've never encountered such a
> quirky problem in all my 'Windows-life'.

If they don't believe you, try holding the phone receiver very close
to your keyboard and pressing keys until they scream.  Then bash the
phone repeatedly on your desk until they plead with you to stop.
Remember all helpdesk people have probably only been in the job two
days :)