typing unworkable

rblampain · 09-22-2012, 07:21 AM

Debian 6 generic Install.

It does not matter whether you use "gedit" or type in "google", pressing the "delete" key prints unwanted characters and the only way to delete all those unwanted characters is to use the arrow key to position the cursor past these characters and press the "backckspace" key as many times as necessary.

What is going on?

How can I solve this?

Thank you for your help.

Hungry ghost · 09-22-2012, 09:21 AM

Have you checked the keyboard layout options and made sure you're using the right layout for your keyboard? Also, on the keyboard settings, check if the "Delete" key is mapped to some other key it shouldn't be.

tronayne · 09-22-2012, 09:37 AM

Try this:

Code:

echo ${TERM}

Probably ought to be xterm (with X running and in a terminal window, that is). If it isn't, try (in the terminal window)

Code:

export TERM=xterm

and see if that helps.

The characters you're seeing are the codes produced by the "special keys" for controlling the terminal (like back space, delete, home, end, page up, page down and the like). You probably don't have your TERM environment variable defined.

If you're on the console; i.e., X is not running, the TERM value may be linux (rather than console). Use an editor (like vi) and look at /etc/termcap to see if there is an entry for linux and, if not, for console. Then, on the console (not a terminal window in X))

Code:

export TERM=linux

and see if that helps.

So, with X running, TERM should be xterm; with X not running, TERM should be linux or, maybe, console. Somewhere in the log in system the TERM environment variable will be set, can't tell you where that might be in Debian but it ought to be somewhere in /etc (you can grep TERM and probably find the file).

Hope this helps some.

rblampain · 09-22-2012, 11:36 PM

Thank you for your answers, this is probably the most stupid question I have ever asked, I think I must control my drinking. The problem was the "delete/insert" key that had been set to the wrong mode on this new Asus laptop.

My apologies for abusing your time.

---------- Post added 09-23-12 at 12:36 PM ----------

Thank you for your answers, this is probably the most stupid question I have ever asked, I think I must control my drinking. The problem was the "delete/insert" key that had been set to the wrong mode on this new Asus laptop.

My apologies for abusing your time.