error activating XKB configuration

fails · 09-29-2005, 12:32 PM

Hi guys

I have the following error appearing after login/final startup. Not a disaster, just more annoying and buggin me more than anything

Quote:

error activating XKB configuration
Probably internal X server problem.

X server version data:
The XFree86 Project, Inc
40300001
You are using XFree 4.3.0.
There are known problems with complete XKB configurations.
Try using simpler configuration or taking more fresh version of XFree software.
If you report this situation as a bug, please include:
- The result of xprop -root | grep XKB
- The result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb

thanks
Dan

fails · 09-29-2005, 12:35 PM

the results

xprop -root | grep XKB

Quote:

_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "uk", "", ""
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "uk", "", ""

gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb

Quote:

layouts = [us]
model = pc105
overrideSettings = true
options = []
update_handlers = []

reddazz · 09-30-2005, 02:49 AM

Try configuring your GNOME keyboard language to be the same as that of X.

fails · 09-30-2005, 07:48 AM

how do i change 'everything' to UK ?

reddazz · 09-30-2005, 11:13 AM

You need to edit /etc/X11/xorg.config and change the lines similar to whats below

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "kbd"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"

to something like this

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "kbd"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
    Option "XkbLayout" "gb"

As for GNOME, you need to use the keyboard configuration utility.

fails · 09-30-2005, 11:37 AM

thanks red

but I can't edit xorg.config as it doesn't seem to exist ???

fails · 09-30-2005, 11:40 AM

ok, after some digging, you mean XF86Config-4 ?

fails · 09-30-2005, 11:47 AM

well its now fixed anyway

thanks Red, your a star!

reddazz · 09-30-2005, 11:53 AM

Well most modern distros use xorg instead of xfree86 so my bad for assuming you were using xorg. Anyway I'm glad you got it sorted out.

zino888 · 07-29-2009, 04:11 AM

I had the same problem. I have tried the above solutions, but they didn't fix the problem. The following worked for me:

Code:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install debconf
$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

Since I use more than one language (and keyboard layout), I've made sure English was set as default during $ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

I've added keyboard indicator to my gnome panel, right clicked it, chosen 'keyboard preferences'. English was default. I added another language (you could chose US en, or UK en) and made it default. Removed the previous default language, and re-added it again. Problem was fixed. I've made English default again, and never saw the warning since.

colintivy · 02-23-2010, 05:51 AM

Hi Folks!

I have looked at a lot of the previous posts on this subject but they are either somewhat dated or not involving my software. I am on Ubuntu 8.04 and OOo Writer.

My problem that has caused the Error Message is no more than I have lost the UK GBP Symbol normally found on Shift 3. All I get is a plain 3! All the other Shift Numbers are fine. I have tried most other fixes but nothing seems to work. I note that if I try to change the action of the key to the Euro sign as permitted in the Keyboard options, nothing happens..only 3!

Knowing that most of youy seem to be USA-based this is probably not one you will have seen. But not many UK users seem to seen it either. I hope for words of wisdom.

colintivy

bathory · 02-23-2010, 06:09 AM

Hi,

Have you tried Right-Alt+3
In my bilingual keyboard (us/gr) the euro sign is typed when I press Right-Alt+E (or 5). And guess what? I have also the pound symbol by pressing Right-Alt+3 (£)

colintivy · 04-07-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bathory

Hi,

Have you tried Right-Alt+3
In my bilingual keyboard (us/gr) the euro sign is typed when I press Right-Alt+E (or 5). And guess what? I have also the pound symbol by pressing Right-Alt+3 (£)

Sorry to be so long in furthering this problem, many conflicting things including a very nasty stomach bug which laid us low (and almost out!)

No, the alternative keying did not achieve anything. Another oddity that has cropped up is that I can no longer get the vertical bar (Alt Gr + key to left of 1) which is a bother, since it is necessary to type the first item required ie "xprop -root" etc., in the error panel. I am hoping that it is not a hardware bug that stops the 3 key from seeing the Shift signal, but that does not explain the absenceof the bar does it?

colintivy

colintivy · 05-05-2010, 10:55 AM

I have got round to looking at this again. I have now found the | which is on Shift \ which is a normal combination on laptops. Why I used to get it as above I do not know.

As far as the pounds symbol is concerned no change, all I get is 3 whether it is shifted or not. This looks like a key problem in that it does not seem to see the shift signal BUT why do I get the error message indicating the "activating XKB configuration"? which suggests indigestion in that area???

I have tried to cat the two files listed without success, I only get another error message from that telling me that an invalid option has been used. The help file does not list this and using some of the options that might work no improvement is achieved. I have used a plain cat before but with no difficulty. The files in the original message are:-
xprop -root | grep XKB and gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peropherals/keyboard/kbd

Any clues out there?

colintivy

bathory · 05-05-2010, 11:42 AM

Hi,

As I told you, I'm using an us/el(gr) keyboard and Ctrl-LShift to change between keyboard layouts, but I guess using just the gb keyboard layout should work.
Are you using the old kbd driver, or the new evdev driver?