I am encountering this problem for a while i haven't found a good google site to solve it, so I am asking for help here,

in my novell linux (basically suse), the default configuration for vi make the backspace key acting wired, if you're "esc"ing out of editing a line, and re-insert, when you hit backspace and it won't go back and delete the context, it only allows you to do that when the text is "freshly" entered which mean you're in the insert mode and haven't exit out of it (<-- that also only limits to the text just you currently typed-in). I just want to use backspace like in MS word, when I hit backspace and I am in insert mode, i want to delete things no matter where i am. If i am not in insert mode, i just want to mode back a space. How can i do that? Is this a suse keyboard conf problem or vi conf problem, please let me know the solution if you have one. thanks.

I have seen a long time ago the solution, and the problem is in vim's configuration... that's all I remember rith now

Yes!!! an old FAQ:

12.26. In insert mode, when I press the backspace key, it erases only the
characters entered in this instance of insert mode. How do I erase
previously entered characters in insert mode using the backspace
key?

You can set the 'backspace' option to erase previously entered characters
in insert mode:

:set backspace=indent,eol,start

For more information, read

:help 'backspace'