FC17 gnome 3: problem with typing same character repeatedly
 

kernel-PAE-3.4.3-1.fc17.i686
gnome-shell-3.4.1-5.fc17.i686
on DELL Dimension E520


Hi,

What can I try to solve the following keyboard problem:

Am able to type anything as fast as I want - as long as I do not hit the same key twice.

Eg. if I try to type "www", the 2nd and following "w" would be blocked and I would just hear a warn tone every time I hit 'w'. However, if I type very slowly, about half a second between every stroke, I face no problems. This is especially annoying for the BACKSPACE key, where I cannot quickly delete, let's say, 3 characters.

Continuously holding a key correctly starts the automatic repetition - no problem there.

Hardware setup:
- standard PS2 keyboard
- PS2 mouse
- PS2-based KVM switch
- combined PS2-to-USB adapter for keyboard and mouse

Further facts:
- no typing problem outside of the GUI (if I switch to text terminal)
- no typing problem on an older Linux box attached to same KVM switch
- no problem with the mouse
- no typing problem on older Linux on same machine previously

Any hints welcome! Thanks

Go to System Settings, Universal Access, and make sure 'bounce keys' is turned off.

solved!
 

Hi macemoneta

Thank you so much - that was it! Am not sure why it was enabled, must have been me when I tested each and every feature of the interface.

Though, I keep wondering: in what situation would someone want this setting to be enabled?

Cheers!
Jot

The universal access settings are to assist those that are physically challenged in some way. Some folks have illnesses like Parkinson's disease which cause tremors, making typing difficult.

Oh, I see. Yes, that makes sense.