[SOLVED] Cannot switch ttys in console

Bratmon · 07-07-2010, 08:41 AM

[Arch Linux] This has been mildly annoying ever since I installed Arch. From X, I can switch to any of my ttys, using Ctrl+Alt+FN. But when I'm in a console, that key combination does nothing, and I have to restart X11 to get back.

kbp · 07-08-2010, 01:29 AM

When you're in a terminal you don't need the [Ctrl] key.. just [Alt]+Fx

Bratmon · 07-08-2010, 09:16 AM

I just tried that. When I hit Alt+Fx, I just get a blank screen with a single blinking underscore.

pr_deltoid · 07-08-2010, 09:20 AM

If you have Windows logo buttons, have you tried using one of those with F*? My left Windows logo button works for me, when Alt + F* doesn't.

kbp · 07-08-2010, 05:47 PM

Try Alt+F1 to get back to X

pr_deltoid · 07-08-2010, 06:27 PM

I'd like to know how this turns out for you. I've had a problem with a couple of distributions (Slackware and Debian) when it comes to switching ttys. I posted a thread about it not long ago, but it turns out that, like I said, if I hold my left Windows logo button and use F* I can switch around perfectly fine. Switching from X to a tty using Alt + Ctrl + F* works like it should, but beyond that nothing but the left Windows logo button + F* works... but it works fine.

Bratmon · 07-08-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbp

Try Alt+F1 to get back to X

Both meta and alt+Fn both giver me a single blinking underscore.

Bratmon · 07-11-2010, 02:28 PM

It's been 3 days, so bump.

kbp · 07-11-2010, 05:38 PM

Go to an xterm and type 'ps -ef | grep tty' - you should see an entry looking roughly like :

Code:

root      1780  1779  2 07:46 tty1     00:01:05 /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -nr -verbose ...

This shows that X is bound to tty1, so if I switch to a different one '[ctrl][alt]+F3' for example ( tty3 ) then I should be able to get back to my X session with '[alt]+F1'.

This behaviour is compiled in so if it doesn't work it may be that something is effed in your key mapping, have you made any changes in that regard ?

Bratmon · 07-11-2010, 05:57 PM

I should be able to, but when I hit alt+Fn I just get a blinking underscore, no matter which tty it should've switched to.

kbp · 07-12-2010, 02:41 AM

Just checking ... when you say 'Fn' you do mean one of the function keys F1 - F12 correct ? ... not the 'Fn' function key that provides access to contrast controls etc .. ?

Bratmon · 07-12-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbp

Just checking ... when you say 'Fn' you do mean one of the function keys F1 - F12 correct ? ... not the 'Fn' function key that provides access to contrast controls etc .. ?

Yes. F1-F12

kbp · 07-12-2010, 05:39 PM

Sorry .. I'm out of ideas

Bratmon · 07-19-2010, 08:13 AM

Well, it randomly decided to start working, so thread solved, I guess.