How to disable a faulty key on keyboard, for CLI and GUI

silencestone · 08-14-2009, 11:21 AM

The 'H' key on my laptop keeps sending a nigh-constant stream of keypresses without being touched. It slows down boot-ups, interferes with log-ins, and messes up any program that allows text entry. I've found a way to disable keypresses in X:

xmodmap -e 'keycode 43='

However, this doesn't last through a reboot, help boot-up or pre-login difficulties, or work on the console. How else can I disable a key?

ThinkFree · 08-15-2009, 03:59 AM

See if putting the command you mentioned in /etc/bashrc file.

business_kid · 08-15-2009, 04:46 AM

There is a thing called xmodmap, which allows you to add local programming to your keyboard layout. But there are 2 issues. You may have an .Xmodmap file in xinit/

1. Every geypress (real or imagined) triggers an interrupt in the box. If you slow your typematic rate to near zero, the repeats are slower, but still cost significant processing.

2. Programs may want your specific key as input, and the issue there can not always be got around by tweaking. This is rarer but occurs.

catkin · 08-15-2009, 07:02 AM

External keyboard is the way to go. Here's the little beauty I use, same dimensions and layout as a laptop keyboard, small and light enough to carry around and great to type on. I have no association with Cherry Corporation except using and liking their products for over 10 years.