keyboard quits responding, Alt-F3 and Alt-F7 restores it

pldobs · 02-23-2011, 11:21 PM

I'm using a Toshiba Satellite P505 Intel dual core and 6 gig ram with 64 bit Ubuntu 10.10. Every now and then (often while using Open Office), my keyboard stops responding. I have not reliably been able to reproduce this. It seems somewhat random. Additionally, clicking on any of the Ubuntu menu items such as Places, or Applications does not pull down the menu. Mouse seems to work other than that. If I press Alt-F3 and then Alt-F7, everything returns to normal. Any ideas what is causing this or if there is a known fix?

business_kid · 02-25-2011, 08:40 AM

Scripts running in your browser? Make sure that is closed before you get out of bed looking for one like that. I'm using the NoScript add on after an experience on some dodgy site.

onebuck · 02-25-2011, 10:53 AM

Hi,

If the problem is not a script then look at the 'logs' to see what's going on.

I agree with the use of NoScript & AdBlock. Be careful when you setup both together.

pldobs · 02-25-2011, 01:56 PM

I don't think it is relted to scripts. Probelm generally does not occur while using firefox. It happened three times in about a half hour while working on a wedding invitation in Open Office Draw. Please pardon my ignorance but could you give me a little direction on how to go about checking my 'logs'? What 'logs' should I check? how do I check them and what do I look for?

onebuck · 02-25-2011, 02:27 PM

Hi,

Look at 'dmesg' & '/var/log/Xorg.0.log' or even '/var/log/syslog'.