The problem is that, for no discernable reason, the left Shift key stops shifting at random intervals. The right Shift key always works.

For instance, I hold down the shift key and use an arrow key to highlight a section of text, and halfway through the hightlighting goes away; yet, if I re-press the Shift key, it will begin highlighting from the point at which the highlighting fails. Other times, I'll press the left Shift key while I'm typing, but the text displays as if I had not pressed the shift key at all.

I've played with kcontrol, switching keyboard layouts and types, but that did not help.

Running Fedora1, KDE 3.2.1-0.1, Nvidia GeForce FX 5400 graphics card.

The problem occurs with a GE PS/2 keyboard, a Dell Wireless keyboard and a MicroSoft wireless keyboard.

Here is the relevant XFConfig86 section:

Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc101"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"

I've set the "XkbModel" option to 'pc102' and pc104' as well, but neither solved the problem.

Help me, please <sob>... my brain is melting... <whimper>...

:-)

I've had this happen too (on two different IBM keyboards).

What sort of motherboard are you using?

Dave

ASUS P800-Deluxe

Hmmm. That board appears to have nothing at all in common with my Gigabyte one.

Oh well. That's my idea out the window.

Dave

Maybe it's just a bad contact point under the left shift key, or that the key itself needs to be removed and re-seated. Have you tried doing that, or using a different keyboard? I can't guarantee it, but given that the keyboard has moving parts, and that moving parts can wear out, I'd be inclined to think that it's a physical problem with the keyboard rather than a mis-configured system parameter. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with it either way. -- J.W.

Yes, I've done all of the above: removed the keys, reseated the keys, alcohol swabbed the keys, cursed the keys... :-)

The reason I believe it's a config problem is that the same issue occurs on three different keyboards, one a PS/2, one a Dell (Logitech) Wireless, and the last a Microsoft Wireless.

Thanks to those who've weighed in so far - here's hoping someone finds an answer... :-)