Null characters (^@) appear in console at boot

roisoleil12 · 12-21-2018, 10:52 PM

Hi everyone,

I am running arch linux on an HP Spectre x360 laptop (model 13-4101dx), with an intel processor.

When I boot the computer and arrive at the login screen in the console, the computer starts typing null characters (^@) in the console by itself. This issue persists for about 1 minutes, and it makes it difficult to type the username/password. The same issue has been reported by several others on HP laptops (as well as desktops), and it seems to be due a bug causing a kernel module (peaq_wmi) to send a steady stream of null characters (caret notation) to the console every few seconds. It does not appear to be a hardware issue, as this is a frequently reported bug and others have tried disconnecting keyboards to desktops, and the issue persists.

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1739030
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=222316
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=230330
https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/c...n_login_field/
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1497861

The solution given in several of those threads is to blacklist the culprit module (seems to be input_polldev in their case, which peaq_wmi depends on). However, the input_polldev module doesn't seem to be running on my computer, so I'm not sure which module is causing the issue here.

Code:

[10:15:09] [~] : lsmod | sort
8021q                  40960  0
ac                     16384  0
ac97_bus               16384  1 snd_soc_core
aesni_intel           200704  4
aes_x86_64             20480  1 aesni_intel
agpgart                49152  2 intel_gtt,drm
ahci                   40960  5
arc4                   16384  2
atkbd                  32768  0
ax25                   73728  0
battery                24576  0
bluetooth             655360  5 btrtl,btintel,btbcm,btusb
btbcm                  16384  1 btusb
btintel                24576  1 btusb
btrtl                  16384  1 btusbn my case.
btusb                  53248  0
ccm                    20480  6
cfg80211              778240  3 iwlmvm,iwlwifi,mac80211
cmdlinepart            16384  0
coretemp               16384  0
crc16                  16384  2 bluetooth,ext4
crc32c_generic         16384  0
crc32c_intel           24576  4
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  0
cryptd                 28672  3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
drm                   495616  7 drm_kms_helper,i915
drm_kms_helper        208896  1 i915
ecdh_generic           24576  1 bluetooth
evdev                  20480  27
ext4                  733184  2
fat                    81920  1 vfat
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
fscrypto               32768  1 ext4
fuse                  118784  3
garp                   16384  1 8021q
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
hid                   139264  4 usbhid,hid_multitouch,hid_sensor_hub,hid_generic
hid_generic            16384  0
hid_multitouch         28672  0
hid_sensor_accel_3d    16384  0
hid_sensor_gyro_3d     16384  0
hid_sensor_hub         20480  7 hid_sensor_gyro_3d,hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_iio_common,hid_sensor_incl_3d,hid_sensor_accel_3d,hid_sensor_magn_3d,hid_sensor_rotation
hid_sensor_iio_common    16384  6 hid_sensor_gyro_3d,hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_incl_3d,hid_sensor_accel_3d,hid_sensor_magn_3d,hid_sensor_rotation
hid_sensor_incl_3d     16384  0
hid_sensor_magn_3d     16384  0
hid_sensor_rotation    16384  0
hid_sensor_trigger     16384  10 hid_sensor_gyro_3d,hid_sensor_incl_3d,hid_sensor_accel_3d,hid_sensor_magn_3d,hid_sensor_rotation
hp_wireless            16384  0
hp_wmi                 16384  0
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 i915
i2c_i801               32768  0
i8042                  32768  0
i915                 2097152  9
industrialio           81920  8 industrialio_triggered_buffer,hid_sensor_gyro_3d,hid_sensor_trigger,hid_sensor_incl_3d,kfifo_buf,hid_sensor_accel_3d,hid_sensor_magn_3d,hid_sensor_rotation
industrialio_triggered_buffer    16384  5 hid_sensor_gyro_3d,hid_sensor_incl_3d,hid_sensor_accel_3d,hid_sensor_magn_3d,hid_sensor_rotation
input_leds             16384  0
intel_cstate           16384  0
intel_gtt              24576  1 i915
intel_powerclamp       16384  0
intel_rapl             24576  0
intel_rapl_perf        16384  0
intel_spi              20480  1 intel_spi_platform
intel_spi_platform     16384  0
intel_uncore          135168  0
intel_vbtn             16384  0
ip_tables              28672  0
irqbypass              16384  1 kvm
iTCO_vendor_support    16384  1 iTCO_wdt
iTCO_wdt               16384  0
iwlmvm                442368  0
iwlwifi               344064  1 iwlmvm
jbd2                  126976  1 ext4
joydev                 24576  0
kfifo_buf              16384  1 industrialio_triggered_buffer
kvm                   737280  1 kvmgt
kvmgt                  28672  0
libahci                40960  1 ahci
libata                278528  2 libahci,ahci
libps2                 16384  2 atkbd,psmouse
llc                    16384  2 stp,garp
lpc_ich                28672  0
mac80211              925696  1 iwlmvm
mac_hid                16384  0
mbcache                16384  1 ext4
mdev                   20480  2 kvmgt,vfio_mdev
media                  45056  2 videodev,uvcvideo
mei                   114688  1 mei_me
mei_me                 45056  0
memstick               16384  1 rtsx_pci_ms
mmc_core              176128  1 rtsx_pci_sdmmc
Module                  Size  Used by
mousedev               24576  0
mrp                    20480  1 8021q
mtd                    69632  5 cmdlinepart,intel_spi,ofpart
nls_cp437              20480  1
nls_iso8859_1          16384  1
ofpart                 16384  0
pcbc                   16384  0
pcc_cpufreq            16384  0
pcspkr                 16384  0
psmouse               172032  0
rfkill                 28672  5 hp_wmi,bluetooth,cfg80211
rng_core               16384  1 tpm
rtsx_pci               73728  2 rtsx_pci_sdmmc,rtsx_pci_ms
rtsx_pci_ms            20480  0
rtsx_pci_sdmmc         28672  0
scsi_mod              253952  2 sd_mod,libata
sd_mod                 61440  6
serio                  28672  6 serio_raw,atkbd,psmouse,i8042
serio_raw              16384  0
snd                    98304  15 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm
snd_compress           24576  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_codec         151552  2 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     57344  1
snd_hda_core           94208  3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_hda_intel          45056  1
snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               131072  9 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_soc_rt298,snd_hda_intel,snd_soc_rt286,snd_hda_codec,snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm,snd_soc_core,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_soc_acpi           16384  2 snd_soc_sst_acpi,snd_soc_acpi_intel_match
snd_soc_acpi_intel_match    24576  1 snd_soc_sst_acpi
snd_soc_core          270336  4 snd_soc_rt298,snd_soc_rt286,snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm,snd_soc_sst_broadwell
snd_soc_rl6347a        16384  2 snd_soc_rt298,snd_soc_rt286
snd_soc_rt286          40960  2 snd_soc_sst_broadwell
snd_soc_rt298          40960  0
snd_soc_sst_acpi       16384  0
snd_soc_sst_broadwell    16384  2
snd_soc_sst_dsp        36864  1 snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm
snd_soc_sst_firmware    32768  1 snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm
snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm   106496  2 snd_soc_sst_broadwell
snd_soc_sst_ipc        16384  1 snd_soc_sst_haswell_pcm
snd_timer              36864  1 snd_pcm
soundcore              16384  1 snd
sparse_keymap          16384  2 hp_wmi,intel_vbtn
spi_nor                36864  1 intel_spi
stp                    16384  1 garp
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
tpm                    65536  2 tpm_tis,tpm_tis_core
tpm_tis                16384  0
tpm_tis_core           20480  1 tpm_tis
usbhid                 57344  0
uvcvideo              118784  0
vfat                   24576  1
vfio                   32768  3 kvmgt,vfio_mdev,vfio_iommu_type1
vfio_iommu_type1       28672  0
vfio_mdev              16384  0
videobuf2_common       53248  2 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       16384  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_v4l2         28672  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_vmalloc      16384  1 uvcvideo
videodev              217088  3 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
wmi                    28672  2 hp_wmi,wmi_bmof
wmi_bmof               16384  0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0
xhci_hcd              262144  1 xhci_pci
xhci_pci               16384  0
x_tables               45056  1 ip_tables

Separately, in one of the earlier threads, a user wrote:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=222316

Quote:

I think it is related to the 'lid virtual button', since it happens whenever I open the lid (after closing it of course). Can reproduce it on a TTY login prompt (just reopen the lid and you'll see those nice '^@') and during a Gnome shell session (for some reason that button is bound to the 'airplane mode' action, and my wifi connection goes off, doesn't matter if resuming a suspend or just reopening the lid).

However, I'm not sure which button this is referring to.

Code:

[10:20:10] [~] : xmodmap -pk
There are 7 KeySyms per KeyCode; KeyCodes range from 8 to 255.

    KeyCode	Keysym (Keysym)	...
    Value  	Value   (Name) 	...

      8    	
      9    	0xff1b (Escape)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff1b (Escape)	
     10    	0x0031 (1)	0x0021 (exclam)	0x0031 (1)	0x0021 (exclam)
     11    	0x0032 (2)	0x0040 (at)	0x0032 (2)	0x0040 (at)	
     12    	0x0033 (3)	0x0023 (numbersign)	0x0033 (3)	0x0023 (numbersign)	
     13    	0x0034 (4)	0x0024 (dollar)	0x0034 (4)	0x0024 (dollar)
     14    	0x0035 (5)	0x0025 (percent)	0x0035 (5)	0x0025 (percent)	
     15    	0x0036 (6)	0x005e (asciicircum)	0x0036 (6)	0x005e (asciicircum)	
     16    	0x0037 (7)	0x0026 (ampersand)	0x0037 (7)	0x0026 (ampersand)	
     17    	0x0038 (8)	0x002a (asterisk)	0x0038 (8)	0x002a (asterisk)	
     18    	0x0039 (9)	0x0028 (parenleft)	0x0039 (9)	0x0028 (parenleft)	
     19    	0x0030 (0)	0x0029 (parenright)	0x0030 (0)	0x0029 (parenright)	
     20    	0x002d (minus)	0x005f (underscore)	0x002d (minus)	0x005f (underscore)	
     21    	0x003d (equal)	0x002b (plus)	0x003d (equal)	0x002b (plus)	
     22    	0xff08 (BackSpace)	0xff08 (BackSpace)	0xff08 (BackSpace)	0xff08 (BackSpace)	
     23    	0xff09 (Tab)	0xfe20 (ISO_Left_Tab)	0xff09 (Tab)	0xfe20 (ISO_Left_Tab)	
     24    	0x0071 (q)	0x0051 (Q)	0x0071 (q)	0x0051 (Q)	
     25    	0x0077 (w)	0x0057 (W)	0x0077 (w)	0x0057 (W)	
     26    	0x0065 (e)	0x0045 (E)	0x0065 (e)	0x0045 (E)	
     27    	0x0072 (r)	0x0052 (R)	0x0072 (r)	0x0052 (R)	
     28    	0x0074 (t)	0x0054 (T)	0x0074 (t)	0x0054 (T)	
     29    	0x0079 (y)	0x0059 (Y)	0x0079 (y)	0x0059 (Y)	
     30    	0x0075 (u)	0x0055 (U)	0x0075 (u)	0x0055 (U)	
     31    	0x0069 (i)	0x0049 (I)	0x0069 (i)	0x0049 (I)	
     32    	0x006f (o)	0x004f (O)	0x006f (o)	0x004f (O)	
     33    	0x0070 (p)	0x0050 (P)	0x0070 (p)	0x0050 (P)	
     34    	0x005b (bracketleft)	0x007b (braceleft)	0x005b (bracketleft)	0x007b (braceleft)	
     35    	0x005d (bracketright)	0x007d (braceright)	0x005d (bracketright)	0x007d (braceright)	
     36    	0xff0d (Return)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff0d (Return)	
     37    	0xffe3 (Control_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe3 (Control_L)	
     38    	0x0061 (a)	0x0041 (A)	0x0061 (a)	0x0041 (A)	
     39    	0x0073 (s)	0x0053 (S)	0x0073 (s)	0x0053 (S)	
     40    	0x0064 (d)	0x0044 (D)	0x0064 (d)	0x0044 (D)	
     41    	0x0066 (f)	0x0046 (F)	0x0066 (f)	0x0046 (F)	
     42    	0x0067 (g)	0x0047 (G)	0x0067 (g)	0x0047 (G)	
     43    	0x0068 (h)	0x0048 (H)	0x0068 (h)	0x0048 (H)	
     44    	0x006a (j)	0x004a (J)	0x006a (j)	0x004a (J)	
     45    	0x006b (k)	0x004b (K)	0x006b (k)	0x004b (K)	
     46    	0x006c (l)	0x004c (L)	0x006c (l)	0x004c (L)	
     47    	0x003b (semicolon)	0x003a (colon)	0x003b (semicolon)	0x003a (colon)	
     48    	0x0027 (apostrophe)	0x0022 (quotedbl)	0x0027 (apostrophe)	0x0022 (quotedbl)	
     49    	0x0060 (grave)	0x007e (asciitilde)	0x0060 (grave)	0x007e (asciitilde)	
     50    	0xffe1 (Shift_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe1 (Shift_L)
     51    	0x005c (backslash)	0x007c (bar)	0x005c (backslash)	0x007c (bar)	
     52    	0x007a (z)	0x005a (Z)	0x007a (z)	0x005a (Z)	
     53    	0x0078 (x)	0x0058 (X)	0x0078 (x)	0x0058 (X)	
     54    	0x0063 (c)	0x0043 (C)	0x0063 (c)	0x0043 (C)	
     55    	0x0076 (v)	0x0056 (V)	0x0076 (v)	0x0056 (V)	
     56    	0x0062 (b)	0x0042 (B)	0x0062 (b)	0x0042 (B)	
     57    	0x006e (n)	0x004e (N)	0x006e (n)	0x004e (N)	
     58    	0x006d (m)	0x004d (M)	0x006d (m)	0x004d (M)	
     59    	0x002c (comma)	0x003c (less)	0x002c (comma)	0x003c (less)	
     60    	0x002e (period)	0x003e (greater)	0x002e (period)	0x003e (greater)	
     61    	0x002f (slash)	0x003f (question)	0x002f (slash)	0x003f (question)	
     62    	0xffe2 (Shift_R)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe2 (Shift_R)
     63    	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0xffaa (KP_Multiply)	0x1008fe21 (XF86ClearGrab)	
     64    	0xffe9 (Alt_L)	0xffe7 (Meta_L)	0xffe9 (Alt_L)	0xffe7 (Meta_L)
     65    	0x0020 (space)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x0020 (space)	
     66    	0xffe5 (Caps_Lock)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe5 (Caps_Lock)	
     67    	0xffbe (F1)	0xffbe (F1)	0xffbe (F1)	0xffbe (F1)	0xffbe (F1)	0xffbe (F1)	0x1008fe01 (XF86Switch_VT_1)	
     68    	0xffbf (F2)	0xffbf (F2)	0xffbf (F2)	0xffbf (F2)	0xffbf (F2)	0xffbf (F2)	0x1008fe02 (XF86Switch_VT_2)	
     69    	0xffc0 (F3)	0xffc0 (F3)	0xffc0 (F3)	0xffc0 (F3)	0xffc0 (F3)	0xffc0 (F3)	0x1008fe03 (XF86Switch_VT_3)	
     70    	0xffc1 (F4)	0xffc1 (F4)	0xffc1 (F4)	0xffc1 (F4)	0xffc1 (F4)	0xffc1 (F4)	0x1008fe04 (XF86Switch_VT_4)	
     71    	0xffc2 (F5)	0xffc2 (F5)	0xffc2 (F5)	0xffc2 (F5)	0xffc2 (F5)	0xffc2 (F5)	0x1008fe05 (XF86Switch_VT_5)	
     72    	0xffc3 (F6)	0xffc3 (F6)	0xffc3 (F6)	0xffc3 (F6)	0xffc3 (F6)	0xffc3 (F6)	0x1008fe06 (XF86Switch_VT_6)	
     73    	0xffc4 (F7)	0xffc4 (F7)	0xffc4 (F7)	0xffc4 (F7)	0xffc4 (F7)	0xffc4 (F7)	0x1008fe07 (XF86Switch_VT_7)	
     74    	0xffc5 (F8)	0xffc5 (F8)	0xffc5 (F8)	0xffc5 (F8)	0xffc5 (F8)	0xffc5 (F8)	0x1008fe08 (XF86Switch_VT_8)	
     75    	0xffc6 (F9)	0xffc6 (F9)	0xffc6 (F9)	0xffc6 (F9)	0xffc6 (F9)	0xffc6 (F9)	0x1008fe09 (XF86Switch_VT_9)	
     76    	0xffc7 (F10)	0xffc7 (F10)	0xffc7 (F10)	0xffc7 (F10)	0xffc7 (F10)	0xffc7 (F10)	0x1008fe0a (XF86Switch_VT_10)	
     77    	0xff7f (Num_Lock)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff7f (Num_Lock)	
     78    	0xff14 (Scroll_Lock)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff14 (Scroll_Lock)	
     79    	0xff95 (KP_Home)	0xffb7 (KP_7)	0xff95 (KP_Home)	0xffb7 (KP_7)	
     80    	0xff97 (KP_Up)	0xffb8 (KP_8)	0xff97 (KP_Up)	0xffb8 (KP_8)	
     81    	0xff9a (KP_Prior)	0xffb9 (KP_9)	0xff9a (KP_Prior)	0xffb9 (KP_9)	
     82    	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0xffad (KP_Subtract)	0x1008fe23 (XF86Prev_VMode)	
     83    	0xff96 (KP_Left)	0xffb4 (KP_4)	0xff96 (KP_Left)	0xffb4 (KP_4)	
     84    	0xff9d (KP_Begin)	0xffb5 (KP_5)	0xff9d (KP_Begin)	0xffb5 (KP_5)	
     85    	0xff98 (KP_Right)	0xffb6 (KP_6)	0xff98 (KP_Right)	0xffb6 (KP_6)	
     86    	0xffab (KP_Add)	0xffab (KP_Add)	0xffab (KP_Add)	0xffab (KP_Add)0xffab (KP_Add)	0xffab (KP_Add)	0x1008fe22 (XF86Next_VMode)	
     87    	0xff9c (KP_End)	0xffb1 (KP_1)	0xff9c (KP_End)	0xffb1 (KP_1)	
     88    	0xff99 (KP_Down)	0xffb2 (KP_2)	0xff99 (KP_Down)	0xffb2 (KP_2)	
     89    	0xff9b (KP_Next)	0xffb3 (KP_3)	0xff9b (KP_Next)	0xffb3 (KP_3)	
     90    	0xff9e (KP_Insert)	0xffb0 (KP_0)	0xff9e (KP_Insert)	0xffb0 (KP_0)	
     91    	0xff9f (KP_Delete)	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	0xff9f (KP_Delete)	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	
     92    	0xfe03 (ISO_Level3_Shift)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xfe03 (ISO_Level3_Shift)	
     93    	
     94    	0x003c (less)	0x003e (greater)	0x003c (less)	0x003e (greater)	0x007c (bar)	0x00a6 (brokenbar)	0x007c (bar)	
     95    	0xffc8 (F11)	0xffc8 (F11)	0xffc8 (F11)	0xffc8 (F11)	0xffc8 (F11)	0xffc8 (F11)	0x1008fe0b (XF86Switch_VT_11)	
     96    	0xffc9 (F12)	0xffc9 (F12)	0xffc9 (F12)	0xffc9 (F12)	0xffc9 (F12)	0xffc9 (F12)	0x1008fe0c (XF86Switch_VT_12)	
     97    	
     98    	0xff26 (Katakana)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff26 (Katakana)	
     99    	0xff25 (Hiragana)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff25 (Hiragana)	
    100    	0xff23 (Henkan_Mode)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff23 (Henkan_Mode)	
    101    	0xff27 (Hiragana_Katakana)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff27 (Hiragana_Katakana)	
    102    	0xff22 (Muhenkan)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff22 (Muhenkan)	
    103    	
    104    	0xff8d (KP_Enter)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff8d (KP_Enter)	
    105    	0xffe4 (Control_R)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe4 (Control_R)	
    106    	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0xffaf (KP_Divide)	0x1008fe20 (XF86Ungrab)	
    107    	0xff61 (Print)	0xff15 (Sys_Req)	0xff61 (Print)	0xff15 (Sys_Req)	
    108    	0xffea (Alt_R)	0xffe8 (Meta_R)	0xffea (Alt_R)	0xffe8 (Meta_R)
    109    	0xff0a (Linefeed)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff0a (Linefeed)	
    110    	0xff50 (Home)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff50 (Home)	
    111    	0xff52 (Up)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff52 (Up)	
    112    	0xff55 (Prior)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff55 (Prior)	
    113    	0xff51 (Left)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff51 (Left)	
    114    	0xff53 (Right)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff53 (Right)	
    115    	0xff57 (End)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff57 (End)	
    116    	0xff54 (Down)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff54 (Down)	
    117    	0xff56 (Next)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff56 (Next)	
    118    	0xff63 (Insert)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff63 (Insert)	
    119    	0xffff (Delete)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffff (Delete)	
    120    	
    121    	0x1008ff12 (XF86AudioMute)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff12 (XF86AudioMute)	
    122    	0x1008ff11 (XF86AudioLowerVolume)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff11 (XF86AudioLowerVolume)	
    123    	0x1008ff13 (XF86AudioRaiseVolume)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff13 (XF86AudioRaiseVolume)	
    124    	0x1008ff2a (XF86PowerOff)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2a (XF86PowerOff)	
    125    	0xffbd (KP_Equal)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffbd (KP_Equal)	
    126    	0x00b1 (plusminus)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x00b1 (plusminus)	
    127    	0xff13 (Pause)	0xff6b (Break)	0xff13 (Pause)	0xff6b (Break)	
    128    	0x1008ff4a (XF86LaunchA)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff4a (XF86LaunchA)	
    129    	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	0xffae (KP_Decimal)	
    130    	0xff31 (Hangul)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff31 (Hangul)	
    131    	0xff34 (Hangul_Hanja)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff34 (Hangul_Hanja)	
    132    	
    133    	0xffeb (Super_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffeb (Super_L)
    134    	0xffec (Super_R)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffec (Super_R)
    135    	0xff67 (Menu)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff67 (Menu)	
    136    	0xff69 (Cancel)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff69 (Cancel)	
    137    	0xff66 (Redo)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff66 (Redo)	
    138    	0x1005ff70 (SunProps)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1005ff70 (SunProps)	
    139    	0xff65 (Undo)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff65 (Undo)	
    140    	0x1005ff71 (SunFront)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1005ff71 (SunFront)	
    141    	0x1008ff57 (XF86Copy)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff57 (XF86Copy)	
    142    	0x1008ff6b (XF86Open)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff6b (XF86Open)	
    143    	0x1008ff6d (XF86Paste)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff6d (XF86Paste)	
    144    	0xff68 (Find)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff68 (Find)	
    145    	0x1008ff58 (XF86Cut)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff58 (XF86Cut)	
    146    	0xff6a (Help)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff6a (Help)	
    147    	0x1008ff65 (XF86MenuKB)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff65 (XF86MenuKB)	
    148    	0x1008ff1d (XF86Calculator)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff1d (XF86Calculator)	
    149    	
    150    	0x1008ff2f (XF86Sleep)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2f (XF86Sleep)	
    151    	0x1008ff2b (XF86WakeUp)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2b (XF86WakeUp)	
    152    	0x1008ff5d (XF86Explorer)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff5d (XF86Explorer)	
    153    	0x1008ff7b (XF86Send)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff7b (XF86Send)	
    154    	
    155    	0x1008ff8a (XF86Xfer)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff8a (XF86Xfer)	
    156    	0x1008ff41 (XF86Launch1)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff41 (XF86Launch1)	
    157    	0x1008ff42 (XF86Launch2)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff42 (XF86Launch2)	
    158    	0x1008ff2e (XF86WWW)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2e (XF86WWW)	
    159    	0x1008ff5a (XF86DOS)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff5a (XF86DOS)	
    160    	0x1008ff2d (XF86ScreenSaver)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2d (XF86ScreenSaver)	
    161    	0x1008ff74 (XF86RotateWindows)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff74 (XF86RotateWindows)	
    162    	0x1008ff7f (XF86TaskPane)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff7f (XF86TaskPane)	
    163    	0x1008ff19 (XF86Mail)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff19 (XF86Mail)	
    164    	0x1008ff30 (XF86Favorites)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff30 (XF86Favorites)	
    165    	0x1008ff33 (XF86MyComputer)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff33 (XF86MyComputer)	
    166    	0x1008ff26 (XF86Back)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff26 (XF86Back)	
    167    	0x1008ff27 (XF86Forward)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff27 (XF86Forward)	
    168    	
    169    	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	
    170    	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	
    171    	0x1008ff17 (XF86AudioNext)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff17 (XF86AudioNext)	
    172    	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	0x1008ff31 (XF86AudioPause)	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	0x1008ff31 (XF86AudioPause)	
    173    	0x1008ff16 (XF86AudioPrev)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff16 (XF86AudioPrev)	
    174    	0x1008ff15 (XF86AudioStop)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	0x1008ff15 (XF86AudioStop)	0x1008ff2c (XF86Eject)	
    175    	0x1008ff1c (XF86AudioRecord)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff1c (XF86AudioRecord)	
    176    	0x1008ff3e (XF86AudioRewind)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff3e (XF86AudioRewind)	
    177    	0x1008ff6e (XF86Phone)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff6e (XF86Phone)	
    178    	
    179    	0x1008ff81 (XF86Tools)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff81 (XF86Tools)	
    180    	0x1008ff18 (XF86HomePage)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff18 (XF86HomePage)	
    181    	0x1008ff73 (XF86Reload)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff73 (XF86Reload)	
    182    	0x1008ff56 (XF86Close)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff56 (XF86Close)	
    183    	
    184    	
    185    	0x1008ff78 (XF86ScrollUp)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff78 (XF86ScrollUp)	
    186    	0x1008ff79 (XF86ScrollDown)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff79 (XF86ScrollDown)	
    187    	0x0028 (parenleft)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x0028 (parenleft)	
    188    	0x0029 (parenright)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x0029 (parenright)	
    189    	0x1008ff68 (XF86New)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff68 (XF86New)	
    190    	0xff66 (Redo)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff66 (Redo)	
    191    	0x1008ff81 (XF86Tools)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff81 (XF86Tools)	
    192    	0x1008ff45 (XF86Launch5)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff45 (XF86Launch5)	
    193    	0x1008ff46 (XF86Launch6)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff46 (XF86Launch6)	
    194    	0x1008ff47 (XF86Launch7)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff47 (XF86Launch7)	
    195    	0x1008ff48 (XF86Launch8)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff48 (XF86Launch8)	
    196    	0x1008ff49 (XF86Launch9)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff49 (XF86Launch9)	
    197    	
    198    	0x1008ffb2 (XF86AudioMicMute)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffb2 (XF86AudioMicMute)	
    199    	0x1008ffa9 (XF86TouchpadToggle)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffa9 (XF86TouchpadToggle)	
    200    	0x1008ffb0 (XF86TouchpadOn)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffb0 (XF86TouchpadOn)	
    201    	0x1008ffb1 (XF86TouchpadOff)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffb1 (XF86TouchpadOff)	
    202    	
    203    	0xff7e (Mode_switch)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff7e (Mode_switch)	
    204    	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe9 (Alt_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe9 (Alt_L)	
    205    	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe7 (Meta_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffe7 (Meta_L)	
    206    	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffeb (Super_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffeb (Super_L)	
    207    	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffed (Hyper_L)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xffed (Hyper_L)	
    208    	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	
    209    	0x1008ff31 (XF86AudioPause)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff31 (XF86AudioPause)	
    210    	0x1008ff43 (XF86Launch3)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff43 (XF86Launch3)	
    211    	0x1008ff44 (XF86Launch4)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff44 (XF86Launch4)	
    212    	0x1008ff4b (XF86LaunchB)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff4b (XF86LaunchB)	
    213    	0x1008ffa7 (XF86Suspend)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffa7 (XF86Suspend)	
    214    	0x1008ff56 (XF86Close)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff56 (XF86Close)	
    215    	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff14 (XF86AudioPlay)	
    216    	0x1008ff97 (XF86AudioForward)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff97 (XF86AudioForward)	
    217    	
    218    	0xff61 (Print)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff61 (Print)	
    219    	
    220    	0x1008ff8f (XF86WebCam)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff8f (XF86WebCam)	
    221    	
    222    	
    223    	0x1008ff19 (XF86Mail)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff19 (XF86Mail)	
    224    	0x1008ff8e (XF86Messenger)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff8e (XF86Messenger)	
    225    	0x1008ff1b (XF86Search)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff1b (XF86Search)	
    226    	0x1008ff5f (XF86Go)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff5f (XF86Go)	
    227    	0x1008ff3c (XF86Finance)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff3c (XF86Finance)	
    228    	0x1008ff5e (XF86Game)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff5e (XF86Game)	
    229    	0x1008ff36 (XF86Shop)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff36 (XF86Shop)	
    230    	
    231    	0xff69 (Cancel)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0xff69 (Cancel)	
    232    	0x1008ff03 (XF86MonBrightnessDown)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff03 (XF86MonBrightnessDown)	
    233    	0x1008ff02 (XF86MonBrightnessUp)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff02 (XF86MonBrightnessUp)	
    234    	0x1008ff32 (XF86AudioMedia)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff32 (XF86AudioMedia)	
    235    	0x1008ff59 (XF86Display)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff59 (XF86Display)	
    236    	0x1008ff04 (XF86KbdLightOnOff)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff04 (XF86KbdLightOnOff)	
    237    	0x1008ff06 (XF86KbdBrightnessDown)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff06 (XF86KbdBrightnessDown)	
    238    	0x1008ff05 (XF86KbdBrightnessUp)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff05 (XF86KbdBrightnessUp)	
    239    	0x1008ff7b (XF86Send)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff7b (XF86Send)	
    240    	0x1008ff72 (XF86Reply)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff72 (XF86Reply)	
    241    	0x1008ff90 (XF86MailForward)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff90 (XF86MailForward)	
    242    	0x1008ff77 (XF86Save)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff77 (XF86Save)	
    243    	0x1008ff5b (XF86Documents)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff5b (XF86Documents)	
    244    	0x1008ff93 (XF86Battery)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff93 (XF86Battery)	
    245    	0x1008ff94 (XF86Bluetooth)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff94 (XF86Bluetooth)	
    246    	0x1008ff95 (XF86WLAN)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ff95 (XF86WLAN)	
    247    	
    248    	
    249    	
    250    	
    251    	
    252    	
    253    	
    254    	0x1008ffb4 (XF86WWAN)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffb4 (XF86WWAN)	
    255    	0x1008ffb5 (XF86RFKill)	0x0000 (NoSymbol)	0x1008ffb5 (XF86RFKill)

If I could figure out the key causing this issue, I might be able to use xmodmap to assign 'NoSymbol' to that button by running the following code, where XXX is the corresponding key number.

Code:

xmodmap -e 'keycode XXX: NoSymbol'

My confusion stems from the fact that in those previous threads, the users suggest blacklisting "input_polldev" as the solution (or, alternatively, to assign 'NoSymbol' to the key causing the null byte to be sent to the console), but I don't seem to be running the module and don't know which key the "lid virtual button" is referring to.

That's why I'm struggling a bit with how to proceed.

As a current work around, I am using a display manager (LXDM) to login, and these characters don't appear there. But ideally I'd drop the display manager.

Any input would be much appreciated, thank you.

ondoho · 12-22-2018, 03:07 AM

what i read is that you haven't actually tried any of the solutions you found, you were just "wondering".
am i correct?
if i am, i suggest you do just that.
if i am not, show us something.

roisoleil12 · 12-22-2018, 10:56 AM

Hi Ondoho,
As I indicated in my 1st post, I've come across two apparent solutions/workarounds.

1) Disable the kernel module "input_polldev" or (2) disable the "lid virtual button" using xmodmap.

As I showed in my lsmod in the 1st post, "input_polldev" isn't running on my computer, so I can't disable it. I instead tried disabling a number of other potential culprits (all the hid_sensor_* modules and ax25), to no avail. And I don't know what the "lid virtual button" is referring to (which is why I posted my xmodmap -pk output above), so I'm not sure what to do there.

I ran libinput debug-events to try to see what was going on, and I think I identified the spurious input. The null bytes (series of three ^@ in a row) showed up after I switched to tty2 login prompt, closed the lid, and opened it. This is what was captured by libinput:

Code:

-event0   SWITCH_TOGGLE    +31.14s	switch lid state 1
 event0   SWITCH_TOGGLE    +33.20s	switch lid state 0
-event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.20s	KEY_WLAN (238) pressed
 event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.21s	KEY_WLAN (238) released
 event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.23s	KEY_WLAN (238) pressed
 event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.23s	KEY_WLAN (238) released
 event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.25s	KEY_WLAN (238) pressed
 event3   KEYBOARD_KEY     +33.26s	KEY_WLAN (238) released

I'm probably missing something obvious, but the KEY_WLAN doesn't correspond to any key in xmodmap -pk, so I'm not sure how to disable this event from occurring.

pan64 · 12-22-2018, 11:02 AM

does it have a wifi on/off switch (or something similar)?

roisoleil12 · 12-22-2018, 11:06 AM

Only an airplane mode button. When I click that button while libinput debug-events is running, it shows this though:

Code:

-event4   KEYBOARD_KEY      +1.69s	KEY_RFKILL (247) pressed
 event4   KEYBOARD_KEY      +1.69s	KEY_RFKILL (247) released

pan64 · 12-22-2018, 11:12 AM

you posted an xmodmap -pk list. There is an XF86RFKill (line 255) and also a XF86WLAN (line 246).
I don't know if it was usable, but you can try to remap that event to something else. Probably.

roisoleil12 · 12-22-2018, 11:15 AM

Thanks for spotting the WLAN key, which might be related to KEY_WLAN. Would you recommend I try the following command:

Code:

xmodmap -e 'keycode 246 = NoSymbol'

pan64 · 12-22-2018, 11:22 AM

I cannot recommend you anything, because I don't know if that helps. But if you don't have any idea it is just a bit better than nothing. At least if you can't find anything else to do. By the way from here it looks like a keyboard (hardware) related error, but again, I'm unsure.

roisoleil12 · 12-22-2018, 11:29 AM

The reason I don't think it's a keyboard error is that it's a bug reported by numerous users of the HP Spectre x360 laptop (see threads in original post). Everyone is reporting same null bytes being sent to login console, and it appears to be due to a faulty module that is null bombing the console.

In any case, this didn't solve the issue (the xmodmap -pk in the 1st post already indicates that this keycode already has NoSymbol assigned to it, I think):

Code:

xmodmap -e 'keycode 246 = NoSymbol'