The keyboard that hangs and gets me mad

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1

Hello everyone

Not sure this is the best place for this… Sorry by advance.

To start with simple words, my problem is the following: at completely random moment, my keyboard hangs and doesn’t react any more. If I type any key after, nothing happens, but if I was typing something the moment it hanged, then the key is repeated. Any key. Often, it ends like thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii… The only cure is to hard-reboot.

First, I can say the problem isn’t keyboard mechanically related. The computer is a desktop one, with an IBM PS/2 keyboard, and I dual boot Linux and Windows on it; I have never had this on Windows. And unplug-replug the keyboard when the problem occurs doesn’t help. This is why I haven’t posted this in the hardware forum…

Second, the problem is distro independent: I have had it on Ubuntu, Debian and now OpenSUSE. OpenSUSE 11.3 and 12.2 gave me some rest, but now I have installed 13.1/Tumbleweed, it is there again.

So I believe this is related to something common to those 3 OSes and my hardware. The kernel? X? The desktop (Gnome2, Gnome2 and Gnome3)? I really don’t know. It make me think the “keyboard driver” suddenly freezes and gives the system its latest state…

I have searched for this on the Internet, but I haven’t found anything like that. I am even not sure to post this in the right forum, but well, I have to start somewhere.

Imagine when it occurs and I’m on vim or in TTY… Imagine when it occurs and I’m writing to a friend of mine in a web interface; it’s like the system just says: “hey man, nice long letter! Now, i gonna freeze the keyboard with the DEL key pressed; you can’t help but lose your message!” That drives me nuts…

If you have any clue… Thank you for your answers.

2

Well, regardless of it working in windows, I’d try another keyboard first, preferably an USB one.

3

I hope you do it with the computer turned off. It’s been a long time, but AFAIR this is NOT something you should do with the PS/2 port still powered up. There is a very real risk of damaging it.

4

Thank four your answers brunomcl. I would have posted this on hardware subforum, though.

Long ago, there was a risk to hang the computer if you hot swap the PS/2 keyboard. But now, modern MB can handle it flawlessly (but yes, USB is better if you have to swap quite often).

I don’t have extra keyboards to test with, but after all, the keyboard itself could be the source of the problem. What is surprising, however, is that I haven’t had those troubles on OpenSUSE 11.3 and 12.2 (ie for 2 years, roughly)… So basically, one can conclude the keyboard itself isn’t in cause, is it?

5

Neraste wrote:

>
> Hello everyone
>
> Not sure this is the best place for this… Sorry by advance.
>
> To start with simple words, my problem is the following: at completely
> random moment, my keyboard hangs and doesn’t react any more. If I type
> any key after, nothing happens, but if I was typing something the moment
> it hanged, then the key is repeated. Any key. Often, it ends like
> thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii… The only cure is to hard-reboot.
>
> First, I can say the problem isn’t keyboard mechanically related. The
> computer is a desktop one, with an IBM PS/2 keyboard, and I dual boot
> Linux and Windows on it; I have never had this on Windows. And
> unplug-replug the keyboard when the problem occurs doesn’t help. This is
> why I haven’t posted this in the hardware forum…
>
> Second, the problem is distro independent: I have had it on Ubuntu,
> Debian and now OpenSUSE. OpenSUSE 11.3 and 12.2 gave me some rest, but
> now I have installed 13.1/Tumbleweed, it is there again.
>
> So I believe this is related to something common to those 3 OSes and my
> hardware. The kernel? X? The desktop (Gnome2, Gnome2 and Gnome3)? I
> really don’t know. It make me think the “keyboard driver” suddenly
> freezes and gives the system its latest state…
>

<snip>

>
> If you have any clue… Thank you for your answers.

The only time I have seen similar erratic keyboard entry IIRC it was down to
the configuration of the gnome keyboard, it can be cased by either “Sticky
Keys” or “Bounce” being set I think.

Been a while though so could be way off base here

Also I do not use the Gnome desktop so not sure if the settings are still
there???

HTH

–
Mark
Nullus in verba
Caveat emptor
Nil illigitimi carborundum