wireless keyboard - repeating characters unattended

[Tim Passingham]

When doing nothing at all, the screen (eg an editor, mail message, terminal etc) will start displaying '5' rapidly across the screen.

I am a recent ubuntu 16.04 user - a fresh install "Linux TimPassingham 4.4.0-22-generic #39-Ubuntu SMP Thu May 5 16:53:32 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux"

I was previously on 14.04 and had no such issues.

My keyboard is a Logitech wireless MK700/710. There is nothing wrong with it in normal running, nor when using windows (dual-booted).

I am not alone, and it is the same key (5) for others seeing this issue. See https://askubuntu.com/questions/761522/ubuntu-16-04-repeats-keys-without-holding-down-any-key

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-22-generic 4.4.0-22.39
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-22.39-generic 4.4.8
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-22-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: crusty 1927 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: crusty 1927 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC2D0c: crusty 1927 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC2: crusty 1927 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed May 11 19:41:39 2016
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=79194a4a-c084-466c-8b41-b5988820be2e
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-08 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
MachineType: ZOTAC ZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-22-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=fcd7b99b-d3fb-4a80-b928-e0378d881a8a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-22-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/21/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: B220P007
dmi.board.asset.tag: NA
dmi.board.name: ZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01
dmi.board.vendor: ZOTAC
dmi.board.version: XX
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrB220P007:bd05/21/2014:svnZOTAC:pnZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01:pvrXX:rvnZOTAC:rnZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01:rvrXX:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: ZBOX-ID92/ZBOX-IQ01
dmi.product.version: XX
dmi.sys.vendor: ZOTAC

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Did this issue start happening after an update/upgrade? Was there a prior kernel version where you were not having this particular problem?

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.6 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.6-rc7-wily/

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

A I said, this started to happen on a fresh install, having previously been on 14.04. I formatted / and /home before installing 16.04 (and then copied my documents back onto /home).

What sort of bot? Is it a virus, or a standard linux bot of some sort?

There's nothing on the syslog that I could see at the same time (although to be fair the new 16.04's syslog is something of a mess on my system - quite a lot of warnings which I don't understand at all, but not when this bug occurs).

Testing will be tricky, in that it will be a matter of not seeing a repeat of the problem for a few days. Could I move to 4.5 rather than an rc 4.6? This system is my main home desktop.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I note that all the 4.5 and 4.6 linux debs are for wily, not xenial.

[Jakub Černý (kaossik)]

Yes I got exactly same problem with Logitech K520 on both home and work computer. Both computers was previously raised from 14.04 to 16.04 Ubuntu. On previous version there was never any kind of problem like this.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I am willing to test a newer linux kernel, provided it is for xenial.

Or is this not a kernel issue?

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

This is getting quite serious for me. Doing online banking and finding amounts of very large numbers of 5's are being entered is somewhat alarming.

What can I do to help find a solution?

[Teemu Tammi (teemu-kemppainen)]

The same problem with Logitech K800, no such problems in 14.04.

This happens even if the keyboard is turned off. I had my computer locked and keyboard turned off during the night, in the morning the password field in the login screen was full of dots (infinite 5s) and lightdm had crashed. I had to alt+F6 and restart lightdm.

Apparently this bug also 'eats' some of my intentional number 5 key presses, i.e. the first key press of 5 sometimes does not do anything.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I am now advising others not to move to 16.04 until some sort of information can be gleaned as to what is going on here. To those who get the problem, it can be really quite a dangerous fault. I would rate it as a major issue.

To be clear, sometimes it happens ever hour or two, then not for a few days, then starts again (I reboot as a matter of course at least once a day).

I am currently trying to decide whether to go back to 14.04 (quite a lot of work) or trial a new kernel, even though not officially approved for 16.04 as a LTS system (please correct me if I'm wrong on this)

If I could turn on some log somewhere to help diagnose this I would, but I've no idea what that would be.

Can anyone please help?

[David Greager (davidg240)]

Same problem with Logetech K520 with spontaneous 5's. Fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I have a little more information which I hope can help to pin down the source of this problem.

I turned off 'repeat keys' in the keyboard settings, so that no key repeats when pressed down. This is a nuisance for arrow keys, but is an improvement.

I now get single 5's rather than repeated strings of them. So instead of paying out £555555555... I now only lose £5 :-)

[osman tursun (neouyghur)]

I am also using k520. And I have the same problem too. My system is UBUNTU 16.04 X64.

[Leif (leifjohn)]

I am having the exact same problem. I am on Ubuntu 15.10, logitech K800 wireless keyboard.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I tried the 4.6 (yakety) kernel and didn't get the problem. Being unwilling to stay on an unsupported combination (preferring to stay on standard LTS) I went back to standard xenial (4.4.0-22-generic #40-Ubuntu) and have not seen the problem now for a few days, even with 'Repeat keys' back on.

Are others who were affected still getting the problem?

I try to keep up to date with all updates, and see that there have been quite a few, including some to udev on 24/5/16.

Has a fix been issued, deliberately or otherwise?

[Jakub Černý (kaossik)]

After I posted it I feel it stopped for a while, haven't seen the bug for a week, maybe it was just luck, because now it is happening again in past days.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

It's just happened again, on the standard kernel, for the first time in several days.

[Trapper (trapper)]

Have this 555555's situation with Linux Mint 17.3. It did not exist in 17.2 or earlier releases. Also tested U 16.04. Same 5's problem, especially in fill in form type boxes. Logitech K520 keyboard and M310 mouse.

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

I would suugest one or more of those affected try the 4.6 or 4.7 kernel as mentioned in post 3 or this bug will go nowhere

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

I am, once again, trying 4.6.0-040600-generic. The problem hasn't re-occurred yet. However, given that it comes and goes when using 4.4 that's no guarantee that it is fixed. Only quite a lot of time will tell.

It's also not a supported combination with 16.04, which is itself of some concern.

[Carolos Foscolos (carolos-foscolos)]

I am having the same issue.

The 5 key repeats using a Logitech K350 keyboard.

It seems to happen mostly right after a mouse click on my Logitech mouse.

[Tim Passingham (tim-8aw3u04umo)]

Carolos - please see bug #1579190

[Jay McKellar (jaymckellar)]

Just moved to 16.04 lts and experiencing a similar problem. "[[C^" echoes continuously in all VTs, but not Terminal. Another manifestation is selecting the calendar and revised volume control starts a focus problem with the mouse cursor jumping multiple times at the top of the Unity Screen, which to seems to set off the character echoing problem in the VTs. After the problem with the mouse cursor the Settings Control and Calendar no longer function and normal shutdown is not possible because of the characters echoing to the VTs. I turned in a Bug Report via Lauchpad on that issue. Hardware is old fashioned PS2 Keyboard and mouse on a ASUS Legacy Intel Box. No such issues ever with 12.04 lts or 14.04 lts.

[Bjørn Næss (bjornna)]

I just entered the same problem with: "[[C^" echoes continuously in all VTs, but not Terminal.

Some places this where said to be Logitech related. I bought another keyboard today and the issue is still present. It even continously repeat when there are no keyboard attached.

This is a stationery PC with Ubuntu 16.04 and the problem suddenly starteds when developing with IntelliJ. Now the computer is useless.

[Bjørn Næss (bjornna)]

Very strange - the problem with "[[C^" disappeared over the night. Today it seems works fine. I didn't do any changes.
I will update if the problem appears later.

[Jamie Hutber (jamie-2)]

I've had this situation using a bluetooth keyboard with 16.04 Ubuntu and updated the kernal to 4.15 and was still getting the issue.

I am not sure why but installing:
sudo apt-get install ibus-gtk ibus-gtk3

Fixed the issue for me. As suggested here https://askubuntu.com/questions/760703/gnome-software-keyboard-weirdness/760842#760842