Function keys F1-F12 not working

[Havard Bjastad]

I've had this problem through a few Ubuntu releases (so I can't quite tell which release it appeared in), but now it's annoyed me enough to actually file a bug report...

The problem is that the function keys (F1-F12) don't do anything. If I run xev, nothing is reported for these keys. Other keys will have events reported.

If I run dmesg (or tail /var/log/messages), I get a bunch of these errors:

Aug 3 00:08:24 xyz kernel: [83142.203974] atkbd.c: Unknown key pressed (translated set 2, code 0xd9 on isa0060/serio0).
Aug 3 00:08:24 xyz kernel: [83142.203981] atkbd.c: Use 'setkeycodes e059 <keycode>' to make it known.

The problem seems related to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/392489 - but that bug is reported as only happening sometimes. For me, it happens ALWAYS.

Combinations with other keys (Alt/Ctrl/AltGr) doesn't change anything, the keys don't do anything. This means that something as simple as pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1 to drop into a tty terminal is not possible.

Using showkey, I get the same result as with xev - none of these keys generate any result.

Using tail -f /var/log/messages, I've found that these are the keycodes that need to be mapped:
F1 - e03b
F2 - e008
F3 - e007
F4 - e03e
F5 - e03f
F6 - e040
F7 - e041
F8 - e042
F9 - e043
F10 - e023
F11 - e057
F12 - e058

I have a Microsoft Wireless Desktop Elite Keyboard. All multimedia keys, like Play, Stop, Mute, Volume +/-, work as expected...

I am running Jaunty / 9.04, but this problem was definitely there is 08.10, and probably also 08.04.

[Havard Bjastad (havard-bjastad)]

This thread deals with the same problem, but seems specific to laptops, and didn't help me out: http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-76271.html

[Havard Bjastad (havard-bjastad)]

Related bug, marked as invalid: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/111024
Related, but not about function keys: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/hal-info/+bug/351533

I also found this wiki page, but it seems to be relevant for the upcoming 9.10 only: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Hotkeys/Troubleshooting

[Vish (vish)]

Thank you for bringing this bug to our attention. Unfortunately a paper cut should be a small usability issue that affects many people and is quick and easy to fix. I'm afraid this bug can't be addressed as part of this project.

Hardware specific problems are not papercuts .
For further info about papercuts criteria , pls read > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PaperCut

Don't worry though, This bug has been marked as "invalid" ONLY in the papercuts project.

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Hi Havard,

This bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .

If it remains an issue, could you run the following command from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux 408138

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

[This is an automated message. Apologies if it has reached you inappropriately; please just reply to this message indicating so.]

[Havard Bjastad (havard-bjastad)]

Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: havard 2371 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: havard 2371 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'CK804'/'NVidia CK804 with ALC850 at irq 22'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC850 rev 0'
   Components : 'AC97a:414c4790'
   Controls : 42
   Simple ctrls : 27
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'Pro'/'Creative Technology Ltd VF0410 Live! Cam Video IM Pro at usb-0000:00:02.1-8, hi'
   Mixer name : 'USB Mixer'
   Components : 'USB041e:4063'
   Controls : 2
   Simple ctrls : 1
Card1.Amixer.values:
 Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
   Capabilities: cvolume cvolume-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
   Capture channels: Mono
   Limits: Capture 0 - 3072
   Mono: Capture 192 [6%] [18.00dB] [on]
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
HibernationDevice: RESUME=
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 eth1 no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 055f:021c Mustek Systems, Inc. BearPaw 1200 CU Plus
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 041e:4063 Creative Technology, Ltd Live! Cam Video IM Pro
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD MS-7125
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=8bbdfbc2-a76f-4031-9183-212554e5bd07 ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 SHELL=/bin/bash
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 LANGUAGE=en_US.UTF-8
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-16.53-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-backports-modules-2.6.31-16-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.26
RfKill:

Uname: Linux 2.6.31-16-generic i686
UserGroups: adm admin audio cdrom dialout dip disk floppy lpadmin plugdev scanner video
WpaSupplicantLog:

dmi.bios.date: 03/11/2005
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00 PG
dmi.board.name: MS-7125
dmi.board.vendor: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologies,LTD:bvr6.00PG:bd03/11/2005:svnMICRO-STARINTERNATIONALCO.,LTD:pnMS-7125:pvr1.0:rvnMICRO-STARINTERNATIONALCO.,LTD:rnMS-7125:rvr1.0:cvn:ct3:cvr:
dmi.product.name: MS-7125
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD

[Havard Bjastad (havard-bjastad)]

OK, I ran the command from my desktop system, which is running Ubuntu 9.10 and still has this problem. Will try to download a development version and do the same there.

[Havard Bjastad (havard-bjastad)]

Wow, this is embarrassing...

I downloaded and tested 10.04 beta2, and had the same problem. Just as I was about to report back, I noticed a key on the keyboard called "F Lock". It turns out that it is used to toggle the function keys... Once I pressed "F Lock", the function keys started working :)
Sorry for wasting everybody's time, this was apparently just a case of me not understanding the functionality of Microsoft keyboards well enough :(

[Vish (vish)]

Havard Bjastad , thanks for following up on the bug.

Closing bug as per the reporter's last comment.