alt gr stop working after random time (DELL INSPIRON 1501, VOSTRO 1000)

[dbeltran]

I have a dell inspiron 1501 with intrepid. The problem is that the alt gr stop working after some random time have pass. Rebooting solve the problem but not definitely because it backs after time. I've seen this issue before in hardy after updating the kernel to 2-6-24-21 going back to 2-6-24-20 seems to solve the problem. But now, after upgrading to intrepid the issue is back.

I've investigated a little with xev and the keycode seems to change. When everything is good i get the same response after pressing and releasing the alt gr key:

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x4000001,
root 0x66, subw 0x0, time 133997, (408,29, root486,389),
state 0x0, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x4000001,
root 0x66, subw 0x0, time 134080, (408,29, root486,389),
state 0x80, keycode 108 (keysym 0xfe03, ISO_Level3_Shift), same_screen YES,
XKeysymToKeycode returns keycode: 92
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

When the problem appears i get:

This is my output obtained from xev after pressing the alt gr key:
KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x4c00001,
root 0x66, subw 0x0, time 2284545, (438,180), root458,301),
state 0x0, keycode 156 (keysym 0x1008ff41, XF86Launch1), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x4c00001,
root 0x66, subw 0x0, time 2284741, (438,180), root458,301),
state 0x0, keycode 156 (keysym 0x1008ff41, XF86Launch1), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False

uname -a show:
Linux portatil 2.6.27-7-generic #1 SMP Tue Nov 4 19:33:20 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux

This bug is confirmed in dell vostro too by other users

[zasq (zasq)]

Hi!
Same problem here. I also have a Dell Inspiron 1501 and the problem only appears with the 2.6.27-7-generic Kernel and intrepid. I never had any keyboard-problems with older kernel-versions. After experiencing this problem for a few days, today it got worse: Suddenly the whole keyboard was dead, I had to restart the laptop. Anyone experienced this also? Any solution?
Best,
zasq

[zasq (zasq)]

I read in a german forum that you have to run

sudo aticonfig --initial -f

to solve the problem when you are using new ati-drivers (fglrx). This way changes are transferred to xorg.conf. I don't really understand that but for the last hours the keyboard has been running fine. Hope this helps.

[Ahmet (portakalio)]

I can also report that this very annoying problem is occuring randomly.

I have a DELL VOSTRO 1000 laptop, Belgian AZERTY keyboard, with an AMD64 X2 TL-56 cpu running Ubuntu 8.10 32bit, fresh install, no upgrade, ALL updates till now.
With the stock kernel on Ubuntu 8.04 64bit I ran before, I did NOT had this problem, until after a kernel upgrade (I don't know anymore which one this exactly was, maybe 2.6.29-7?) this ALTGR mess also showed up, that's for sure.

So far the "sudo aticonfig --initial -f" fix seems to do the job. I'm running the ATI driver 8.54.3, which came installed through Ubuntu Hardware Restricted Drivers.

Hope to see any development in this bugreport!

[Ahmet (portakalio)]

Seems like the problem occurs instantly after a cold boot, with my Vostro 1000. With a warm (re)boot occurence seems to be less.

[Daniel (daniel-jacobs)]

I have a DELL INSPIRON 1501 with Ubuntu 8.10 64-bit.
The error occured on nearly every cold boot and only very seldom after rebooting the computer.

!!!I'm not running fglrx!!!

On Ubuntu 8.04 32-bit the error occurs even after some random time running the machine.

[Snap (snap-56k)]

Same problem with a Dell Studio, Ubuntu 9.04 32 bits, kernel 2.6.28-14, free video drivers (not fglrx).