This seems to be a VMWare bug, caused by its inability to properly read (or keep) the keymappings. The following workaround apparently addresses all of the issues raised above:
IME, it does at least address the issues raised in comment 187 and (so far) has kept any of the other keyboard related issues for me on Ubuntu 8.10 running VMWare Workstation 6.5.
This seems to be a VMWare bug, caused by its inability to properly read (or keep) the keymappings. The following workaround apparently addresses all of the issues raised above:
http:// nthrbldyblg. blogspot. com/2008/ 06/vmware- and-fubar- keyboard- effect. html
IME, it does at least address the issues raised in comment 187 and (so far) has kept any of the other keyboard related issues for me on Ubuntu 8.10 running VMWare Workstation 6.5.