scroll lock doesn't work, which affects users of badly designed backlit keyboards

[Tim Abell]

The scroll lock key has no effect, importantly it doesn't cause the scroll lock light on the keyboard to toggle. (Never comes on). This means I can't use the backlight on my keyboard, as it relies on scroll lock.

----

The keyboard in question:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132131
Xenta Black Illuminated Mini USB Multimedia keyboard - UK layout
model sk-020el

This keyboard appears to rely on the scroll lock light for controlling key illumination (one more switch wouldn't kill them, but hey, it was very cheap and I rather like it!)

---
Bug filed as requested in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xkeyboard-config/+bug/59417/comments/14

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-14.23-generic 3.0.9
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-14-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,decor,mousepoll,move,compiztoolbox,snap,regex,place,imgpng,vpswitch,grid,gnomecompat,resize,animation,wall,unitymtgrabhandles,session,expo,fade,workarounds,ezoom,scale,unityshell]
CompositorRunning: None
Date: Wed Jan 4 23:27:45 2012
DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-10-15 11:04:28.152997
DistroCodename: oneiric
DistroVariant: ubuntu
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, whatever it takes to get this fixed in Ubuntu
GraphicsCard:
 ATI Technologies Inc 760G [Radeon 3000] [1002:9616] (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device [1043:8388]
JockeyStatus:
 xorg:fglrx_updates - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (post-release updates) (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
 xorg:fglrx - ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, In use)
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-14-generic root=/dev/mapper/vg1-root ro splash quiet vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-10-15 (81 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 08/24/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 0802
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: M4A78LT-M
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr0802:bd08/24/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM4A78LT-M:rvrRevX.0x:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
version.fglrx-installer: fglrx-installer N/A
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs 20090808ubuntu26
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.26-1ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 7.11-0ubuntu3
version.xserver-xorg: xserver-xorg 1:7.6+7ubuntu7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.6.0-1ubuntu13
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.14.99~git20110811.g93fc084-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.15.901-1ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:0.0.16+git20110411+8378443-1

[jgjoy (freyjoy)]

Workaround for me:
Find an unused mapping:
$ xmodmap -pm
  Use the "modX" which has nothing applied to it, then try (assuming modX = mod3 from xmodmap -pm output):
$ xmodmap -e "add mod3 = Scroll_Lock"

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[zapman (zapman)]

Bug 969082 is probably a duplicate of this one so I marked it as such. It may provide additional information and apport data.

[Ernst Kloppenburg (ernst-kloppenburg)]

this also seems to affect using a KVM switch that expects double-presses of Scroll_Lock as a hotkey

interestingly, you can trigger the KVM switch with
either
    xset led 3 && sleep 0.2 && xset -led 3
or
   xset led named "Scroll Lock" && sleep 0.2 && xset -led named "Scroll Lock"

[Dave Loyall (dave-the-good-guys)]

Hello.

    sudo kbd_mode -u

FYI, that command made my scroll lock key work as expected under xwindows, including allowing me to use it as a hotkey for my KVM.

NB: I'm not an Ubuntu user.

[Vitaliy (vitaliy-a-timoshenko)]

sudo kbd_mode -u
helped me on Mint 17.1 Cinamon for ScrollLock right button activation, but... it steel on and off by Shift+Alt

[Erick Braganza (silentis)]

I have the same problem. I'm using this keyboard http://www.pccomponentes.com/nox_krom_konker_pro_gaming.html it needs the scroll lock key to turn on the backlight, so I need to put xmodmap -e "add mod3 =Scroll_Lock" everytime I log in my session.