Unable to switch workspace with [Ctrl]-[Alt]-[Up] on Lenovo Edge 11

[Benjamin Schmid]

I'm using a i386 / fglrx / Lenovo Thinkpad Edge 11 under a german installation of Ubuntu natty beta 1 which has been upgraded from maverick.

I can switch well between the four desktop workspaces left/right/down using <Ctrl>-<left/right/down> but the <Ctrl>-<up> key combination has no effect at all, though its listed as valid key combination in the preference settings. I'm using the default key scheme from Ubuntu without any custom modifications.

Yet I have to use the manual workspace switcher icon in the sidebar to workaround this issue.

Thank you for your support.

[Bilal Akhtar (bilalakhtar)]

The key combinations are Ctrl+Alt+<Left,Right,Up,Down> . That works for me (I am also using stock Natty without any customizations).

[Benjamin Schmid (benbuntu)]

Hello Bilal. Thanks for triaging my report. I was expecting that the key combination works well for most users out of the box. Sorry for naming a wrong key combination. Just a typo.

Yesterday the keyboard hardware of the named device started to fail. So maybe it is was only the start of my hardware issue. But only this three-stroke-keycombination did'nt work.

Will come back if problem persits after repair. Sorry for bothering you with a potential hardware problem.

[Benjamin Schmid (benbuntu)]

Just for the records:

In fact it turned out: This problem occurs if the Fn/Ctrl key switch option is enabled in the Lenovo BIOS. Disabling this option in the BIOS recovers the desired behaviour. Just booted a Fedora 15 with Gnome 3: Same issue there.

I reported it to Lenovo, but they shifted it to the Linux guys. In my eyes the fact, this seems to be clearly a Lenovo BIOS bug!

[Nicolas Laurent (norswap)]

Same here (with the fn-ctrl switch), on a Thinkpad Edge 330.
Another key combination that doesn't work is [Shift]-[Super (Win)]-[Right].

[Timo Palomaa (timppis)]

'Unfortunately' this is clearly not a Linux issue, even happens on Windows. For those who suffer from this, here is a thread on Lenovo forums: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Linux-Discussion/BIOS-Bug-Enabling-Fn-Ctrl-swap-breaks-Ctrl-Alt-Up/td-p/430663

#3: Reported how?

[Benjamin Schmid (benbuntu)]

@timppis: You already found my report. :-)
But I wasn't aware that other models are also affected.

[Timo Palomaa (timppis)]

#6: Oh :P But you said: "reported it to Lenovo, but they shifted it to the Linux guys", only "Lenovo guy" reponse is from a community moderator who simply moved the thread to the Linux section (erroneously, we can say now). This bug has been reported on happening at least on the old and new Edge series, X series and Twist, so has to be pretty fundamental hw/bios issue...