Ubuntu 12.04 keyboard fails to respondl

(1) I've been running both Windows XP and Ubuntu 12.04 on a MacBook Pro computer for about a year. Recently Ubuntu developed a problem with the keyboard in which Linux fails to accept and reproduce entries from the user and limits the number of characters to three. All the reproduced characters I see are just numbers. Another problem is that I can no longer enter terminal mode using the Crtl+Alt+T key combination. In other words, LInux is limited to GUI mode. However, windows XP still appears to working.

(2) Another interesting thing is that even after I deleted Ubuntu from WIndows XP's Control Panel, Linux still survives! I am mostly interested in reviving Ubuntu's terminal mode.

(3) Re-installing Ubuntu 12.04 has not helped.
 I'll appreciate any Linux users' advice in this matter.

Julianloui

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2014-01-04
Andrew,

Thanks very much. Since I have no way to get into terminal mode, I cannot put your good advice to work. Fortunately over the years I've become quite self-sufficient with respect to Windows XP. It's really a pleasure to become totally independent of Microsoft as a Windows XP user.

Julianloui