My Microsoft Keyboard seems to lose its way about once a day.

Since this is an Ubuntu orientated forum, one is tempted to respond to your question on whether or not to buy something other than a Microsoft keyboard with a resounding "yes", however, ... try this first:

If you have your transmitter plugged into the back of the computer, use a short extension cable (preferably a shielded cable) so that you can bring the transmitter closer to your keyboard and mouse. All that metal in between as well as magnetic fields from various electronic devices in your computer can interfere with communication between keyboard and transmitter.

Keyboard preferences can be set via System, Preferences, Keyboard.

To make things a little easier to locate, go to System, Preferences, Main Menu. Scroll to the bottom of the left screen and click on "System". This will open the available options in the right screen. Tick the box next to "Control Center". Now you will find the whole of the System menu in one place.

Since this is an Ubuntu orientated forum, one is tempted to respond to your question on whether or not to buy something other than a Microsoft keyboard with a resounding "yes", however, ... try this first:

If you have your transmitter plugged into the back of the computer, use a short extension cable (preferably a shielded cable) so that you can bring the transmitter closer to your keyboard and mouse. All that metal in between as well as magnetic fields from various electronic devices in your computer can interfere with communication between keyboard and transmitter.

Also check the state of your batteries.

Keyboard preferences can be set via System, Preferences, Keyboard.

To make things a little easier to locate, go to System, Preferences, Main Menu. Scroll to the bottom of the left screen and click on "System". This will open the available options in the right screen. Tick the box next to "Control Center". Now you will find the whole of the System menu in one place.

Thanks Andre Mangan, that solved my question.

Dear Andre,

There's a lot more to be said after "Yes, that answered my question." Like, "I've been a Ubuntu user for a week." "I've owned that keyboard, a mouse, a twelve hundred dollar Lenovo laptop and a $250 Canon printer for a lot longer."

That said, I've wanted to become a Ubuntu Nubie for a couple years. The main setback, or stumbling block has been the quality of instruction for a very "Nu" Ubuntu user.

Well, I've decided how to solve the problem: UbuntuNubie.us. Yup, it's just us chickens out on the South 40 and we're goin' to learn Ubuntu together.

Just the UbuntuNubie and anyone else who isn't afraid to take everything one tiny step at a time. I'll write Tutorials on the best way to update Ubuntu "One-step-at-a-time", one very small step at a time. I won't be afraid to include "Don't-do-it-this-way" tutorials as well.

And I'm pretty sure from the list of things I've had to figure out, and the answers I've had to get; that even with the best Tech Support in the world from all of you guys, I'll never run out of things that need to be taught, taught and every six months, retaught.

I'm 64 years old, a former teacher and professor and I can make sense out of Ubuntu for the nu--just as soon as I know what I did right or did wrong. and what I should have done instead.

Thanks so much for your help. I'll be sure to give credit where it is due.

Sincerely,

~weatherguy

Oh, and by the way Andre, Since Lenovo Canon and Mark Shuttleworth all think it's O.K. to mix M*7%#2@^ft and Linux so should we all.

;-).

~weatherguy

The learning curve never ends - if it were otherwise what a dull life this would be. So, ask away, my young associate - if I can help, help will be gladly given.

Mark who? Was he the passenger on that little trip a while back? heheheh
Yeah we all have to live with M$ these days, see Bug #1
A note of caution about your excellent project though. You'll soon find you're far from being a noob yourself. There's always vast realms of unknown specialities but once you've overcome the initial hurdles of setting up Ubuntu on your particular unique system you'll find it quite plain-sailing - and people will soon find you talking about weird things like "grub", "xorg" and "command-line" to completely baffle them.

It's always good when someone joins in the Answers forum here to help other people through those initial confusions and it sounds like you might already be about ready to help answer questions in here.

Also there is already a large amount of wiki documentation which can always do with some tweaking and additions.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community#Getting%20Help

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowToGetHelp
These teams of mostly volunteers can always do with a fresh pair of eyes making suggestions as none of us keeps "the noobie" perspective for long so join in before it's too late, if it's not already ;)

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Tom,

Andre had it nailed when he said, "The Learning curve never ends." Well, some of you guys need demanding instruments to tell you that you're not going straight up.

I'm hoping that my efforts, though parallel to Canonical and outer space they might be are aimed at the first month of Linuxhood. By the end of that anyone as smart as me, and that ain't all that smart ought to be able to keep up on her own.

I figure I should have that first month down within a year or two :-).

weatherguy