Some Ctrl key combinations blocked in Ubuntu 9.10

Asked by JohnEverest

Certain Ctrl key combinations e.g. C,V and F are being blocked, others are not. The output from running xev shows no response from the keys Ctrl c, but does with Ctrl a:-

CTRL C
KeyPress event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3637726, (-77,300), root:(594,351),
    state 0x10, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

  NO RESPONSE HERE FROM the c KEY

KeyRelease event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3642228, (-77,300), root:(594,351),
    state 0x14, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

HOWEVER CTRL A GIVES THE FOLLOWING:-

KeyPress event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3247186, (-255,67), root:(416,118),
    state 0x10, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyPress event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3248500, (-255,67), root:(416,118),
    state 0x14, keycode 38 (keysym 0x61, a), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (01);
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (01);
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3248736, (-255,67), root:(416,118),
    state 0x14, keycode 38 (keysym 0x61, a), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (01);
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x4400001,
    root 0x189, subw 0x0, time 3251055, (-255,67), root:(416,118),
    state 0x14, keycode 37 (keysym 0xffe3, Control_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
    XFilterEvent returns: False

The PC is based upon an Asus PV4V533-MX motherboard with a standard UK keyboard. A clean install of Ubuntu 9.10. was done yesterday. I have not any problem before with Ubuntu 7.10 up to 9.04.

Copy/cut and paste operation have to be done using the right mouse button in all programs where applicable.

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JohnEverest (john-everest) said :
#1

SOLVED

I could not find any software reason for this problem and no suggestions were forthcoming. I decided to test the keyboard.
    I used an oscilloscope to monitor the clock and data lines at the PS2 connector. This revealed that pressing the Ctrl key stopped certain keys including the 'c', 'v' from generating an output. The keyboard was faulty.

A new keyboard has solved the problem.

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Sergei S. Rublëv (s-s-rublev) said :
#2

This worked for me too, Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Microsoft Internet Keyboard, ctrl+right didn't jump to next word while typing, ctrl+left did jump back 1 word, with shift didn't select, same with desktop switching, also in Chromium ctrl+F din't work while ctrl+W and others did work. Another keyboard worked fine.