Ubuntu
xserver-xorg-input-keyboard package

keyboard letter k repeating virus

Asked by T. Cuba

Search fields in Firefox populate involuntarily/automatically with the letter 'k'. Same behavior on search pages like google; the search field simply accepts my query and appends 'kkkkkkk' to it until I start backspacing or close the window.

Often while typing my password to wakeup my sleeping machine the letter 'k' gets thrown in at random. I have to backspace out and very carefully retype while counting asterisks to make sure no additional letters such as 'k' are entered.

Bash terminal screen populates with the letter 'k' as well. Bash currently unusable.

Nautilus thinks I'm searching for files beginning with the letter 'k' whenever I open it.

I had a similar problem recently with the tilde character '~'. That issue disappeared without any effort on my part after several weeks of searching the net for answers and hoping regular updates would fix the problem. But now I'm dealing with the letter 'k'.

A quick internet search reveals Windows users experiencing identical problems, both with 'k's, tildes, and other keyboard characters.

I'm actually quite amazed that I've been able to type the above problem description without interference from the letter 'k.'

And no I did not spill anything onto my keyboard.

Thanks for any insight you may have into this serious matter.

T

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Ubuntu xserver-xorg-input-keyboard Edit question
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Solved by:
Manfred Hampl
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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

If you boot to live CD, does it happen there?

Revision history for this message
T. Cuba (tristancuba) said : 		#2

Problem abated completely for two days after submitting initial report, yet returned today with repeating tildes '~~~~~~~~~' rather than k's 'kkkkkkkkk'... As before I'm unable to use Bash terminal due to random tilde insertion. Embedded terminal in gedit exhibits same behavior so my scripting and testing activities with that setup are once again interrupted.

Only other program I've tried today is Firefox and the URL window aggressively steals focus from other text entry fields like the one I'm typing in now ... Constantly having to mouse click back into this window to enter characters one at a time. Left to its own devices on any random website Firefox 'blinks' or 'flashes' the text/address in its URL window repeatedly, like its asking for user attention but I'm clueless as to what needs to be done. Konqueror and rekonq browsers don't seem to be similarly affected.

Not planning on booting to live CD anytime soon given the time and frustration experienced during initial install. I consider it a minor miracle that I was able to finalize installation through a combination of four separately created live CDs (none of which matched sizewise and none of which prevented me from having to manually edit boot info in ways I've already forgotten but still lack total confidence in) working in tandem with a live install USB key. Sticking a liveCD into this machine might simply trigger another install that I've forgotten how to complete already. As I remember those liveCDs don't work if burned by DVD burners, certain CD burners, using particular software, etc...

T

Revision history for this message
Best Manfred Hampl (m-hampl) said : 		#3

For me this does not look like a virus or software related, but sounds as if there is a hardware problem on your keyboard.
Do you have the possibility to test that keyboard on another computer and/or the possibility to test a different keyboard on your system?

Revision history for this message
T. Cuba (tristancuba) said : 		#4

Manfred,

Thank you for suggesting an alternative keyboard; that appears to have resolved my issue!

Take care,

T.Cuba