Ok, so I went back and re-read some of the most recent comments here - especially #226 and #229.
This is what works for me: $ alias vmware="xmodmap -e 'remove control = Caps_Lock ' && /usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmplayer" If I start vmware with this alias, the keyboard on the host does not get corrupted when the mouse leaves the window. Well, sorta. I've used this for a few days and it was working until just now as i type this message. So this fix is not perfect. But this 2 step fix seems to get around the issue: $ setxkbmap $ alias vmware="xmodmap -e 'remove control = Caps_Lock ' To me this really looks more like a vmware bug. I plan on filing an issue there. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/195982 Title: Shift key (and caps lock) stop working when using VMWare Status in Linux: Invalid Status in linux package in Ubuntu: Won't Fix Status in xkeyboard-config package in Ubuntu: Invalid Status in Gentoo Linux: New Bug description: [Problem] VMWare's keyboard mapping is imperfect, sometimes resulting in certain keys stopping functionality when running under VMWare, requiring the user to setup their configuration settings manually in VMWare. For a detailed explanation see the following article: http://www.vmware.com/support/ws55/doc/ws_devices_keymap_linux_longer.html [Original Report] After a day or so of running the shift key mysteriously stops working as does the cap lock. In other words I cannot enter shifted characters of any kind. The keyboard is connected to a KVM and all other systems respond to it properly. In additional any VMWare sessions I have open respond correctly. So I have the condition where all non-vmware applications in Ubuntu Hardy (all updates applied as of 2008-02-26 at 12:43 UTC) fail to recognize the shift key BUT applications within an active (a paused/restarted session also works) VMWare sessions running DO recognize the key. When this condition occurs ALL applications (except those within a VMWare session) are also unstable and will usually crash within a few keystrokes.If I continue to operate in this mode. I cannot pinpoint what, if any, application triggers this. It has always happened while working within terminal/browser/vmware sessions and NOT when opening a new application. It could be related to the KVM switch, but none of my other systems (2 Mandriva, 1 Windows) are affected by this. This bug has been present on my system for a number of days across daily updates and reboots (if the update requested it) and I think since I installed Hardy Alpha 1. A work around: log off and back on. A reboot/restart does not appear to be needed. Error logs show some unusual activity. --- MARK ---- ... ... kernel ... rtc lost 7 interrupts ... --- MARK --- .... Plus some segfaults indicating which application crashed as I tried to type into it (mouse works fine). System: HP dv9743cl (which otherwise works lovely) Ubuntu: Hardy 8.04 (from lsb-release) ---- TEST CASE: 1. Click inside the VM and 2. Hold any of the Ctrl, Alt and/or shift keys while releasing the keyboard/mouse to the host OS (which you obviously do when you press Crtl-Alt to revert back to windowed mode, as the cursor is then released from the VM). WORKAROUND: After this happens to recover your keyboard execute 'setxkbmap' in a terminal To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/linux/+bug/195982/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
