From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

Now go to terminal/nano and NO PROBLEMS.

Did full system updates - no help.

"dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration" helped
A LITTLE.

Tried reinstalling ThunderBird ... no help.

MIGHT have to do a serious uninstall/reinstall,
that includes all the config files. Really would
not like to though, too many fiddly little settings
in there.

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

c186282 wrote:

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

Don't TB think key bindings are configurable at all? Regardless of your
tests in a terminal, it sounds like crumbs to me ...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 6:42 AM, Andy Burns wrote:

c186282 wrote:

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

Don't TB think key bindings are configurable at all?  Regardless of your tests in a terminal, it sounds like crumbs to me ...

It's only TBird ... even LibreOffice Writer works
perfectly.

Actually, SOME, though fewer, issues in FFox.

So, generic Mozilla fault ? Just had trouble
with the 'z' in fact.

Weird.

Prob didn't appear after any updates either,
was "just there" suddenly.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 12/09/2025 11:36, c186282 wrote:

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

Now go to terminal/nano and NO PROBLEMS.

Did full system updates - no help.

"dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration" helped
A LITTLE.

Tried reinstalling ThunderBird ... no help.

MIGHT have to do a serious uninstall/reinstall,
that includes all the config files. Really would
not like to though, too many fiddly little settings
in there.

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

Keyboard is OS stuff.

Power off. I have USB layers go all flirtatious on me sometimes

Or did you spew coffee all over the place listening to a politician on line.
--
There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

Mark Twain

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 10:47 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 12/09/2025 11:36, c186282 wrote:

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

Now go to terminal/nano and NO PROBLEMS.

Did full system updates - no help.

"dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration" helped
A LITTLE.

Tried reinstalling ThunderBird ... no help.

MIGHT have to do a serious uninstall/reinstall,
that includes all the config files. Really would
not like to though, too many fiddly little settings
in there.

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

Keyboard is OS stuff.

Power off. I have USB layers go all flirtatious on me sometimes

Or did you spew coffee all over the place listening to a politician on
line.

Laptop - inbuilt KB.

Did NOT spill anything in it - even turned it upside down
and tried to shake out any bits of whatever, but nada.

Tried reinstalling everything KB I could find.

It will work for short while and then several keys
go all wonky. Little or no prob in other apps.
May just have to totally uninstall everything Mozilla
and start fresh. Not looking forward to that.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

c186282 wrote:

  It will work for short while and then several keys
  go all wonky.

Surely you've got a spare keyboard lurking somewhere? Even though you
don't think it's a physical issue, I'd suggest swapping it, just to see
if the issue "goes away", could save you hours of hunting the
intermittent lurgy ...

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc


There is an specific group for Thunderbird, so I added that group.

On 2025-09-12 12:36, c186282 wrote:

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

Now go to terminal/nano and NO PROBLEMS.

Did full system updates - no help.

"dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration" helped
A LITTLE.

Tried reinstalling ThunderBird ... no help.

MIGHT have to do a serious uninstall/reinstall,
that includes all the config files. Really would
not like to though, too many fiddly little settings
in there.

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

I had trouble with "F3" and "end" not working a day or two ago. Then I remembered I had been blowing dust out of the keyboard with a powerful electric air blower. Now they are working, after pressing hard those two
keys for a bit. However, you say the problem is only in TB and maybe in FFx.


I would suggest restarting TB in safe mode, all the addons disabled, if any.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 12:18 PM, Andy Burns wrote:

c186282 wrote:

   It will work for short while and then several keys
   go all wonky.

Surely you've got a spare keyboard lurking somewhere?  Even though you don't think it's a physical issue, I'd suggest swapping it, just to see
if the issue "goes away", could save you hours of hunting the
intermittent lurgy ...

DO have a USB keyboard ... gonna try it.

Have already tried to find every keyboard-related
lib/util/xorg thing and re-installed. No diff.

DID boot an MX from a stick the other day and did
NOT see the prob in that live edition - but I didn't
run it for all that long.

Anyway, does not SEEM to be a mech/electric issue
with the actual laptop kbd - which is good, do not
wanna spend $600+ for a new little laptop right now,
too many other bills.

WORST case ... nuke my old MX and install a newer
version from scratch. Alas I've installed/configured
SO much in the existing version - it'd be a horrible
loss. In-place 'update' ... two versions ... never
seen that go very well.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On Fri, 12 Sep 2025 22:03:06 -0400, c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote in <LAOdnRpejuZuTVn1nZ2dnZfqn_qdnZ2d@giganews.com>:

On 9/12/25 12:18 PM, Andy Burns wrote:

c186282 wrote:

   It will work for short while and then several keys
   go all wonky.

Surely you've got a spare keyboard lurking somewhere?  Even though you
don't think it's a physical issue, I'd suggest swapping it, just to see
if the issue "goes away", could save you hours of hunting the
intermittent lurgy ...

DO have a USB keyboard ... gonna try it.

Have already tried to find every keyboard-related
lib/util/xorg thing and re-installed. No diff.

DID boot an MX from a stick the other day and did
NOT see the prob in that live edition - but I didn't
run it for all that long.

Anyway, does not SEEM to be a mech/electric issue
with the actual laptop kbd - which is good, do not
wanna spend $600+ for a new little laptop right now,
too many other bills.

WORST case ... nuke my old MX and install a newer
version from scratch. Alas I've installed/configured
SO much in the existing version - it'd be a horrible
loss. In-place 'update' ... two versions ... never
seen that go very well.

Just updated Mint from 22.1 to 22.2 using the software tool.

Only one thing it did I didn't like -- it uninstalled synaptic. So
I promptly re-installed it. Grr.
--
-v System76 Thelio Mega v1.1 x86_64 NVIDIA RTX 3090Ti 24G
OS: Linux 6.16.7 D: Mint 22.2 DE: Xfce 4.18
NVIDIA: 580.82.09 Mem: 258G
"It is bad luck to be superstitious."
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 2:03 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

There is an specific group for Thunderbird, so I added that group.

On 2025-09-12 12:36, c186282 wrote:

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

Now go to terminal/nano and NO PROBLEMS.

Did full system updates - no help.

"dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration" helped
A LITTLE.

Tried reinstalling ThunderBird ... no help.

MIGHT have to do a serious uninstall/reinstall,
that includes all the config files. Really would
not like to though, too many fiddly little settings
in there.

Anybody know where/if TBird hides its KB stuff ???

I had trouble with "F3" and "end" not working a day or two ago. Then I remembered I had been blowing dust out of the keyboard with a powerful electric air blower. Now they are working, after pressing hard those two keys for a bit. However, you say the problem is only in TB and maybe in
FFx.

I would suggest restarting TB in safe mode, all the addons disabled, if
any.

Don't have any add-ons.

Now DO see the issue in terminal and a few other places,
just not AS bad as in TBird.

It's ODD though ... the keys will be very balky for awhile,
then OK for awhile. It's like a temporary fault/overload
of the KB drivers, paralyzing maybe half a dozen keys. Note
that neither left OR right SHIFT works right during the
balky period. Re-installing almost everything KB from
Xorg stuff on has NOT helped.

Nothing in any of the logs. Nothing odd from 'top'.

Do NOT wanna dump my current install - WAY too much
stuff/customization.

While Linux is generally great it CAN be just hateful
sometimes - some random sub-sub entry in a totally
obscure config file .......

Oh well, gotta keep working it.

DID start an MX from a stick. Did NOT see the prob
running that live version. As such I assume it's
something in my current install - not mechanical.

Right NOW everything is fine, but 20 minutes ago
it wasn't ... and 20 minutes from now may be all
weird again.

Do have a couple of sub-laps with recent installs.
They work, but they're kinda TOO small. Revived
and old ACER lately, mag HDD, it also works but
it's almost TOO big/heavy. Somewhere I've got a
HUGE lap I bought for my Mom when the last of her
typewriters died. Alas she was 90+ at the time
and could not deal with computers. Can't remember
if it was XP or (gaak !) Vista. Can't FIND it
either. Don't need super-speed, just reliability.

The ACER is nice because it has a built-in DVD
and network hard plug and xVGA plug too. Considering
getting a SS HDD for it - ought to speed things
considerably - but HATE spending money, 'fixed
income' at this point and you don't wanna KNOW
what my tax bills are :-)

ahhhh ... the wonk is b*ck ....

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025/9/13 3:35:13, c186282 wrote:

On 9/12/25 2:03 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

There is an specific group for Thunderbird, so I added that group.

(Though it looks like this isn't a TB problem.)>>

On 2025-09-12 12:36, c186282 wrote:

Started abruptly. Mostly the left third of the KB.

Hard to get "A"s - esp capital. A few other letters.

[]

Now DO see the issue in terminal and a few other places,
just not AS bad as in TBird.

It's ODD though ... the keys will be very balky for awhile,
then OK for awhile. It's like a temporary fault/overload
of the KB drivers, paralyzing maybe half a dozen keys. Note
that neither left OR right SHIFT works right during the
balky period. Re-installing almost everything KB from
Xorg stuff on has NOT helped.

Nothing in any of the logs. Nothing odd from 'top'.

Definitely sounds like a hardware problem.

[]

Right NOW everything is fine, but 20 minutes ago
it wasn't ... and 20 minutes from now may be all
weird again.

[]

The ACER is nice because it has a built-in DVD
and network hard plug and xVGA plug too. Considering
getting a SS HDD for it - ought to speed things
considerably - but HATE spending money, 'fixed
income' at this point and you don't wanna KNOW
what my tax bills are :-)

ahhhh ... the wonk is b*ck ....

If it's not a lappy, just get a different keyboard - they're cheap
enough (tend to get thrown out, especially in industry, at the drop of a
hat; I have a cupboard compartment full of them) and life's too short to
argue with them. If it _is_ a lappy, you'll have to fix it eventually
(might just be a loose connector), but in the meanwhile use an external keyboard. I do with my Lenovo ideapad anyway - nothing mechanically
wrong with the in-built one, but a couple of aspects of its layout (particularly the positioning of the right shift key and the arrow keys,
but also for example the F keys not being in groups) drive me potty, and generally using a "proper" keyboard is so much nicer. (It's nothing
special - just one of the standard black-and-silver hp ones I salvaged
from a works upgrade. But the keys being where I expect them, and also
proper keys, is so nice to use.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

... some language may be offensive to younger viewers. Like "please" and
"thank you". (Intro to /Off Their Rockers/, quoted in RT 25-31 May 2013
by Sarah Millican.)
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 22:29, vallor wrote:

On Fri, 12 Sep 2025 22:03:06 -0400, c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote in <LAOdnRpejuZuTVn1nZ2dnZfqn_qdnZ2d@giganews.com>:

On 9/12/25 12:18 PM, Andy Burns wrote:

c186282 wrote:

   It will work for short while and then several keys
   go all wonky.

Surely you've got a spare keyboard lurking somewhere?  Even though you
don't think it's a physical issue, I'd suggest swapping it, just to see
if the issue "goes away", could save you hours of hunting the
intermittent lurgy ...

DO have a USB keyboard ... gonna try it.

Have already tried to find every keyboard-related
lib/util/xorg thing and re-installed. No diff.

DID boot an MX from a stick the other day and did
NOT see the prob in that live edition - but I didn't
run it for all that long.

Anyway, does not SEEM to be a mech/electric issue
with the actual laptop kbd - which is good, do not
wanna spend $600+ for a new little laptop right now,
too many other bills.

WORST case ... nuke my old MX and install a newer
version from scratch. Alas I've installed/configured
SO much in the existing version - it'd be a horrible
loss. In-place 'update' ... two versions ... never
seen that go very well.

Just updated Mint from 22.1 to 22.2 using the software tool.

Only one thing it did I didn't like -- it uninstalled synaptic. So
I promptly re-installed it. Grr.

That's a POINT upgrade. Try 22.x to 24.x

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/12/25 12:18, Andy Burns wrote:

c186282 wrote:

   It will work for short while and then several keys
   go all wonky.

Surely you've got a spare keyboard lurking somewhere?  Even though you don't think it's a physical issue, I'd suggest swapping it, just to see
if the issue "goes away", could save you hours of hunting the
intermittent lurgy ...

Note : External KB works OK.

Likely meaning, the built-in KB has gone
wonky. This is BAD.

MIGHT be able to find a replacement on Amazon, but
we're talking MAJOR disassembly, yanking lots of
those delicate ribbon cables, prying and bending,
ball-peen hammers.

Do NOT look forward to that !

Defaulting to my antique ACER right now. Not
a horrible unit, lots of RAM, DVD, VGA, ONE
USB3, NO SD slots. Kinda slow ... but that's
mostly the mag HDD.

Might become my "new" laptop for awhile.

Hmmmm ... tried one of my old Dell sub-laps,
trying to get TBird to work kept hard-CRASHING
the thing. Not sure what that's about. It IS
kinda TOO small alas, hard for an old guy to
work the little keys. Would need skinny little
Japanese-gal fingers .....

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 13/09/2025 11:17, c186282 wrote:

Note : External KB works OK.

  Likely meaning, the built-in KB has gone
  wonky. This is BAD.

What is your time worth? I can get a refurbed lappy for about 4 hours
worth of money...
--
It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. Mark Twain



--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/13/25 6:21 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 13/09/2025 11:17, c186282 wrote:

Note : External KB works OK.

   Likely meaning, the built-in KB has gone
   wonky. This is BAD.

What is your time worth? I can get a refurbed lappy for about 4 hours
worth of money...

I'm kind of more conservative there ... like to keep
what I have.

Just tried to copy my old MX to the ACER unit - and
all looked good until GRUB install. Then ... shit ...

MX has a nice cloning utility. Used it before. THIS
time however ...

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:

Likely meaning, the built-in KB has gone
wonky. This is BAD.

MIGHT be able to find a replacement on Amazon, but
we're talking MAJOR disassembly, yanking lots of
those delicate ribbon cables, prying and bending,
ball-peen hammers.

Do NOT look forward to that !

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts. Minor disassembly
and just one delicate ribbon cable.

But it might still require pulling out bits of plastic around the
keyboard, which can be awkward if it's one of those poorly designed clip-together laptop bodies. Plus there's the "find the screw" game
you'll need to play if you don't have a service manual.

Anyway I'd enjoy it more than messing with the mysteries of
Thunderbird.
--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/13/25 18:37, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote:

Likely meaning, the built-in KB has gone
wonky. This is BAD.

MIGHT be able to find a replacement on Amazon, but
we're talking MAJOR disassembly, yanking lots of
those delicate ribbon cables, prying and bending,
ball-peen hammers.

Do NOT look forward to that !

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts. Minor disassembly
and just one delicate ribbon cable.

But it might still require pulling out bits of plastic around the
keyboard, which can be awkward if it's one of those poorly designed clip-together laptop bodies. Plus there's the "find the screw" game
you'll need to play if you don't have a service manual.

Anyway I'd enjoy it more than messing with the mysteries of
Thunderbird.

Familiar with "hide the screw" :-)

Anyway, somewhere there should be a guide. First I need
to find a new or salvaged KB.

Moved my most important stuff over to a much older lap
today. Oddly I could not install an MX tool generated
clone system - GRUB stuff at the end is the issue - or
it'd have all been much easier. Had to install the very
latest MX-AHS instead, then it's thumb drives and such
bringing over folders and bookmarks and such ... pain !

The old lap still has a mag drive - but does have a fair
amount of RAM. No SD card slots alas.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the battery.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-09-14 15:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the battery.

You misunderstood what he said.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

Le 14-09-2025, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> a écrit :

On 2025-09-14 15:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the
battery.

You misunderstood what he said.

Now, that I read again, yes, you are right.
--
Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/14/25 09:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the battery.

I think he was talking about physical disassembly.

Obsolescence - yea, usually the battery.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 14/09/2025 20:16, c186282 wrote:

On 9/14/25 09:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the
battery.

  I think he was talking about physical disassembly.

  Obsolescence - yea, usually the battery.

Its hard to make a lithium battery that lasts more than 5 years if its continually on charge as most laptops tend to be.
--
“The fundamental cause of the trouble in the modern world today is that
the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt."

- Bertrand Russell


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 2025-09-15 11:46, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 14/09/2025 20:16, c186282 wrote:

On 9/14/25 09:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the >>> battery.

   I think he was talking about physical disassembly.

   Obsolescence - yea, usually the battery.

Its hard to make a lithium  battery that lasts more than 5 years if its continually on charge as most laptops tend to be.

My current laptop (a Lenovo thinkpad) has a seeting that limits charge
to 80%, so that it can be continuously plugged in.

My previous laptop (a Lenovo Yoga) has that setting at 60%, but it can
only be activated in Windows. The setting remains working when booting
to Linux, but eventually it deactivates and charges to 100%
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.misc

On 9/15/25 05:46, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 14/09/2025 20:16, c186282 wrote:

On 9/14/25 09:00, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

Le 13-09-2025, Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> a écrit :

Usually the keyboard is the first part to come out of a laptop
before you dive deeper to replace other parts.

No. The first part of a laptop which needs to be replaced is usually the >>> battery.

   I think he was talking about physical disassembly.

   Obsolescence - yea, usually the battery.

Its hard to make a lithium  battery that lasts more than 5 years if its continually on charge as most laptops tend to be.

In theory you should 'cycle' those batteries - run them
down to maybe 25% and then re-charge.

But that's just impractical for most people.

Ah, couldn't stand it, did get a SATA ssd for the
old Acer. Gotta xfer over my existing - a couple
of ways, none hyper-convenient with what I've got.
SHOULD cut the boot time and pgm startups by
a significant margin however. The thing has a
WD-Blue in it right now.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2