keyboard failure that doesn't seem to be hardware

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/11/2012 01:32 PM, Paul Allen Newell wrote:
> On 10/10/2012 6:43 PM, Ed Greshko wrote:
>> I see.....   It has been a long time since I've used a wired PS2 keyboard.   However, when I had a RHELv4 system with a wired PS2 keyboard I noticed that the keyboard would become non-responsive if it were unplugged/plugged.  The X server would lose connection to it and would not re-establish a connection until a logout (which restarts the X server).
>>
>> Frankly, the first thing I would do is find another keyboard and see if that helps.  I may be unique in that I've got an old keyboard on the shelf for emergencies.  :-) :-)
>>
>
> Ed:
>
> I've only seen the problem under circumstances when there has been no unplug/plug, but your information that X server would not re-establish a connection until logout fits what I am seeing.
>
> I've got a couple old keyboards (actually, the one I am using is an old keyboard, too).
>
> Once I try Kevin's suggestion of holding down the shift for 15-20 seconds, I will swap out keyboards and use the one that came with the machine (HP)
>

OK....  I should have pointed out that I am speculating you *may* have a wonky wire or connection which results in a momentary disconnect.  I've had several of these over they years.  All caused by cats either gnawing on cables or ripping them out while playing a game of tag.  :-) :-)

-- 
Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning. -- Rick Cook, The Wizardry Compiled