Ubuntu – Super key not working on external keyboard

keyboard

I am using an external keyboard on my laptop and the Super key doesn't work. The laptop's keyboard works just fine, every key is regularly detected.

I tried using xinput to debug this issue. Here you can see the output of xinput list, the device I am having issues with is the Cooler Master Technology Inc. MasterKeys Pro L White.

⎡ Virtual core pointer                      id=2    [master pointer  (3)]
⎜   ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer                id=4    [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad                id=15   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ Bluetooth  Mouse                          id=16   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎣ Virtual core keyboard                     id=3    [master keyboard (2)]
    ↳ Virtual core XTEST keyboard               id=5    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=6    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Video Bus                                 id=7    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Video Bus                                 id=8    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=9    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Sleep Button                              id=10   [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Chicony USB 2.0 Camera: Chicony           id=13   [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ AT Translated Set 2 keyboard              id=14   [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Cooler Master Technology Inc. MasterKeys Pro L White  id=11   [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Cooler Master Technology Inc. MasterKeys Pro L White  id=12   [slave  keyboard (3)]

I tried running xinput test-xi2 12 to see if the events from the keyboard where issued. All keys are working except for the super keys. I tested the keyboard with my desktop PC and all keys are working fine.

I am running Ubuntu 16.04.5 with kernel version 4.13.0-45-generic, Unity as Desktop Environment and Compiz as Windows Manager.

Best Answer

Make sure you didn't disable the super key from the keyboard. I have CM Storm Quickfire TK, everything works fine. I can enable gaming mode on the keyboard, and thus disable the super key altogether.

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Ubuntu – Many USB Multimedia Keyboard issues in Ubuntu 13.10

Sounds like an USB problem to me. Here is what you might try : build you own kernel with a modified hid.h value (usb2.0 driver), to allow the USB 2.0 to be more permissive. I used to do that until kernel 3.11 was out for my Perixx gaming mouse.

Building a new kernel with modifier hid.h value :

1) Open a terminal (ctrl-alt-T)

2) Launch the command :

sudo apt-get install fakeroot kernel-wedge build-essential makedumpfile kernel-package libncurses5 libncurses5-dev

It installs the requiered packages for the kernel building. You can apt-get remove <packages> afterwards to uninstall them if you wish.

3) Enter the following commands to create a directory for the kernel sources :

mkdir ~/source
cd ~/source
apt-get source linux-image-$(uname -r)

4) Type :

cd linux

Press Tab to auto-fill the name, then press Enter.

5) Launch :

gedit include/linux/hid.h

Find (Ctrl + F) the line #define HID_MAX_USAGES and change it's value to '64000'.

6) Launch :

cp -vi /boot/config-`uname -r` .config

To copy the configuration file of your current system.

7) (Optionnal) To speed up the building process, you can adjust the concurrency level. Launch :

export CONCURRENCY_LEVEL=#

Replace # by the number of your CPU's cores + 1 (Dual-core will be "3", Quad-core "5", …)

8) Launch :

make-kpkg clean

To prepare the directory needed by the building process.

9) Launch :

fakeroot make-kpkg --initrd --append-to-version=-sk kernel-image kernel-headers

This will start the kernel building process. It can take a while (between 1h and 8h following your hardware). If the process is interrupted for some reason, you should launch the command rm ~/source and start over from step 3. The kernel binaries .deb will be placed in ~/source.

To install the new kernel :

1) Open nautilus (file explorer) and go to /lib/modules.

2) Open a Terminal and launch :

cd ~/source

3) Type the following commands and press **Tab to auto-fill the version of kernel, named here (KERNEL_VERSION) :**

sudo dpkg -i linux-image-
sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-

Both commands (once filled by Tab) must end by .deb

4) Launch :

sudo update-initramfs -c -k KERNEL_NAME

You have to replace KERNEL_NAME by the name used by the directory containing the modifier kernel (should end with "-sk" in nautilus).

5) Launch :

sudo update-grub

(and also sudo update-burg if you use BURG).

6) Restart the computer.

You now run a custom kernel ! Congrats'

If that doesn't work, the problem is NOT caused by HID (usb2.0 driver) and I have no idea how to help you :)

Ubuntu – Super key not working

I had a similar issue, the super was disabled by default. A solution can be found here: http://www.dell.com/support/article/de/de/debsdt1/how12108/anleitung-zum-aktivieren-der-ubuntu-super-taste-auf-dell-oem-ubuntu-installationen?lang=de

If it is disabled, find official release notes how to revert this change.

In case this is not intentionally disabled feature then just install: sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager and look up the Ubuntu Unity plugin usage.

Best Answer

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Ubuntu – Many USB Multimedia Keyboard issues in Ubuntu 13.10

Ubuntu – Super key not working

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