Ubuntu – Why is the Laptop keyboard messed up after plugging an external keyboard

keyboardnumpad

I'm running xubuntu 12.04 on a 2007 macbook.

I'm using the laptop with external screen, keyboard and mouse.
Yesterday after a dist-upgrade and after I unplugged the external keyboard I noticed that the Lapotop's keyboard was mapped to whatever (J = 1 , L = 3 , M = 0 e.t.c.) however I can login and type perfectly in the login screen and as a guest.

Any suggestions on how to get more information and/or troubleshooting are welcome.

Best Answer

This looks like your Laptop keyboard has an integrated Numpad. It is active when enabling NumLock.
Your Laptop Numpad might have small drawings of numbers on right part of your keyboard with the following mapping:
jkl -> 123
uio -> 789
m -> 0

Disabling NumLock should give back those keys their primary function.

  1. Hit Shift+NumLock several times to disable Numlock.
    You might also have a combination with the Fn keys depending on your Laptop model.

  2. If for some reason you are unable to get it done with your physical keyboard, this should help:

    1. execute onboard in a terminal. This will open an on-screen keyboard.
    2. click 123, then NumLock. After every click check if your Laptop keyboard is back to normal.

    NumLock key on the onboard keyboard (after hitting the 123 key)

Notes:

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