[TriLUG] How to get to text terminal when Ctrl+Alt+F1 doesn't work?

[shay walters via TriLUG]

    For what it's worth, I have a similar problem.  I use a wireless
Logitech K700 as my primary keyboard and it has NO function keys shown,
even with a "Fn" modifier.   I keep a regular wired USB keyboard handy (in
fact, I usually leave it connected and set it down on the floor along the
wall) just for that reason, so I can try to get to a terminal when the
system gets wonky.
     Admittedly, sometimes even the wired keyboard is of no use, but it's
one more possible entry point.  I use the Caps-Lock LED as my basic sanity
test for the keyboard.   If the Caps-Lock key doesn't toggle the Caps-Lock
LED, I don't waste time trying to do anything else with the wired keyboard
and just hold down the power switch.  On occasion, when the CAPS-Lock LED
toggles, even if I can't get to a terminal, I can still do the
CTRL-ALT-SysReq thing.  Bit it's a rarity that that works when CTRL-ALT-F1
doesn't.
    Now that I've changed from using pcmanfm to using caja for my file
manager, pretty much all of my lockups are video-related.   I'm using the
proprietary Nvidia driver with a fairly long-in-the-tooth video card, so
I'm pretty sure my problems originate with that driver.

-Shay



On Mon, Dec 17, 2018 at 2:05 PM Nathan Yinger via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org>
wrote:

> I'm quite certain the text terminals are running, because I can get to them
> if I plug a regular keyboard in.
>
> The function keys are hidden behind media keys, so Ctrl+Alt+F1 is really
> Ctrl+Alt+Fn+F1, and I suspect it is a keyboard limitation.
>
> The question is how do I get around that limitation? Is there another way
> to switch between GUI and text? I could start in text mode, but I also want
> to have a web browser on it, so if I switch to GUI to use the browser how
> would I get back to text mode?
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 15, 2018 at 8:15 PM Kenneth Parker via TriLUG <
> trilug at trilug.org>
> wrote:
>
> > On Sat, Dec 15, 2018 at 12:11 PM Nathan Yinger via TriLUG <
> > trilug at trilug.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I recently got a Pi-Top. Obviously, when I booted it up, the first
> thing
> > I
> > > did was hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 to do to the text console...and nothing
> happened.
> > > Plugging in another keyboard and hitting Ctrl-Alt-F1 on the other
> > keyboard
> > > works, but not with the built-in keyboard. The Ctrl, Alt, and Fn keys
> all
> > > work normally, except when trying to get to the text console.
> > >
> >
> > I concur with other responses, that the "supplied keyboard" may not
> > register three keys, pressed at once.
> >
> > | <snip>
> >
> > If you don't mind starting with Text Mode, there should be an update to
> > Grub to do this.  A few years ago (pre-SystemD), I ran an Ubuntu Server
> > (but with LXDE Window Manager) 24 hours a day.  Back then, it was as
> simple
> > as replacing  the words, "quiet splash" to "text".
> >
> > I'm pretty sure this has changed, with SystemD!
> >
> > Good Luck and Best Regards,
> >
> > Kenneth Parker
> > --
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> --
> This message was sent to: Shay Walters <shaywalters at gmail.com>
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