GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 131083
Error activating XKB configuration
Last modified: 2004-12-22 21:47:04 UTC
Using newer control-center releses (the ones with the reworked gnome-keyboard-properties stuff) i get the following error whenever i start GNOME: --- Error activating XKB configuration. Probably internal X server problem. X server version data: The XFree86 Project, Inc 40300000 You are using XFree 4.3.0. There are known problems with complex XKB configurations. Try using simpler configuration or taking more fresh version of XFree software. --- This error message is also displayed when i try to activate the "Ignore system configuration"-checkbox on the "Core Layout Configuration"-tab in the keyboard preferences. I'm using the XFree86 that ships with FedoraCore 1.
Urgh urgh urgh. There's not really an excuse for this not working with FC1 - it's a very recent XServer. Tentatively marking as a target for 2.6, but this could be some sort of installation problem? I have no idea. Ccing svu, he should know more about this.
>> but this could be some sort of installation problem? don't know, installation went smooth and i havn't done any fancy stuff... waiting for instructions
Definitely it is mine. Would you mind telling me which configuration you are trying to set. In particular, the list of layouts is nice to have.
Well i'm a bit confused about the XKB system right now but let's hope we can figure it out nevertheless... ;) I use the standart german "de" layout as set in XF86Config: ... Option "XkbRules" "xfree86" Option "XkbModel" "pc105" Option "XkbLayout" "de" Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys" ... Also, the keymap *is* used, my keyboard works as it is meant bo work... I'm currently recompiling Gnome 2.5.2 using the latest GARNOME to make sure it isn't a problem of my build.
More info would be nice to have. First, the result of # xprop -root | grep XKB Also, the result of # gconftool-2 /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb -R BTW, I am using FC1 with the latest gnome, so I am sure we'll sort out the issue:)
no problem, here we go... ;) [nx@nova nx]$ xprop -root | grep XKB _XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "de", "nodeadkeys", "" _XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "de", "nodeadkeys", "" [nx@nova nx]$ gconftool-2 /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb -R layouts = [de nodeadkeys] model = pc105 overrideSettings = true options = []
Really strange. Just reproduced your configuration on my system. And everything is ok. Well, what do you see when you run gnome-keyboard-properties? Do you see anything suspictious in the console? Also, what is the version of libxklavier and the version of gnome-control-center you are using?
[nx@nova nx]$ /opt/gnome25/bin/gnome-keyboard-properties (gnome-keyboard-properties:6125): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to add a widget with type GtkLabel to a GtkCheckButton, but as a GtkBin subclass a GtkCheckButton can only contain one widget at a time; it already contains a widget of type GtkLabel [1073818378,150,xklavier_config_i18n.c:_XklI18NInit/] Locale search order: [1073818378,150,xklavier_config_i18n.c:_XklI18NInit/] 0: en_US.UTF-8 [1073818378,150,xklavier_config_i18n.c:_XklI18NInit/] 1: en_US [1073818378,150,xklavier_config_i18n.c:_XklI18NInit/] 2: en [1073818378,150,xklavier_config_i18n.c:_XklGetCharset/] Using charset from nl_langinfo: [UTF-8] --- This is the console-output i get when starting the dialog, changing settings doesn't output anything to the console. I get the popups i mentioned earlier when i activate/deactivate the "ignore system configuration"-checkbox (two of them) and when i add/remove a layout (only one popup) I already tried other LANGs (en_US.8859-15, en_US, de_DE...) but that didn't help either... >> what is the version libxklavier == 0.95 control-center == 2.5.1.1
Argh... got it. The problem was GARNOME, setting CONFIGURE_ARGS = $(DIRPATHS) --with-xkb-base=$(libdir)/X11/xkb instead of CONFIGURE_ARGS = $(DIRPATHS) --with-xkb-base=/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb so xklavier actually didn't have a chance finding the XKB configuration. Would've been better if the error message had reflected this, though...
Well, it is difficult to predict any possible build-time error. Usually it is reasonable to assume that at least build process is ok. Anyway, thanks for closing this bug. I am relieved...
*** Bug 131261 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
I'm getting a somewhat similar error: (With all up-to-date packages of Gnome 2.5.x) Error activating XKB configuration. Probably an internal X server problem. X server version data: Gentoo Linux (XFree86 4.3.0, revision r5) 40300001 If you report this situation as a bug, please include: - The result of xprop -root | grep XKB - The result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb So here they are: _XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "se", "", "" _XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xfree86", "pc105", "se", "", "" layouts = [se] model = logicdpa overrideSettings = false options = [altwin altwin:meta_super]
I think the problem can be caused by meta_super option. Could you please try removing it? I am not sure all XFree handle it correctly.
Added that after the problem started occuring, just to get the XKB-error dialog. Has nothing to do with it.
Sorry, I do not understand your last message:)
Well, the problem is still there without the meta_super option.
Strange... Could you please post the result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/xkb after you removed this option. Then, try "Reset to defaults" button. Does it work without error? Then, change the configuration element-by-element (first - model, then - layout, then - options) - and see where the error appears.
Hmm.. problem solved after giving enough permissions to /var/tmp.. thanks anyways
The problem with the gconf. I have the exact same error message tonight for XKB, but in reality the problem is that my gconf got hosed just like that. The information IS there, because the "root" user can access it and run gnome with no problems, but no other user can. For example the theme manager tells me that the schemas are not installed, and indeed, by loading the gconf-editor only a few gnome apps have keys in it. My problem started after I did a big system upgrade on ArchLinux installing about 50 new packages, but I don't know if that was the culprit or not. I even reinstalled X and Gnome fully, but no joy. I am sure the info is STILL there, but the problem is the permissions on the gconf keys. Any tips on how to fix this? Thx.
Eugenia: No slightest idea. I would say the best way to resolve it is to file a separate bug against gconf - people discussing XKB could hardly help you;) If you still encounter XKB problems after fixing your gconf - you're very welcome into this bug discussion. :)))
Eugenia : please open a new bug for the gconf permissions and list me on the CC list (I don't see gconf bugs by default). BE sure to include the a sample directory listing of at least one of the directories in your test user's ~/.gconf tree. We need to see the owener and permissions on a directory and the files in it. Sergey : To summarize this bug 1) libxklavier-1.0.1 can be hard coded to use either x.org or xfree86 now which solve the fedora problems. 2) There is still a free floating bug in recent versions of xfree86 that can not be worked around in libxklavier ? Can we quantify when/if it was fixed and fall back to checking the server version to produce a better error message (eg 'you are running a pre release version of the xfree86 X server, it is known to be broken you are screwed')
Jody: 1. libxklavier 1.02 (to be released soon) replaces build-time option with the run-time detection. 2. New info about us_intl (again, thanks to Ivan, the layouts guru). In xfree 4.3 this layout was NOT combinable (the same was as some Canadian) - there is no file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/pc/us_intl, only /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/us_intl. In the latest pre-4.4 builds it was made combinable (new file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/pc/us_intl was added). That't the whole truth about us_intl layout. There is no way to distinghish non-combinable layouts (with the fairness, there are very few of them) from combinable in 4.3. You know, all these bugs arize because noone seriously cared to create proper general purpose keyboard confugration ui before gnome 2.6. Each admin used its own solution in XF86Config (and unfortunately XFree provides way too many ways to configure keyboard).