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Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

Ubuntu 9.04 showed up in the Update Manager. It's as easy as clicking the "Upgrade" button to do an operating system upgrade. And of course my DSL connection has to die when I'm some 300 packages into the 1391-package download process. I had to power cycle the DSL modem, and it came back with a slower connection speed.

Upgrading Ubuntu to 9.04

Browsing the release notes, the most obvious change I see is that the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace salute (to kill the X server) is now disabled by default. I don't think it's a good idea—I've had occasion to use it several times in Ubuntu 8.10. With the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace option out, my remaining options are: ssh in from another box (which would require me to turn around and slide my chair three feet), or the reset button (which will require me to bend down, press and hold the big button for several seconds). Neither is as convenient as the key combination.

On the other hand, I have never ever accidentally pressed the key combination in my fifteen years using Linux.

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Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

The other Ctrl-Alt-switches are not disabled per default, so when X hangs you can do Ctrl-Alt-F2, login and do sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart. Not as convenient like ctrl-alt-backspace, but a lot easier than restarting your PC/sshing to your computer

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

Thanks. I forgot about that.

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

Weiqi, I haven't used Xmodmap, but I am wondering if you could just re-enable the ctrl-alt-backspace into your .xmodmap file. I have to concur, being without .Xmodmap is kind of frustrating especially if you are trying to configure your video settings.

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

@Matthew: It's nothing to do with xmodmap. You can reenable it by installing 'dontzap'. Then, 'sudo dontzap --disable' (yeah, the sense seems backwards until you think about the 'dont') will reenable it for you.

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

@Robin good tip, and thanks for the clarification.

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

hey i miss the key combination "Ctrl-Alt-Backspace". can you tell me were to get this "dontzap" and i would appreciate it if you give step by step instructions for how to enable "Ctrl-Alt-Backspace". Thanks in advance.

Re: Ubuntu 9.04 Released: Ctrl-Alt-Backspace Disabled

The did leave in the ctrl-alt-leftshift-rightshift-prntscrn REISUB hack though :)

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