Comments on: Get back the ctrl-alt-backspace behavior in Ubuntu http://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/ A technology news blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:34:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mikehttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-870284 Mike Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:58:22 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-870284 ctrl-alt-bkspc is a partially graceful way of restoring Ubuntu which regularly hangs and freezes, exclusively running the software suite on the Hardy Heron LiveCD which is notoriously unstable The software complement currently invoked is pooched anyway when the 8.04 system freezes but at least there's half a chance the desktop maybe recovered short of a complete hard reboot. ctrl-alt-bkspc is a partially graceful way of restoring Ubuntu which regularly hangs and freezes, exclusively running the software suite on the Hardy Heron LiveCD which is notoriously unstable

The software complement currently invoked is pooched anyway when the 8.04 system freezes but at least there’s half a chance the desktop maybe recovered short of a complete hard reboot.

]]> By: James Dhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-861270 James D Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:44:17 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-861270 I'm sorry, but the real story is that this was forced into Ubuntu by a specific clique of old school users, namely those who use a common piece of virtualization software. The genius who designed that mapped a common shortcut onto Ctrl+Alt+Enter, not realizing that the Enter and Backspace keys are adjacent on the British keyboard layout. The correct solution would have been to fix the virtualization software's shortcuts to be less US-centric, but instead they decide to screw over every new end user of X by breaking the documentation-by-search-engine approach. I’m sorry, but the real story is that this was forced into Ubuntu by a specific clique of old school users, namely those who use a common piece of virtualization software. The genius who designed that mapped a common shortcut onto Ctrl+Alt+Enter, not realizing that the Enter and Backspace keys are adjacent on the British keyboard layout. The correct solution would have been to fix the virtualization software’s shortcuts to be less US-centric, but instead they decide to screw over every new end user of X by breaking the documentation-by-search-engine approach.

]]> By: jklowdenhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-861260 jklowden Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:19:30 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-861260 "dontzap" is an unfortunate choice for a name. It's a utility to disable something, which is confusing. What does "dont zap --enable" mean, in English? Imagine chmod(2) were named "prevent" because it's used to prevent access to files. Then "prevent g-w" would mean ... huh? Better would have been "ctrl-alt-backspace": ctrl-alt-backspace --enable and ctrl-alt-backspace --disable are both clear and unambiguous. “dontzap” is an unfortunate choice for a name. It’s a utility to disable something, which is confusing. What does “dont zap –enable” mean, in English?

Imagine chmod(2) were named “prevent” because it’s used to prevent access to files. Then “prevent g-w” would mean … huh?

Better would have been “ctrl-alt-backspace”:

ctrl-alt-backspace –enable and
ctrl-alt-backspace –disable

are both clear and unambiguous.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-861221 Anonymous Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:08:34 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-861221 Not being able to use Ctrl-Alt-Backspace I am afraid lots of people having a non responding machine, will solve this by rebooting the pc the hard way, simply by hitting the power button. This uncontrolled shutdown will lead to errors in the file-system. These are generally automatically resolved, but on some rare occasions you end up having to run fsck manually on boot. This is however impossible unless you have enabled the root account. The password required in these circumstances is the root password and not the "Sudo" password. To clean up your system you need to boot from a recovery CD/DVD or similar media, but how many have these readily available and know how to do this? Not being able to use Ctrl-Alt-Backspace I am afraid lots of people having a non responding machine, will solve this by rebooting the pc the hard way, simply by hitting the power button. This uncontrolled shutdown will lead to errors in the file-system. These are generally automatically resolved, but on some rare occasions you end up having to run fsck manually on boot. This is however impossible unless you have enabled the root account. The password required in these circumstances is the root password and not the “Sudo” password. To clean up your system you need to boot from a recovery CD/DVD or similar media, but how many have these readily available and know how to do this?

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-861169 David Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:44:52 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-861169 Ubuntu getc less comfortable every release. For all kinds of stuff that worked flawless you have to find workarounds. The developers were just thinking nothing. They are just annoying the users. Anyway, thanks for your article, now I can zap my x-server again. Ubuntu getc less comfortable every release. For all kinds of stuff that worked flawless you have to find workarounds. The developers were just thinking nothing. They are just annoying the users.

Anyway, thanks for your article, now I can zap my x-server again.

]]> By: Get back the ctrl-alt-backspace behavior in Ubuntu | Ubuntu-News - Your one stop for news about Ubuntuhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860829 Get back the ctrl-alt-backspace behavior in Ubuntu | Ubuntu-News - Your one stop for news about Ubuntu Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:01:57 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860829 [...] it is possible to get the old standby behavior back. This tutorial will show you how. More here In the most recent release of Ubuntu (9.04) the developers decided (after a very lengthy [...] [...] it is possible to get the old standby behavior back. This tutorial will show you how. More here In the most recent release of Ubuntu (9.04) the developers decided (after a very lengthy [...]

]]> By: oiaohmhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860212 oiaohm Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:12:12 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860212 Everyone is being dumb. alt-ctrl-backspace was removed because it don't work correctly. X11 locks up and it don't work. http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/SAK.txt << It would be better to assign ctrl-alt-backspace to this. Result is basically the same but is way more dependable only fails to work if the kernel is paniced. Not like old X11 zap that X11 server locked up causes it not to happen.. right alt + printscreen +k is no longer recommended. It is not way near as clean as the other SAK combination. Basically stop putting back a feature that does not work correct its broken move on. Use the feature that works correctly in kernel based SAK. Distributions have been lazy. Everyone is being dumb.

alt-ctrl-backspace was removed because it don’t work correctly. X11 locks up and it don’t work.

http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/SAK.txt << It would be better to assign ctrl-alt-backspace to this. Result is basically the same but is way more dependable only fails to work if the kernel is paniced. Not like old X11 zap that X11 server locked up causes it not to happen..

right alt + printscreen +k is no longer recommended. It is not way near as clean as the other SAK combination.

Basically stop putting back a feature that does not work correct its broken move on. Use the feature that works correctly in kernel based SAK.

Distributions have been lazy.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860168 Anonymous Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:20:31 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860168 There is a rule in software evolution : when a useful functionality that has been around for years becomes an option, the default new value of the option must be the same as the old way. X.org developers are dumb. There is a rule in software evolution : when a useful
functionality that has been around for years becomes an option, the default new value of the option must be the same as the old way.

X.org developers are dumb.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860164 Anonymous Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:04:18 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860164 This is an X.org thing, not just an Ubuntu thing. This is an X.org thing, not just an Ubuntu thing.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860162 Anonymous Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:02:58 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860162 @Yonah: The GUI system is not part of the Linux kernel, but runs as just another operating system process. Rephrase your question a little bit, and the answer becomes self-evident: "Why would Linux allow a poorly written application to not accept user input?" The answer: Linux is not responsible for an application's processing of user input. The application (in this case, X) is responsible for processing its user input. @Yonah:

The GUI system is not part of the Linux kernel, but runs as just another operating system process. Rephrase your question a little bit, and the answer becomes self-evident: “Why would Linux allow a poorly written application to not accept user input?”

The answer: Linux is not responsible for an application’s processing of user input. The application (in this case, X) is responsible for processing its user input.

]]> By: Reign of Sevenhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860151 Reign of Seven Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:31:06 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860151 Linux doesnt control all the applications that are installed on your system. there are 6 billion people on the planet right now and all 6 billion can write their own programs and install them. It has nothing to do with Linux, its WHERE the person installs the application from. Which is why we emphatically urge people to ONLY install STABLE packages from your Distro's package manager. Linux doesnt control all the applications that are installed on your system. there are 6 billion people on the planet right now and all 6 billion can write their own programs and install them. It has nothing to do with Linux, its WHERE the person installs the application from.

Which is why we emphatically urge people to ONLY install STABLE packages from your Distro’s package manager.

]]> By: Jeffhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860133 Jeff Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:12:09 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860133 Another option is to hit CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to the base command console login prompt, and then CTRL-ALT-F7 to get back to the graphical X desktop -- usually works even when resources are tied up, and then you can get an unencumbered console going to fix whatever needs help. Another option is to hit CTRL-ALT-F1 to get to the base command console login prompt, and then CTRL-ALT-F7 to get back to the graphical X desktop — usually works even when resources are tied up, and then you can get an unencumbered console going to fix whatever needs help.

]]> By: Yonahhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860120 Yonah Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:34:27 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860120 Why does Linux allow a poorly written application to impact the system to the point the GUI becomes unusable? Wouldn't you consider that a serious design flaw? Why does Linux allow a poorly written application to impact the system to the point the GUI becomes unusable? Wouldn’t you consider that a serious design flaw?

]]> By: Janice Ackerhttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860106 Janice Acker Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:44:04 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860106 This is another example of software developers trying to save stupid users from themselves and punishing the rest of us in the process. They go out of their way to remove something that many folks depend on just because "someone might accidentally..". Well too bad. People who aren't paying attention to what they're doing on a computer don't deserve to use a computer to begin with. Dear developers, Please put the ctrl+alt+bkspc option back in and stop punishing everyone just because a few stupid people don't pay attention to what they're doing on their computers. If you make the stupid ones learn a lesson, they may not be so stupid next time. Or, as a friend puts it, "remove all of the safeties and let the problem take care of itself". This is another example of software developers trying to save stupid users from themselves and punishing the rest of us in the process. They go out of their way to remove something that many folks depend on just because “someone might accidentally..”. Well too bad. People who aren’t paying attention to what they’re doing on a computer don’t deserve to use a computer to begin with.

Dear developers,
Please put the ctrl+alt+bkspc option back in and stop punishing everyone just because a few stupid people don’t pay attention to what they’re doing on their computers. If you make the stupid ones learn a lesson, they may not be so stupid next time. Or, as a friend puts it, “remove all of the safeties and let the problem take care of itself”.

]]> By: Mikehttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860097 Mike Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:06:15 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860097 On suse systems you can hit the ctrl+alt+bs twice to kill X On suse systems you can hit the ctrl+alt+bs twice to kill X

]]> By: yveshttp://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/31/get-back-the-ctrl-alt-backspace-behavior-in-ubuntu/comment-page-1/#comment-860015 yves Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:36:08 +0000 http://www.ghacks.net/?p=14937#comment-860015 Or just use: right alt + printscreen +k it has the same effect. And an other useful trick for the rare occasion that nothing works anymore, try: holding down : Alt + printscreen while typing: R E I S U B. Safer methode than hitting the PSU Switch. :-) cheers yves Or just use:

right alt + printscreen +k

it has the same effect.

And an other useful trick for the rare occasion that nothing works anymore, try:

holding down : Alt + printscreen while typing: R E I S U B.

Safer methode than hitting the PSU Switch. :-)

cheers
yves

]]>