Keyboard strangeness with #, Emacs and Vi (Ubuntu guest)

[ivan_llaisdy]

Dear All

I've been running Ubuntu 9.10 on VirtualBox 3.1.2 on Mac OS X.6 (Snow Leopard) for a short while and all seems well, apart from some strangeness with the keyboard:

1. The keyboard hash symbol (#) doesn't work. On my MacBookPro this is Alt-3, but inside the Ubuntu guest, this key does either nothing or something else. How can I assign another key to do # or, better, fix Alt-3 to do #?

2. Emacs. I'd like to set emacs to use the Cmd key as Meta, instead of using the Esc key. I haven't been able to find out how to do this, possibly because Emacs on MacOSX works like this out of the box nowadays. Can I put a command in my .emacs file? Can anyone tell me what it is?

3. Vi (Yes I use Emacs /and/ Vi). The arrow keys work in command mode but not in insert mode. Instead of Up Down Left Right movements, I get ABCD. Does anyone know why, and how I can fix it?

MacOSX is mostly very nice, but for some projects I need Linux. Obviously with the above problems the Guest is crippled. I'd be very grateful if anyone can help.

Thanks and best wishes

Ivan

[spgreer]

I'm having the exact same problem. Using VI, arrow keys give me ABCD. Acting VERY strange. Running Ubuntu Server 10.10 as guest on windows 2003 server host machine. Virtualbox version 3.2.12.

[yoblin]

Old thread, but in case others are having the same issue:
http://linuxblog.pansapiens.com/2007/10 ... ys-in-vim/

[adminz]

Finally got something that works consistently on my MBP late 2008 edition. I have Centos 6 in VirtualBox 4.2.12. I can now successfully insert in VI by hitting the s key twice. No Fn just the s key. This puts me in insert mode and I can work with text no problem. When ready to exit insert mode just hit Ctrl+C and this will bring you out of insert mode. The rest seems to be fine. Cheers