virtualbox.org

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

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.

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

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