virtualbox.org

Hi,
I have installed VirtualBox 3.2.6 r63112 on my Debian GNU/Linux Lenny host.
As a guest system on it I have installed Debian GNU/Linux Squeeze on VirtualBox.
I'm using Wings Display Manager (WDM) to get Graphical Login Screen.

I changed line
XKBLAYOUT="hu"
in file '/etc/default/keyboard ' to
XKBLAYOUT="hu,sr,yu"

and reboot the guest system. I came to WDM Login screen but can't to login because keyboard input doesn't work anymore.
Mayhep I forgot to generate locales for sr and yu.
So I want to switch to a virtual terminal using Host+F1 but instead get VirtualBox Help window. Then I try to use Host+F2, but don't get virtual terminal tty2. Why?

How can I solve this problem?

So you changed the keyboard layout on the Guest, and now the Host key doesn't work anymore? That's quite troublesome. It shouldn't matter what layout you have on the Guest for the host key to operate, as it relies on the Host's keyboard layout. Have you tried changing the Host key from the VB preferences and see if that helps?

Sasquatch wrote:So you changed the keyboard layout on the Guest, and now the Host key doesn't work anymore? That's quite troublesome. It shouldn't matter what layout you have on the Guest for the host key to operate, as it relies on the Host's keyboard layout. Have you tried changing the Host key from the VB preferences and see if that helps?

I can change the Host key from the VB preferences, say the Host key was 'Scroll Lock' and I can change it to 'Print' key.
The Host key works, because:

• When I hit on it, the Icon for the Host key at bottom of guest window changes from the Green arrow to Gray arrow.
• When I hit on it again, then the Icon for the Host key at bottom of guest window changes from the Gray arrow to Green arrow.
• If I hit on F1 nothing happen, but when I hit Host+F1 then the Help window opened.

Only Host+F2, or Host+F3, ... , Host+F6 doesn't give to me a virtual terminal.

Please try it with a more normal key, like right ctrl. I know, it shouldn't matter, but on my system, some combinations don't work when I use the right alt (alt gr), but they do work when I use the right ctrl.

Sasquatch wrote:Please try it with a more normal key, like right ctrl. I know, it shouldn't matter, but on my system, some combinations don't work when I use the right alt (alt gr), but they do work when I use the right ctrl.

I try it with Right Control key, but now even Host+F1 doesn't give to me the Help Window (before, when the Host key was Scroll Lock, it gives to me the Help Window).
Host+F2, Host+F3, ... , Host+F6 gives not any virtual terminals too, when Host key is Right Control.

I remember that that when on my old laptop changed this way the /etc/default/keyboard file , then I can't use keyboard on Graphical Login.
The cause of this behavior was that that I edited line to XKBLAYOUT="hu,sr,yu" but when I correct this line - using virtual terminal - to XKBLAYOUT="hu,hr,cs" then I can login on Graphical Login again. So I did this mistake again here, on my VirtualBox.

OK
I can see that there is no solution for this problem.
I'm going to delete my guest Debian Squeeze system on my VirtualBox and install it again.
This is the only solution, right?
But before that action I try one thing more: boot the guest Squeeze system with a Debian Live CD image and try to setup keyboard XKBLAYOUT.

paulchany wrote:But before that action I try one thing more: boot the guest Squeeze system with a Debian Live CD image and try to setup keyboard XKBLAYOUT.

I'm booting from my Debian Live CD to my guest Debian Squeeze on my VirtualBox and coming to the prompt:
user@debian:~$
From here I mounted / partition:
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/Squeeze
and edit /etc/default/keyboard
so I can now boot my Debian Squeeze again!

That was going to be my next suggestion, use a live environment and revert the changes you made .