wrong keyboard layout

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
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Dirk_Lehmann
Posts: 60
Joined: 4. Oct 2015, 22:27

wrong keyboard layout

Post by Dirk_Lehmann »

Hello Community,

I run some virtual maschines and all of those have the for me wrong keyboard layout.

I need the german keyboard layout but each maschine has the english keyboard layout.

How to change the keyboard layout for a virtual maschine?

Best regards,

Dirk Lehmann
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: wrong keyboard layout

Post by mpack »

The keyboard layout is a matter of configuring the guest OS correctly. It is up to you to choose the correct keyboard when you install the guest OS, or if the guest OS is created on another host it is up to you to change the keyboard layout.

VirtualBox doesn't care about keytops. It simulates a bunch of switches.
Dirk_Lehmann
Posts: 60
Joined: 4. Oct 2015, 22:27

Re: wrong keyboard layout

Post by Dirk_Lehmann »

Hello mpack,

I have allready executed some commands on this virtual maschine running Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS, please see:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php? ... st13453293

But no command did fix the problem to change from english to german keyboard layout.

That's why I thought I might has something to do with virtual box hypervisor.

Please let me know if anyone has further ideas or hints to change the keyboard layout of my virtual maschine running Ubuntu 14.04.4 from englisch to german keyboard layout.

Best regards,

Dirk Lehmann
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: wrong keyboard layout

Post by socratis »

Just my 0.02€...

I don't have a CLI only VM, but I did try it on a Mint 17 (based on Ubuntu 14.04) VM. Dropped in console mode with Alt-Ctrl-F1, run "sudo apt-get install console-common" (which seems to also trigger "sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-data") and I was able to have a switchable keyboard between en_US and el_GR (Greek). Didn't even have to change the modifier key, which defaulted to Alt-Shift (exactly what I would expect). On the other hand, it didn't change the GUI, i.e. I had to add the extra layout again from the GUI. Expected I guess.

I don't know if there are differences between the two OS versions, but they're pretty close. I just did an experiment to see if it would work. I do know that this is definitely not a VirtualBox problem. As mpack pointed out, VirtualBox doesn't know or care what your guest keyboard layout is set to.
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