[SOLVED] Xorg reads F1 and F4 keys as the windows key (Super_L)

Question

Hello, everyone.
I'm new to Arch and I really like it. I'm currently trying to configure i3 to switch workspaces with the function keys, but some of them (F1 and F4) are not working at all for some reason. I used xev to figure out what the problem was and I got the following result for F1:
KeyPress event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x600019, time 157637, (0,433), root:(687,449),
state 0x0, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyPress event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x600019, time 157641, (0,433), root:(687,449),
state 0x40, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffbe, F1), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyRelease event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x600019, time 157753, (0,433), root:(687,449),
state 0x40, keycode 67 (keysym 0xffbe, F1), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyRelease event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x600019, time 157763, (0,433), root:(687,449),
state 0x40, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
This one's for F4:
KeyPress event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x0, time 392058, (-1,241), root:(686,257),
state 0x0, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes:
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyPress event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x0, time 392062, (-1,241), root:(686,257),
state 0x40, keycode 33 (keysym 0x70, p), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (70) "p"
XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (70) "p"
XFilterEvent returns: False
KeyRelease event, serial 32, synthetic NO, window 0xc00001,
root 0x2b8, subw 0x0, time 392226, (-1,241), root:(686,257),
state 0x40, keycode 33 (keysym 0x70, p), same_screen YES,
XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (70) "p"
XFilterEvent returns: False
I think these keys shouldn't have two different outputs and  I wasn't able to remap them with xmodmap because I can't find how to remove Super_L from them. This is the output of xmodmap with the pke option.
keycode 67 = F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 XF86Switch_VT_1
keycode 68 = F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 XF86Switch_VT_2
keycode 69 = F3 F3 F3 F3 F3 F3 XF86Switch_VT_3
keycode 70 = F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 XF86Switch_VT_4
keycode 71 = F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 XF86Switch_VT_5
keycode 72 = F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 XF86Switch_VT_6
keycode 73 = F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 XF86Switch_VT_7
keycode 74 = F8 F8 F8 F8 F8 F8 XF86Switch_VT_8
keycode 75 = F9 F9 F9 F9 F9 F9 XF86Switch_VT_9
The other function keys work properly, but some of them are hotkeys (I'm not sure if this can be related to the problem).
I would really appreciate your help.
Last edited by MexicanoTerco (2015-03-15 17:14:21)

Answer 1

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:
It could be a firmware (BIOS) issue -- my backlight function keys are very temperamental.
Are there any options in your firmware (BIOS) menu relating to function keys?
Also, is the a "Fn" (function?) modifier key on your keyboard? This is sometimes used to access the special functions on the F-keys.
There is indeed an "Action Keys Mode" option in my BIOS menu and it was enabled, so I disabled it. Now everything works perfectly.
I'm kind of embarrassed because this is the first time I notice that little option, but it solved my problem. Thank you very much!
Last edited by MexicanoTerco (2015-03-15 17:12:46)