# SLES 9.3. Workaround for keyboard problem **URL:** \ **Category:** SLES Configure-Administer\ **Created:** [October 13, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-9-3-workaround-for-keyboard-problem/30435 "2017-10-13T13:40:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![officedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@officedude](https://forums.suse.com/u/officedude)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-9-3-workaround-for-keyboard-problem/30435/1 "2017-10-13T13:40:47Z")
Hi, I am hoping some kind soul can help with a problem here, regarding SLES 9.3 Why are we running such an old version of sles, you might ask. Well to cut a long story short we are running some old equipment that wont run under any version greater than 9.3 Not least because some components required a recompiled kernel with the relevant patches etc added in and no version of SLES over 9.3 would work. Now onto the problem We had to put some old text only serial terminals online and we we did everything necessary to get the terminals running. That is a great success. Now, though, whenever we start up the machine we get a situation where the keyboard works for about 1 or two seconds at the graphical login screen for KDM (KDE). after that we can enter no more text at the graphical screen We have tried every edit of inittab known to humankind, we have done every edit of KDMRC that has ever been discussed. We have tried absolutely everything Our workaround so far has been this: start the machine 1 wait for graphical login to appear 2 choose the option on the login page to go to console 3 At the text login use root as username and enter the password 4 at the command prompt type : exec KDM This works Now the questions Is it possible to start the machine and do steps 2, 3 , and 4 automatically? using a script or configuration file without having to type a username and password at the console login so that we get back our ability to use the keyboard at the graphical login For us we are sure this will work. I have spent sleepless night trying everything I know but have had to admit defeat on this, so we have had our fill of inittab editing etc and are hoping for a new approach Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer ---
**Author:** ![Automatic\_Reply](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@Automatic\_Reply](https://forums.suse.com/u/Automatic_Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2017, 7:30am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-9-3-workaround-for-keyboard-problem/30435/2 "2017-10-18T07:30:27Z")
officedude, It appears that in the past few days you have not received a response to your posting. That concerns us, and has triggered this automated reply. These forums are peer-to-peer, best effort, volunteer run and that if your issue is urgent or not getting a response, you might try one of the following options: - Visit [http://www.suse.com/support](http://www.suse.com/support) and search the knowledgebase and/or check all the other support options available. - Open a service request: [https://www.suse.com/support](https://www.suse.com/support) - You could also try posting your message again. Make sure it is posted in the correct newsgroup. ([http://forums.suse.com](http://forums.suse.com)) Be sure to read the forum FAQ about what to expect in the way of responses: [http://forums.suse.com/faq.php](http://forums.suse.com/faq.php) If this is a reply to a duplicate posting or otherwise posted in error, please ignore and accept our apologies and rest assured we will issue a stern reprimand to our posting bot… Good luck! Your SUSE Forums Team [http://forums.suse.com](http://forums.suse.com) ---
**Author:** ![malcolmlewis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/malcolmlewis/32/11375_2.png) [@malcolmlewis](https://forums.suse.com/u/malcolmlewis)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-9-3-workaround-for-keyboard-problem/30435/3 "2017-10-20T05:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=officedude;39883]Hi, I am hoping some kind soul can help with a problem here, regarding SLES 9.3 Why are we running such an old version of sles, you might ask. Well to cut a long story short we are running some old equipment that wont run under any version greater than 9.3 Not least because some components required a recompiled kernel with the relevant patches etc added in and no version of SLES over 9.3 would work. Now onto the problem We had to put some old text only serial terminals online and we we did everything necessary to get the terminals running. That is a great success. Now, though, whenever we start up the machine we get a situation where the keyboard works for about 1 or two seconds at the graphical login screen for KDM (KDE). after that we can enter no more text at the graphical screen We have tried every edit of inittab known to humankind, we have done every edit of KDMRC that has ever been discussed. We have tried absolutely everything Our workaround so far has been this: start the machine 1 wait for graphical login to appear 2 choose the option on the login page to go to console 3 At the text login use root as username and enter the password 4 at the command prompt type : exec KDM This works Now the questions Is it possible to start the machine and do steps 2, 3 , and 4 automatically? using a script or configuration file without having to type a username and password at the console login so that we get back our ability to use the keyboard at the graphical login For us we are sure this will work. I have spent sleepless night trying everything I know but have had to admit defeat on this, so we have had our fill of inittab editing etc and are hoping for a new approach Thank you very much for any help you are able to offer[/QUOTE] Hi and belated welcome to the Forum 🙂 You can configure a user to autologin via YaST /etc/sysconfig editor and in the Desktop Displaymanager there is DISPLAYMANAGER\_AUTOLOGIN. Also check YaST for the keyboard setup, maybe something has changed. Else have you tried a different keyboard? ---
**Author:** ![Jens-U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d78d45/32.png) [@Jens-U](https://forums.suse.com/u/Jens-U)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-9-3-workaround-for-keyboard-problem/30435/4 "2017-10-25T18:49:49Z")
Hi, have you had a look at the X server’s log file, to see if any related errors are reported by the X server? If your mouse is still moving the according visual ointer, it may also be a case of a dying (KDM) process, leaving you with an X server displaying the “latest update” sent by kdm… but as no process is listening any longer, you won’t see any reaction to entering input. Regards, J