Arggh! This weekend I was tinkering with my X Server configuration trying to get multi monitors to work on my Ubuntu System. One of the things I needed to do was kill the X Server. Unfortunately, the keyboard sequence didn't work. But here's how I got it to work.
The Darn Thing Is Disabled!
Well I can see why Ubuntu decided to do this. They didn't want newbs to hit the CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE key accidentally to bring down the house. Whats that key sequence? Its the keyboard shortcut to restart X Server.
Strange thing is, everytime I typed it in, it didn't do squat.
Look In Keyboard Application
Buried in System | Preferences | Keyboard is the answer. Go there and click on the Layouts tab. Then click on the Options... button.
Scroll down until you see "Key sequence to kill the X Server" and click on the little "+" button. Notice the checkbox is disabled. Check it and hit the close button.
Now hit CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE if you want to reboot X Server.
One Hundred and Four To The Third Power.
Ubuntu is not supposed to be Linux for geeks. Its supposed to be Linux for the common ape. As mentioned earlier I can see why they might have done this. But what really was the chance of someone's three legged cat walking across the keyboard in that CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE sequence? I'd say 1 in 104 to the third power.
About Kerry Kobashi
Kerry is the founder of KerryOnWorld. He lives in Silicon Valley and has worked as an engineer and project manager. He owns Kobashi Computing a consulting company.
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