[Macpartners] strange OSX Tiger keyboard problem

[Nick Knouf]

hi everybody,

strange keyboard problem here on a powermac g5 with the standard USB  
white keyboard...

I've found that sometimes when I switch from full-screen X11 mode  
(using apple's X11) to Aqua I lose the ability to command-tab;  
instead of switching programs, command-tab now simply works like a  
plain tab key (switching focus of interface elements).  command-`,  
which I would use to switch between open windows, now gives me a  
system beep, indicating that it's not an appropriate keystroke.   
command-esc also doesn't bring up the "force quite" menu, although  
"esc" still works to switch out of insert mode in vi.  However, it's  
not simply the command key that is broken, as command-t, command-w,  
and command-q still work to, for example in firefox, open a new tab,  
close a window, and close the application.

I've tried unplugging/replugging the keyboard, resetting the keyboard  
defaults through System Preferences, and so on, to no avail.  My  
solution up to this point is to reboot, but I *really* don't want to  
have to do that.

Has anybody else had this issue, or know of a potential workaround?

Thanks,

nick knouf
lab manager, kanwisher lab