changing key behavior

[Eric "Shubes"]

Alex Dean wrote:
> I'm not sure what I did, but I've apparently changed a setting one of  
> my Debian machines which is making it difficult to edit text.
> 
>  - vi : In insert mode, I cannot use backspace to erase any existing  
> text.  I can erase what I have typed during my current insert, but  the 
> erased characters do not actually disappear until I have either  typed 
> something else over them, or I have switched to command mode.   (Before 
> this change, backspace worked to delete any text in the  document, and 
> the deleted characters disappeared immediately.)  Any  text that was in 
> the document before I started my insert cannot be  altered via 
> backspace.  I have to go to command mode and press x to  delete anything.
>  - pico : backspace deletes what is to the right of the cursor, not  
> what is to the left as it used to do.
>  - from a shell : backspace works as expected.
> 
> These symptoms are system-wide.  The affect emote (ssh) and local  
> logins for all user accounts.  What could be the cause of this?
> 
> thanks,
> alex
> .
> 
I really don't know.

That being said, does this happen with non-x terminals (ctl-alt-f1) 
(ctl-alt-f2) etc., or just terminals under X? If only xterms are 
affected, I'd look into the x config. If non-x terms are screwy too, I'd 
look into mingetty, but I really don't know how that works (especially 
on Debian).

That's not much help, I'm afraid. Good luck, and let us know what you 
find out.

-- 
-Eric 'shubes'

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