I Messed up my Keyboard while trying to remap a Key

[Turon]

My left directional key on my old HP laptop gave way, so I tried to remap it. I found a command in this topic that enabled me to remap my left key to my right shift key:

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sudo sed -i '29s|.*|key<RTSH>{[Left]};|' \
/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc \
&& sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

I, however, wanted to remap my left key to my right ctrl key, because it was closer to the original location of my left key, so I altered the command without really understanding what I was doing, this is approximately what I typed in:

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sudo sed -i '29s|.*|key<RTSH>{[Left]};{[Ctrl_R]}|' \
/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc \
&& sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

This command completely ruined my OS's keyboard inputs and now not even the on-screen keyboard works. Is this situation resolvable or will I have to reinstall my OS? I'd imagine I'd have to manipulate something externally since I literally can't use the keyboard now.

[gittiest personITW]

If you made a Timeshift snapshot you can go back to before that.
You can boot into Live Mint and open Timeshift from there.

[magnus7]

To undo remapping reinstall xkb-data package:

Open Menu > Character Map
Create text: xkb-data and your password by dragging characters to "Text to copy:" (use scripts "Latin" and "Common")

Open Menu > Synaptic Package Manager
Search: xkb-data
Right click on xkb-data and choose: "Mark for Reinstallation"
"Apply" and restart the computer

[Turon]

If you made a Timeshift snapshot you can go back to before that.
You can boot into Live Mint and open Timeshift from there.

I don't specifically remember doing a timeshift snapshot, so I probably didn't. But in hindsight I will so thanks for the suggestion

To undo remapping reinstall xkb-data package:

Open Menu > Character Map
Create text: xkb-data and your password by dragging characters to "Text to copy:" (use scripts "Latin" and "Common")

Open Menu > Synaptic Package Manager
Search: xkb-data
Right click on xkb-data and choose: "Mark for Reinstallation"
"Apply" and restart the computer

My one account on linux mint has a password, I only have access to my Guest session. Is it normal to not be able to access the Synaptic Package Manager as a guest? Because I click on it, and nothing happens...

[AZgl1800]

Timeshift is your Friend!!!

set it up for 5 Daily snapshots, I had to use mine today and after trying something that sounded really neat, but would not work on my OS.

it took all of 60 seconds for it to restore and then reboot my PC

[motoryzen]

it took all of 60 seconds for it to restore and then reboot my PC

Ah yes...SSD's indeed show their worth this way also xD \m/ I couldn't agree more.

[Aztaroth]

Is it normal to not be able to access the Synaptic Package Manager as a guest? Because I click on it, and nothing happens...

Yes, it is. Synaptic Manager needs to be run as an administrator (asks for password when launched). This is impossible in a guest session.

About your keyboard :
- check its current status with :

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setxkbmap -print -verbose 10

(verbose 10 will give all possible infos). Note the layout language.

- reset it accordingly (example for layout language us) :

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setxkbmap -layout us

I'm not sure it will work in a guest session or if it will survive a reboot, but as there's no privileges needed, who knows.

[Turon]

I can't push 'enter' because of the keyboard problem, but I got around that by just pasting in the command on one line and then some nonsense on the next.

Anycase I pasted this command:

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setxkbmap -print -verbose 10

and I got my keyboard layout (it's za), then I pasted your other command but modified for my keyboard:

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setxkbmap -layout za

the terminal, however, outputted this:

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Error loading new keyboard description

Am I out of option on that front?

[magnus7]

Restart the computer holding down Shift or ESC key to show GRUB Boot Menu.
At this stage your keyboard will work because is controlled by BIOS.
Choose "Advanced options for Linux Mint" > "(recovery mode)" > "root".
Press Enter and run this command:

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apt-get install --reinstall xkb-data

Press Enter, Ctrl+D and "resume".
Restart the computer.

[Aztaroth]

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Error loading new keyboard description

What I feared. In a guest session you can't change anything.
magnus7's idea seems interesting and if his command doesn't work, you may try mine.

[Turon]

Restart the computer holding down Shift or ESC key to show GRUB Boot Menu.
At this stage your keyboard will work because is controlled by BIOS.
Choose "Advanced options for Linux Mint" > "(recovery mode)" > "root".
Press Enter and run this command:

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apt-get install --reinstall xkb-data

Press Enter, Ctrl+D and "resume".
Restart the computer.

Thanks magnus7, I tried that and was able to successfully booted up recovery mode and reinstalled the xkb-data!

This is probably offtopic somewhat but.. How do I actually remap my left directional key to my right Ctrl?

[magnus7]

Run this command in terminal and restart the computer:

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sudo sed -i '30s|.*|key<RCTL>{[Left]};|' \
/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc \
&& sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

[Turon]

Run this command in terminal and restart the computer:

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sudo sed -i '30s|.*|key<RCTL>{[Left]};|' \
/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc \
&& sudo dpkg-reconfigure xkb-data

Thanks it worked! My problem has been resolved for now. Just out of curiosity, which part of your command refers to right ctrl? Is it this part?:

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key<RCTL>

[magnus7]

Yes.