How to enable/disable Ctrl+Alt+Backspace in (K)Ubuntu Karmic 9.10

As you might have noticed already if you use Ubuntu Karmic, Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (i.e. the shortcut which was used to restart the X server) has to be enabled in a different way with respect to previous releases of Ubuntu.

This is due to the fact that “DontZap” is no longer an option in the X server and has become an option in XKB instead.

As a result, now it’s very easy to use your Desktop environment of choice (e.g. GNOME, KDE) to enable or to disable the Ctrl+Alt+Backspace shortcut. It is also possible to do it without KDE or GNOME.

I recommend that you do it from your desktop environment of choice (as you may find it easier):
Instructions here

P.S. Instructions for XFCE are more than welcome.

6 thoughts on “How to enable/disable Ctrl+Alt+Backspace in (K)Ubuntu Karmic 9.10

  1. @Patrick @Vangelis:
    The problem is that sysrq is not available on all laptops. Furthermore it’s not guaranteed to leave your laptop in a usable state. It depends on your laptop.

    It works reliably on some (but not all) of my laptops.

  2. Hi,
    Just wanted to drop a word that your Envy application worked like a charm for my NVIDIA card. I was getting quite frustrated until I found your application.

    Thanks a ton!

  3. hi,
    i install envyng but application show to me only uncompatible and unrecomendet drivers.
    i have ati 9250 agp graphic card.
    haw to install driver?
    regards

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