gnome 2.16 pops up menu when DOWN or END key is pressed

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

Situation

For some reason like multi-seated computers you need to use evdev as keyboard driver in X-Windows.
Your chosen Desktop is Gnome.
Every time the "End" key or cursor "down" key is pressed, Gnome opens up the Menu which practically makes Gnome unusable in this environment.

Explanation:
Gnome uses the "Windows" keys on your keyboard to open the Menu.
With the standard X keyboard driver the keycodes 115 and 116 are mapped to these keys.

Evdev uses a different mapping and e.g. 115 and 116 are mapped to"end" or "down"

Resolution

Evdev uses different keycodes as the usually used kbd X-Windows driver.

While neither this nor the keycodes Gnome uses for opening up the menu, there still is a workaround available. Run:

gconftool-2 --type bool --set /apps/metacity/general/enable_windows_keys "false"

This will disable the use of the Windows keys under Gnome.
Every user has to run this command once.

For a systemwide change one could place a shellscript in /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.d/
which will then be executed every time an X-session is started.

Additional Information

Only Gnome since version 2.16 is affected by the different keycode mappings.
All other Windowmanagers and Desktops that come with SUSE Linux handle things different here and do not face this problem.

Disclaimer

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