I believe Dylan is right that this discussion is no longer productive. As I said before, it isn't that I personally object to the *zap X* functionality being unlinked from C-A-B, as it is I object to the *zap X* functionality having no default access method. Changing C-A-B to A-S-K provides a reasonably solution. And I don't particularly care *how* I access it, so long as that I can without needing to change settings anywhere. My objection isn't that I personally can't change settings. My objection is that most of the people who use Ubuntu that I know rely on me to help when it confuses them. Most of the time this is via the phone from half-way across the United States. They simply will not understand how to modify this file, and many times the solution to their problem is simply to zap X... but they don't know that. Their computer is literally a unknowable black box to them, and they prefer to err on the side of caution. The obvious solution, of course, is for me to modify this file for them. But there are situations where that just is simply not possible. (Remember, I am sometimes providing assistance from several hundred miles away, with the person I am assisting basically being completely computer-illiterate.). I have no idea what the best way to both prevent accidental Zapping while also allowing those users who wish to to Zap. But isn't it possible to do that? Others have suggested a forked process to notify the user of what they just asked to do. Others have suggested C-A-B^2, and apparently ctrl-alt-sysreq-k is supposed to offer similar functionality (though it asks me if i wish to log out similar to the CtrlAltDel functionality, as sysreq and del are the same key for me.) What can be done? Sincerely, Michael Jones Message: 6 Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:31:27 -0800 From: Dylan McCall <<a href="mailto:dylanmccall@gmail.com">dylanmccall@gmail.com</a>> Subject: Re: Fwd: Is disabling ctrl-alt-backspace really such a good idea? To: ubuntu-devel-discuss <<a href="mailto:ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com">ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com</a>> Message-ID: <<a href="mailto:9b6762c90902130831g12ca69efyb96a37c3df0f964c@mail.gmail.com">9b6762c90902130831g12ca69efyb96a37c3df0f964c@mail.gmail.com</a><div id=":1c6" class="ArwC7c ckChnd">> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 This discussion is hardly relevant anymore. I agree the popup explaining what the user is about to do would be a nice alternative, but this is also a completely adequate solution. I'm sure any patches for that alternative would have a good, warm and fulfilling life. Preferences? Fine; you can set your preferences in xorg.conf. (Please nobody put them in Screen Resolution for the love of the Holy Interface Guide). Too late to set preferences, it's already crashed? Any power user who would have used Ctrl Alt Backspace probably had the sense to read the Jaunty release notes, which will have said (and I for one will make sure they say this) that that key combination is disabled by default; to use the kernel-level Alt SysRQ K instead. While you're at it, get a different video driver. SysRQ doesn't work or don't have the key? That's a bug in the kernel. Please file it, or get a new keyboard. Try pressing Shift or Fn and see if that makes a difference. Would be sensible if keyboard / mouse grabs timed out after a while or required the constant responsiveness of an "is alive" callback. (Or do they?). Bye, -Dylan</div>