How to use Windows key in Ubuntu 9.10 to open Gnome Panel menu?

I've just installed Ubuntu 9.10 onto a Lenovo T61. I can't seem to map the Windows key to bring up the Gnome Panel menu (Ubuntu's equivalent of a Start menu). I've tried System > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts, navigating to 'Desktop > Show the panel's main menu' but when I get there and hit the Windows key, nothing happens. It looks like it's only being seen as a modifier key; if I hit <Windows>-<1> then it binds to Mod4+1. xev shows the following when I press the Windows key:

KeyPress event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x2200001,
    root 0x114, subw 0x0, time 30819302, (200,-9), root:(1150,37),
    state 0x0, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 36, synthetic NO, window 0x2200001,
    root 0x114, subw 0x0, time 30819470, (200,-9), root:(1150,37),
    state 0x40, keycode 133 (keysym 0xffeb, Super_L), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

It's been way too many years since I've messed with xmodmap and the like. Any ideas? Thanks!

Joe Casadonte

Posted 2009-12-28T00:57:57.493

Reputation: 3 945

this saved my day :) but here is another issue. If I click again the menu doesn't close. Have you found a workaround for this? – bakytn – 2011-08-15T08:06:34.350

@bakytn - hit the escape key; don't know of anything else, sorry. – Joe Casadonte – 2011-08-15T12:15:08.187

1Just as an aside, setting up the Windows key in this manner prevents its use as a modifier key. It can only be used by itself. XP was able to deal with both uses, sadly. – Joe Casadonte – 2009-12-30T03:45:42.127

How to use Windows key in Ubuntu 9.10 to open Gnome Panel menu?

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