Do you know where to check on the keyboard layout? I think that was under
system in old ubuntu. Maybe just a corrupt kwybinki. Granted file that
needs to be replaced or refreshed. Try switching with UK perhaps?

When I changed to the UK layout, the key to the left of z doesnt work at
all.

Sorry the layout didn't improve anything for you. This actually Sounds sort
of what happened tomy laptop when I spilled a glass of water on it. I
Don't suppose you have another keyboard around to try swapping with to see
if it is just that one is on the fritz? That's about the end of my ideas

I took my keyboard apart and inspected that thin sheet
as that is the only other thing I could think to do and I
see what appear to be thin tears in the sheet. I looked
around the sheet and found some other tears by the w and
k keys, which sometimes I have to hit twice. Doesnt explain the
2 after the period but, I chunked the keyboard. Have to get a
new one.

WS> I took my keyboard apart and inspected that thin sheet
WS> as that is the only other thing I could think to do and I
WS> see what appear to be thin tears in the sheet.

Sounds like the keyboard is history, and once they start to go then
all sorts of strange characters can be produced as the electronics
inside the keyboard tries to make sense of the garbled signals it's
getting.

At least keyboard aren't that expensive now, unless you go for a real
flash type - and they fail just as much as the cheap ones !!

Its at times like this your thankful it is a desktop computer and not a
portable.
Thinking positively, this is an opportunity to get a keyboard with a bunch
of bells and whistles.

About a year and a half ago I had a netbook system board go bad. The cost
of replacement was a substantial part of the cost of a new one. I did
manage to salvage the hard drive and put it into an external USB SATA case
so I didn't loose any data.

I myself would like to have a keybd with USB ports and volume controls.

you probally have num lock on...........

Why would numlock have ANYTHING at all in the world
to do with the x not working or a 2 after a period???

a small netbook i used to have doubled the right side of the keyboard with
numbers and when you hit num lock all of those keys would be stuck in
number form....