Re: modifier keys stop working [second try]

[At the risk of being annoying, I am re-posting this question.]

I am repeatedly losing modifier-key function.

I run an up-to-date Lenny system and use the window manager fvwm (2.5.26-1)
so that I can mostly work from the command line. I also have a virtual XP
machine (VM, VMware 1.06).

If I use the VM for a few minutes (usually Photoshop, sometimes Acrobat), I
find that SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT no longer modify what I enter in the Linux
window. For example, CTRL-c, ALT-c, and SHIFT-c all just send `c'. The
modulator keys all still function in the VMware window. I have not
identified any particular sequence that causes the change. Shutting down the
VM doesn't fix it. Exiting fvwm and calling startx again does. When I ran
"dumpkeys -l" in the healthy and diseased states, the outputs were identical.
In my previous build (Etch + fvwm 2.5.18-3 + VMware 1.0.4), I never had this
problem.

The questions ...

1. Any idea what causes this or how to prevent it? I'm not optimistic here.
2. Can anyone suggest a command line that might restore the key functions so
that I wouldn't have to shut down the window manager?
3. Finally, a fun puzzle (inspired by actual events). If I have a window up
with text I want to save before shutting down the windows, how can I do
the save without modifier keys? I can copy the text with the mouse, but
then what? Redirect (< > << |) needs the SHIFT key. I can't terminate
stdin with CTRL-d. I'm hoping to do better than scrot + OCR.

Thanks.


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