Error in activating xkb configuration

With later Ubuntu beta versions, this bug was solved. Or at least the error message no longer shows.

The underlying problem of xorg not recognizing uk layout is still present.

A little experimentation showed that setting the keymap from the command line gives me the right keyboard. I'm not sure if this is masking an underlying problem from xorg level or fixing what is broken.

Same here. In my case, with Japanese...

xprop -root | grep XKB

_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xorg", "jp106", "jp,jp", "latin,", "grp:alt_shift_toggle,grp_led:scroll"
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xorg", "jp106", "jp,jp", "latin,", "grp:alt_shift_toggle,grp_led:scroll"

gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd

 layouts = [jp latin]
 model =
 options = [grp grp:alt_shift_toggle,grp_led grp_led:scroll,japan japan:kana_lock]
 overrideSettings = true

Same error here (Ubuntu 8.04 updated regularly)
     $ xprop -root | grep XKB
     _XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "", ""
     _XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "xorg", "pc105", "us", "", ""
     $ gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd
      layouts = [us,ro std]
      model =
      options = [grp grp:alt_shift_toggle]
      overrideSettings = true
PROBABLY it's the romanian layout - I cannot switch to it - I'll remove it and tell you if that makes the popup go away

I think this kind of error went from saved session.
Try to disable session saving, restart X server, reconfigure and restart again.
Let me know if I'm wrong.

I came in this thought because I saw this error when the results of

xprop -root | grep XKB
and
gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd
are differnent configuration.

It could be that with "session saving" active one of the two utilities cannot succed in changing options or configuration.

I experimented this case in LinuxMint (Gnome desktop) and Ubuntu and in both cases disabling session manager solve the bug.
Another solution is configure manually the keyboard.

Maybe it's a Gnome bug?

This happened to me after upgrtading ti Intreprid Ibex. A dialog box with no title, but with title bar, and a big stop sign displayed on the left. The text on it says:

Error activating XKB configuration.
It can happen under various circumstances:
- a bug in libxklavier library
- a bug in X server (xkbcomp, xmodmap utilities)
- X server with incompatible libxkbfile implementation

X server version data:
The X.Org Foundation
10502000

If you report this situation as a bug, please include:
- The result of xprop -root | grep XKB
- The result of gconftool-2 -R /desktop/gnome/peripherals/keyboard/kbd

The first command gives:
_XKB_RULES_NAMES_BACKUP(STRING) = "evdev", "pc105", "us", "", ""
_XKB_RULES_NAMES(STRING) = "evdev", "pc105", "us", "", ""

 while the second gives:
 layouts = [us,ro std_comma]
 model =
 options = [grp grp:alts_toggle,grp grp:alt_shift_toggle]

To mention this error did not occured while using Hardy Heron.

Strangely, I have not seen this error after removing the romanian keyboard and reinstalling it (left only with the default USA keyboard), as it wasn't possible to switch between keyboards. Now the keyboard layouts work just fine.

I think this error might happen after an upgrade, because some keyboards have been renamed in Xorg. Gnome might try to use the old keyboard name (stored in your home folder) which is not understood by Xorg. This would explain why removing the keyboard and readding it solves the problem.