After using Windows or Mac OS X as the guest OS in VMware for Linux, sometimes my ALT, SHIFT or CTRL keys break and stop working. So I can't use ALT+Tab, for example.
Does anyone know what the cause is, and how to fix that?
Is there a way to make the keys work again?
To fix the keys, just run:
setxkbmap
And that should restore them to default behaviour.
You may be experiencing the VM capturing your keystrokes. If I am running VMWare or Virtual box my CTRL+arrowKey no longer works for rotating desktop cube. Also Gnome-Do cannot be called up with super+spaceBar. If that's not what you mean, then it's probably Neil's suggestion.
PS: Don't forget to install the VM software on the guest operating system (if available) to enhance integration, but I doubt you could very easily get your keystrokes to happen on both guest and host at the same time.
