Insertion of 'l' char into editor when using Win+L

[MECU]

When locking my computer with the Windows+L key, the char l is inserted into the text of any editor I'm using (I've experienced this with NetBeans, Notepad++ and PHPStorm). It's annoying to have this char inserted and break code.

Can I have the char prevented from being inserted? I typically hit Windows first and then L, so it shouldn't be inserting the l key.

If I'm in a bash console, this sends a command that displays all the known hosts (from /etc/hosts I presume) and then sl which I then have to erase on the command line as well. Preventing this as well would be great.

This has something to do with my environment. I run Windows 7 host with all the above apps in a Fedora 21 VirtualBox. The problem only occurs in that environment (it does not occur in the Windows side). It occurs on a co-workers similar environment, which rules out hardware or something unique about my computer.

​SuperUser question

[Frank Mehnert]

Did I understand you correct that you are using a Fedora 21 guest on your Windows 7 host? So is the WinL key not passed from the host to the guest? Is passing the other special keys (WinR, WinMenu) working?

[MECU]

You understood correctly.

I'm not concerned with WinL being passed. In my opinion, hitting WinL should not be passed since Windows should take the keystroke and perform the function first which prevents passing to the guest.

Regardless, WinR is not passed either. An 'r' appears instead of a command executed. WinR in Windows does execute okay.

[Frank Mehnert]

Then that's exact the problem. As the WinR and WinL keys are not passed to the guest, the guest has no idea about these keys.

The correct handling is to pass these keys into the guest if the VM window has the focus. This works here (Windows 10 / 10586) and I wonder why it does not work for your Windows 7 host. Which host key did you set up, are you using CtrlR (the default one)?

[MECU]

Yes, the default host key: CtrlR.

It sounds like if I am in the VM window and want to lock the computer, I have to change my method or live with the consequences.

Is there a way to map WinL in the VM to do "nothing", so the l doesn't get input instead?

[MECU]

Yup. I was able to map MetaL to do "nothing" and now the l doesn't get inserted. I'm happy now.

Thanks.