What is the "MOD" key?

[bushyiii]

I have a old IBM Thinkpad, T43.  I tried using the Live CD of MicroWatt R10 but was challenged once I had a desktop.  The problem is it does not have a WINDOWS key and trying to find the definition of the "MOD" key using google has been fruitless so far.  Any help is appreciated

[blaze]

Hi bushyiii.

Well I do know that on Windows it is Ctrl+Esc. But this is not Windows, so are there any key combinations that work for you? Or do you have to set up your own key map from the ground?

[bushyiii]

I tried every Key combination I could think of but nothing worked.  I have never setup a Key Map and since I cannot access the terminal or anything else I don't know where to begin.   I'm currently hunting around Reddit as there is a subgroup for i3, maybe I will get lucky.

[blaze]

Have you checked here?

http://planetwatt.com/newforum/index.php?topic=965.0

[bushyiii]

Yes, that's how I discovered that Reddit has a forum for the i3 WM.  Haven't found anything yet that addresses my issue.

[blaze]

Here neither?

https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#_default_keybindings

[bushyiii]

Maybe I am missing something, I previously looked at that page, it shows the keyboard layout for a typical WINDOW keyboard.  The keys to the left of my Spacebar are Fn, Ctrl & Alt.  None of which function as the Mod key when I try the Keyboard combinations that are displayed on the Desktop of Microwatt R10.

[blaze]

Weird. I am not an i3 user so... 

Could it be something wrong with the live cd? Can you set your preferred keymap in a terminal, or during the boot? In case there are some crazy keymap in use, and not your own. What keyboard layout do you have on your machine?

[bushyiii]

Impossible to do anything in the Terminal as it requires a Mod Key combination just to open the Terminal.  If I did it correctly there should be a jpg of my keyboard layout.

[blaze]

Can you boot into the live cd in recovery mode? Or try Ctrl+Alt F2 to get into a tty? Should not work if I have understood you right. Do you have the possibility to test it on another machine? Burn a new cd? Download the iso again and start from scratch? I really am very now bushyiii.

[bushyiii]

Can you boot into the live cd in recovery mode? No
Or try Ctrl+Alt F2 to get into a tty? No
Do you have the possibility to test it on another machine? Not relevant, other machine has a WINDOWS keyboard but I will try it to ensure the functions work as described..

[bushyiii]

Microwatt works perfectly when using a standard keyboard that has a WINDOWS key.

[blaze]

Ok bushyiii, thanks for getting back with the additional info. I do not have any more ideas to bring to the table. There are evidently some kind of information that will solve your problem, but where?

My best suggestion now is to try the i3 IRC channel. Link below. Wish you all possible luck further on solving this problem. Please post solution if you find out, I am intrigued!

https://i3wm.org/contact/

[teejay]

This is vague recollection, since you don't seem to be making any usable progress.

Biff made a video for the first i3wm microwatt.   Updated it, I think, for R10.    I'm pretty sure that he covers - later stages, perhaps -  the fact that config is all in an editable text file.   I do realise that you want to allocate the MOD key itself given that none of the existing key functions that way, as opposed to binding mod+key combinations.   I say start with the video.   
Depending on your typing habits, consider a right-ctrl key as mod . 

Good luck - after this amount of effort you deserve it.   

[blaze]

Have you tested how  wattOS LXDE behaves on your T43? Or something else, just to check that the keyboard actually works as it should.