A mini-HOWTO test the XKB config without modifying the system configuration. (Only tested with XFree86 4.3+.) First see what your configuration is. Note the model and layout. $ setxkbmap -print Then unpack the sources locally ... $ gzip -dc xkeyboard-config*.tar.gz | tar -tf - ... and change to the delivered directory $ cd xkeyboard-config-<version> Then try to load the current keyboard using the local rules $ setxkbmap -v 10 -I$PWD -rules base Now try to set different keyboards using the -model and -layout. $ setxkbmap -v 10 -I$PWD -rules base -model pc102 -layout intl Look in the file rules/base for other example models and layouts If there was a problem, you can reset the keyboard like so: $ setxkbmap -rules xfree86 -model <noted model> -layout <noted layout> If that doesn't work, you may have to log out and log back in.