The Machine Shuts Down When Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Backspace

Support knowledgebase (xf86_apm)

Symptom:

Your computer has a SiS chipset. When you use the short cut Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (e.g., to kill the running X server), the whole machine shuts down instead. This happens on the text console, too.

Cause:

Some motherboards with SiS chipsets have a built-in functionality to shut down the system when pressing Ctrl+Alt+Backspace. This only occurs when using kernels with apm support.

Solution:

First, check if your computer's BIOS contains the option Init VGA-BIOS from S3. If yes, set this BIOS function to disabled.

In case your BIOS does not contain this option, another possibility consists of telling the kernel to switch apm off during the system boot.

This can be achieved by passing this parameter to the kernel:
apm=off
This parameter can also be permanently passed to the kernel through LILO. This can be done by starting YaST2 Control Center and selecting the menu System --> Configure boot mode. Select where LILO should be installed and insert the option apm=off in the text field for Boot parameter (separated from existing entries with a space). Confirm this configuration with Continue and reboot to activate the changes.

Alternatively, you can also use YaST (1) in older SuSE Linux systems. Start YaST (1) and select the menu System Administration --> Kernel and boot configuration --> LILO configuration. There you will find the line Append line for hardware parameter, which may already contain some parameters. Insert the option apm=off separated by a space from already existing parameters and confirm with Continue.

The output of LILO will be then displayed in a separate window. You can now exit YaST and reboot your computer.

We would like to thank Gerald Rosemann for his contribution to this article.


Keywords: SIS, CHIPSET, MOTHERBOARD, APM, POWER MANAGEMENT, POWER, POWER OFF

Categories: XFree86

SDB-xf86_apm, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 27. Feb 2001
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 16. Mai 2002 by drahn (sdb_gen 1.40.0)