I've had the same problems. I looked in my Xorg.0.log file for how it was describing my repeated disconnect/reconnect of my usb keyboard, and saw mention of 'evdev' every time.
Over on http://www.nabble.com/Bug-447666:-don%27t-have-the-right-xkb_layout-anymore...just-us-keyboard-td13367563.html they describe how removing the xserver-xorg-input-evdev package (which installs /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/evdev_drv.so) fixed it for them. When I'm done with my other work I'll give this a shot, but wanted to share this now in case it might be of some help. The entries from my log: -- cut -- (II) config/hal: Adding input device Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20 (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: always reports core events (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Device: "/dev/input/event1" (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found keys (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Configuring as keyboard (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20" (type: KEYBOARD) (**) Option "xkb_rules" "evdev" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_rules: "evdev" (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_model: "pc105" (**) Option "xkb_layout" "ie" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_layout: "ie" (II) config/hal: Adding input device Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20 (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: always reports core events (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Device: "/dev/input/event2" (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found x and y relative axes (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found x and y absolute axes (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found 6 mouse buttons (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found keys (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Configuring as mouse (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Configuring as keyboard (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20" (type: KEYBOARD) (**) Option "xkb_rules" "evdev" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_rules: "evdev" (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_model: "pc105" (**) Option "xkb_layout" "ie" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: xkb_layout: "ie" (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: YAxisMapping: buttons 4 and 5 (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: EmulateWheelButton: 4, EmulateWheelInertia: 10, EmulateWheelTimeout: 200 (EE) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Read error: No such device (EE) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Read error: No such device (II) config/hal: removing device Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20 (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Close (II) UnloadModule: "evdev" (II) config/hal: removing device Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20 (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Close (II) UnloadModule: "evdev" (II) config/hal: Adding input device Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20 (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: always reports core events (**) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Device: "/dev/input/event1" (II) Microsft Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop? 2.20: Found keys ... etc ... -- cut -- I'll attach the full log as well. Hope this helps, B ** Changed in: gnome-control-center (Ubuntu) Status: Invalid => New -- Keyboard layout options get lost https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/305309 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs