[Settings] questions about window and tab behavior + some more questions

[cvcvcv]

i just tested kubuntu on a live boot session (writing from windows 11 rn). i have some questions about kde and kubuntu itself:

• window behavior is so different than win11, and im not sure if it's meant to be like this by default. when i open dolphin and i click on a folder it opens a new window instead of opening the folder in the same window, so after a while you end up getting like 5-6 new windows in less than a minute. it's the same with firefox: clicking on links opens a new window instead of keeping you inside the same window. in firefox, it also opens a new window when clicking in the new tab icon. is it supposed to be like this or is it bugged on my end?

  ---

• clicking on the taskbar icon also opens a new window. i.e. if you have a dolphin window opened but you minimize it, and then wanna click on the taskbar icon to maximize it, instead it opens a new window. only way to access to the minimized window is using alt+tab. it happens with all of the apps i tried, which were dolphin file explorer, elisa music player and firefox browser

  ---

• some keys don't work like they used to in win11, the example i remember the most rn is the DEL key not deleting the characters after the text cursor (i dont remember the exact behavior in kubuntu). i tested the keyboard with XEV and the key is mapped to "delete" so idk if it's supposed have a different behavior than the win11 behavior and it's mean to be remapped somehow. behavior is also changed for arrow keys, they not only move the text cursor but also selects the text. some modifier keys (like CTRL) also dont work

  ---

• windows (linux?) key doesn't open the app launcher.

  ---

• touchpad gestures get messed up after using them for a while. i.e. scrolling with two fingers stopped to work after ~20mins of booting kubuntu.

i ask this bc i'm not really sure if this is all meant to be default behavior and i'm just a linux noob, or is it something specific on my end that needs fixing? i googled some of the questions and i couldn't find people with the same "problems". help is very appreciated!

[cvcvcv]

forgot to post system info.

Operating System: Kubuntu 24.10
KDE Plasma Version: 6.1.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.6.0
Qt Version: 6.6.2

running live boot from 64gb USB

[claydoh]

Something is definitely wrong, for sure.
None of these are the expected stock behaviors at all.

I Imagine some behaviors , like gestures bugging out could be an artifact from running in ram for extended periods, but the window and app behaviors are definitely not the default or the correct ones at all.

The win/meta key might be a bug that seems to happen to some systems or hardware. If you make sure that the shortcut is set to F1 for the menu action, this also should cause the meta key to do so as well. Also, I've seen some keyboards require slightly more than just a key stab to bring it up. I believe this is to allow for using meta as a modifier key. I'm not sure if this is still valid today or not.

If this is happening every session you run, you might consider first verifying the integrity of the ISO image you used, then creating a new USB, creating one using a different USB stick, using a fresh ISO, trying a different software to create the live stick, or any combo of these.

I'm a fan of Ventoy myself these days .

[Hazcrew]

The issues may have something to do with the fact you are using the live version or, if you using a laptop (touchpad), which requires different keyboard setting then strange effects can occur due to custom drivers/settings for the keyboard.
The live version is designed for most common applications (PC's) and laptop keyboards often require different settings.
All setting should be changeable when installed.

On an installed version your required responses are generally default default (on my version) and can be changed.

• Firefox - to change window opening go to Firefox settings - General - under Tabs select 'Open links in tabs instead of new windows' this is normally the default setting when installed
• Task bar icon - what you require should be the default on an installed version - you may need to check your keyboard settings
• Some keys - see above.
• windows (linux?) - should open the menu
• Touchpad - cannot comment.

You did not give details of hardware but as you mentioned Touchpad I assume you are using a laptop, its likely that the limited live install version cannot handle keyboard/touchpad correctly.
Either way an installed version should work or at worst case allow changing of behavior settings

Hope this helps

[cvcvcv]

Something is definitely wrong, for sure.
None of these are the expected stock behaviors at all.

I Imagine some behaviors , like gestures bugging out could be an artifact from running in ram for extended periods, but the window and app behaviors are definitely not the default or the correct ones at all.

The win/meta key might be a bug that seems to happen to some systems or hardware. If you make sure that the shortcut is set to F1 for the menu action, this also should cause the meta key to do so as well. Also, I've seen some keyboards require slightly more than just a key stab to bring it up. I believe this is to allow for using meta as a modifier key. I'm not sure if this is still valid today or not.

If this is happening every session you run, you might consider first verifying the integrity of the ISO image you used, then creating a new USB, creating one using a different USB stick, using a fresh ISO, trying a different software to create the live stick, or any combo of these.

I'm a fan of Ventoy myself these days .

yeah i thought the same!!! the ISO is legit (checked sha256), and i'm running kubuntu from USB again and everything is working as it should be (except for the META key not opening the menu, i feel like this can be fixed in settings though). i guess i'll just chalk it up as "weird things that happen when running from RAM for more than 1h" 🤷♂️ i'm running the OS from USB before doing a proper install bc i still need to back all my stuff up from win11, so i will keep testing.

and yeah i love ventoy too!! i'm a newbie on all this stuff (first time i changed a setting on BIOS for the first time in my life was like 2 days ago lol), and the option of having a functional USB storage drive that doubles as a bootable USB is very convenient 👌

btw, i got a different "problem" now, and it's related to the drivers. when i have the laptop turned off, and then i boot kubuntu from ventoy, the wifi does not work: the OS can't detect any wifi network nearby, and network settings only detect a weird "Io" network. USB tethering from phone does work and is detected as a different ethernet network than "Io". but when reboot from win11 and i boot from ventoy the wifi works!!! i can even choose the wifi on the "try or install" screen. i guess i just need to find the correct driver after making a proper install, but would it be wise to install kubuntu after rebooting from win11? or could this generate any problem? any help appreciated!!

[cvcvcv]

The issues may have something to do with the fact you are using the live version or, if you using a laptop (touchpad), which requires different keyboard setting then strange effects can occur due to custom drivers/settings for the keyboard.
The live version is designed for most common applications (PC's) and laptop keyboards often require different settings.
All setting should be changeable when installed.

On an installed version your required responses are generally default default (on my version) and can be changed.

• Firefox - to change window opening go to Firefox settings - General - under Tabs select 'Open links in tabs instead of new windows' this is normally the default setting when installed
• Task bar icon - what you require should be the default on an installed version - you may need to check your keyboard settings
• Some keys - see above.
• windows (linux?) - should open the menu
• Touchpad - cannot comment.

You did not give details of hardware but as you mentioned Touchpad I assume you are using a laptop, its likely that the limited live install version cannot handle keyboard/touchpad correctly.
Either way an installed version should work or at worst case allow changing of behavior settings

Hope this helps

didn't think the full system info would be needed!! here they are:

Operating System: Kubuntu 24.10
KDE Plasma Version: 6.1.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.6.0
Qt Version: 6.6.2
Kernel Version: 6.11.0-8-generic (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 8 × 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz
Memory: 15.4 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: Mesa Intel® Xe Graphics
Manufacturer: GPU Company
Product Name: GWTN141-10

and the weird behavior happened even when using a USB keyboard, but it's fixed now. check previous reply. the firefox thing even happened when the "open links in tabs" was checked!!! so i assume it was some artifact from running the OS from an USB stick, or maybe i tinkered with some settings without even realizing. it works now, thank you!!!

btw, i got a different "problem" now, and it's related to the drivers. when i have the laptop turned off, and then i boot kubuntu from ventoy, the wifi does not work: the OS can't detect any wifi network nearby, and network settings only detect a weird "Io" network. USB tethering from phone does work and is detected as a different ethernet network than "Io". but when reboot from win11 and i boot from ventoy the wifi works!!! i can even choose the wifi on the "try or install" screen. i guess i just need to find the correct driver after making a proper install, but would it be wise to install kubuntu after rebooting from win11? or could this generate any problem? any help appreciated!!