This causes a core dump for me, beware. There's probably a dependency on XEmacs/Mule. XEmacs 20.4 gives similarly weird displays. $ xemacs-21.0-b38 -vanilla (read-kbd-macro "\H-a") The buffer moves all the way to the bottom as shown by the scrollbar and only the line: [?a<Black Square>] is displayed. The `<Black Square>' is a single black square the size of a character. Now move the cursor around a bit with a combination of key strokes and mouse clicks, eventually: Starting program: /usr/src/build20/mule/src/xemacs -vanilla Fatal error: assertion failed, file /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/editfns.c, line 338, XINT (Fpoint (Qnil)) == XINT (Fmarker_position (Fpoint_marker (Qt, Qnil))) Program received signal SIGABRT, Aborted. 0x4034c5f1 in kill () at soinit.c:27 soinit.c:27: No such file or directory. (gdb) where #0 0x4034c5f1 in kill () at soinit.c:27 #1 0x4034c451 in raise (sig=136527043) at ../sysdeps/posix/raise.c:27 #2 0x80b18b9 in save_excursion_save () at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/editfns.c:337 #3 0x809235a in Fbyte_code (bytestr={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427168}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68854336}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68854336}, ui = 137708672, i = 137708672, v = 0x8354480, cv = 0x8354480}, vector={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427251}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68854502}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68854502}, ui = 137709004, i = 137709004, v = 0x83545cc, cv = 0x83545cc}, maxdepth={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Int_Even, val = 3}, s = {bits = 1, val = 6}, u = { bits = 1, val = 6}, ui = 13, i = 13, v = 0xd, cv = 0xd}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/bytecode.c:545 #4 0x80c1eaa in funcall_lambda (fun={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427309}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68854618}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68854618}, ui = 137709236, i = 137709236, v = 0x83546b4, cv = 0x83546b4}, nargs=1, arg_vector=0xbfffd3b4) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3597 #5 0x80c0e64 in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34802314}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69604628}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69604628}, ui = 139209256, i = 139209256, v = 0x84c2a28, cv = 0x84c2a28}, nargs=1, args=0xbfffd3b0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3200 #6 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=2, args=0xbfffd3b0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #7 0x8091866 in Fbyte_code (bytestr={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427617}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855234}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855234}, ui = 137710468, i = 137710468, v = 0x8354b84, cv = 0x8354b84}, vector={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427630}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855260}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855260}, ui = 137710520, i = 137710520, v = 0x8354bb8, cv = 0x8354bb8}, maxdepth={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Int_Even, val = 2}, s = {bits = 1, val = 4}, u = { bits = 1, val = 4}, ui = 9, i = 9, v = 0x9, cv = 0x9}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/bytecode.c:416 #8 0x80c1eaa in funcall_lambda (fun={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427645}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855290}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855290}, ui = 137710580, i = 137710580, v = 0x8354bf4, cv = 0x8354bf4}, nargs=3, arg_vector=0xbfffd84c) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3597 #9 0x80c0e64 in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34802363}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69604726}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69604726}, ui = 139209452, i = 139209452, v = 0x84c2aec, cv = 0x84c2aec}, nargs=3, args=0xbfffd848) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3200 #10 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=4, args=0xbfffd848) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #11 0x8091866 in Fbyte_code (bytestr={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427821}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855642}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855642}, ui = 137711284, i = 137711284, v = 0x8354eb4, cv = 0x8354eb4}, vector={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427831}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855662}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855662}, ui = 137711324, i = 137711324, v = 0x8354edc, cv = 0x8354edc}, maxdepth={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Int_Even, val = 2}, s = {bits = 1, val = 4}, u = { bits = 1, val = 4}, ui = 9, i = 9, v = 0x9, cv = 0x9}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/bytecode.c:416 #12 0x80c1eaa in funcall_lambda (fun={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34427841}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68855682}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68855682}, ui = 137711364, i = 137711364, v = 0x8354f04, cv = 0x8354f04}, nargs=2, arg_vector=0xbfffdfd8) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3597 #13 0x80c0e64 in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34802398}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69604796}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69604796}, ui = 139209592, i = 139209592, v = 0x84c2b78, cv = 0x84c2b78}, nargs=2, args=0xbfffdfd4) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3200 #14 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=3, args=0xbfffdfd4) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #15 0x80c161e in Fapply (nargs=3, args=0xbfffdfd4) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3408 #16 0x80c09ef in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34537712}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69075424}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69075424}, ui = 138150848, i = 138150848, v = 0x83c03c0, cv = 0x83c03c0}, nargs=3, args=0xbfffdfd0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3178 #17 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=4, args=0xbfffdfd0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #18 0x8091866 in Fbyte_code (bytestr={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425415}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68850830}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68850830}, ui = 137701660, i = 137701660, v = 0x835291c, cv = 0x835291c}, vector={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425466}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68850932}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68850932}, ui = 137701864, i = 137701864, v = 0x83529e8, cv = 0x83529e8}, maxdepth={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Int_Odd, val = 2}, s = {bits = 1, val = 5}, u = { bits = 1, val = 5}, ui = 11, i = 11, v = 0xb, cv = 0xb}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/bytecode.c:416 #19 0x80c1eaa in funcall_lambda (fun={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425485}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68850970}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68850970}, ui = 137701940, i = 137701940, v = 0x8352a34, cv = 0x8352a34}, nargs=3, arg_vector=0xbfffe8bc) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3597 #20 0x80c0e64 in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34802048}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69604096}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69604096}, ui = 139208192, i = 139208192, v = 0x84c2600, cv = 0x84c2600}, nargs=3, args=0xbfffe8b8) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3200 #21 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=4, args=0xbfffe8b8) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #22 0x8091866 in Fbyte_code (bytestr={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425554}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68851108}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68851108}, ui = 137702216, i = 137702216, v = 0x8352b48, cv = 0x8352b48}, vector={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425658}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68851316}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68851316}, ui = 137702632, i = 137702632, v = 0x8352ce8, cv = 0x8352ce8}, maxdepth={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Int_Even, val = 4}, s = {bits = 1, val = 8}, u = { bits = 1, val = 8}, ui = 17, i = 17, v = 0x11, cv = 0x11}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/bytecode.c:416 #23 0x80c1eaa in funcall_lambda (fun={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34425765}, s = {bits = 0, val = 68851530}, u = {bits = 0, val = 68851530}, ui = 137703060, i = 137703060, v = 0x8352e94, cv = 0x8352e94}, nargs=1, arg_vector=0xbfffed2c) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3597 #24 0x80c0e64 in funcall_recording_as (recorded_as={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34791914}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, ui = 139167656, i = 139167656, v = 0x84b87a8, cv = 0x84b87a8}, nargs=1, args=0xbfffed28) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3200 #25 0x80c0f94 in Ffuncall (nargs=2, args=0xbfffed28) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:3238 #26 0x80970e8 in Fcall_interactively (function={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34791914}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, ui = 139167656, i = 139167656, v = 0x84b87a8, cv = 0x84b87a8}, record_flag={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}, keys={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/callint.c:935 #27 0x80bf228 in Fcommand_execute (cmd={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34791914}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69583828}, ui = 139167656, i = 139167656, v = 0x84b87a8, cv = 0x84b87a8}, record={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}, keys={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:2584 #28 0x8116984 in execute_command_event (command_builder=0x84f68d0, event={ gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 35040819}, s = {bits = 0, val = 70081638}, u = {bits = 0, val = 70081638}, ui = 140163276, i = 140163276, v = 0x85ab8cc, cv = 0x85ab8cc}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/event-stream.c:4335 #29 0x811707b in Fdispatch_event (event={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 35040819}, s = {bits = 0, val = 70081638}, u = {bits = 0, val = 70081638}, ui = 140163276, i = 140163276, v = 0x85ab8cc, cv = 0x85ab8cc}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/event-stream.c:4629 #30 0x809eb1c in Fcommand_loop_1 () at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/cmdloop.c:583 #31 0x809e8a0 in command_loop_1 (dummy={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/cmdloop.c:494 #32 0x80bd8bb in condition_case_1 (handlers={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516853}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033706}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033706}, ui = 138067412, i = 138067412, v = 0x83abdd4, cv = 0x83abdd4}, bfun=0x809e874 <command_loop_1>, barg={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}, hfun=0x809e07b <cmd_error>, harg={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:1653 #33 0x809e1c3 in command_loop_3 () at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/cmdloop.c:256 #34 0x809e1e8 in command_loop_2 (dummy={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/cmdloop.c:267 #35 0x80bd40d in internal_catch (tag={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34535502}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69071004}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69071004}, ui = 138142008, i = 138142008, v = 0x83be138, cv = 0x83be138}, func=0x809e1dc <command_loop_2>, arg={gu = { type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}, threw=0x0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/eval.c:1328 #36 0x809e43e in initial_command_loop (load_me={gu = {type = Lisp_Type_Record, val = 34516825}, s = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, u = {bits = 0, val = 69033650}, ui = 138067300, i = 138067300, v = 0x83abd64, cv = 0x83abd64}) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/cmdloop.c:305 #37 0x80b92ad in xemacs_21_0_b38_i586_pc_linux (argc=2, argv=0xbffff2d4, envp=0xbffff2e0, restart=0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/emacs.c:1673 #38 0x80b9dce in main (argc=2, argv=0xbffff2d4, envp=0xbffff2e0) at /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/src/emacs.c:2090 uname -a: Linux altair.xemacs.org 2.0.32 #2 Sun Nov 16 18:52:14 PST 1997 i586 /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0/configure '--with-gnu-make' '--srcdir=/home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0' '--cflags=-g -fno-exceptions' '--error-checking=all' '--debug=yes' '--with-mule=yes' '--with-dialogs=athena3d' '--with-scrollbars=athena3d' '--with-xim=xlib' '--mail-locking=file' '--extra-verbose=yes' '--use-union-type=yes' '--with-xfs=yes' '--with-pop=no' '--with-toolbars=yes' '--compiler=pgcc' XEmacs 21.0-b38 "Repartida-pre3" configured for `i586-pc-linux'. Where should the build process find the source code? /home/xemacs/xemacs-20.0 What installation prefix should install use? /usr/local What operating system and machine description files should XEmacs use? `s/linux.h' and `m/intel386.h' What compiler should XEmacs be built with? pgcc -g -fno-exceptions Should XEmacs use the GNU version of malloc? yes (Using Doug Lea's new malloc from the GNU C Library.) Should XEmacs use the relocating allocator for buffers? yes What window system should XEmacs use? x11 Where do we find X Windows header files? /usr/X11/include Where do we find X Windows libraries? /usr/X11/lib Compiling in support for XAUTH. Compiling in support for XPM images. Compiling in support for X-Face message headers. Compiling in support for GIF image conversion. Compiling in support for JPEG image conversion. Compiling in support for PNG image conversion. Compiling in support for TIFF image conversion. Compiling in native sound support. Compiling in support for Berkeley DB. Compiling in support for GNU DBM. Compiling in support for ncurses. Compiling in support for GPM (General Purpose Mouse). Compiling in Mule (multi-lingual) support. Compiling in XIM (X11R5+ I18N input method) support. Using raw Xlib to provide XIM support. Using XFontSet to provide bilingual menubar. Compiling in support for Canna on Mule. Compiling in support for the WNN input method on Mule. Using WNN version 6. Compiling in support for OffiX. Compiling in support for proper session-management. Using Lucid menubars. Using Athena-3d scrollbars. Using Athena-3d dialog boxes. Compiling in DLL support. movemail will use "dot-locking" for locking mail spool files. Using the union type for Lisp_Objects. Using Lisp_Objects with minimal tagbits. Compiling in extra code for debugging. Compiling in code for checking XEmacs memory usage. WARNING: --------------------------------------------------------- WARNING: Compiling in support for runtime error checking. WARNING: XEmacs will run noticeably more slowly as a result. WARNING: Error checking is on by default for XEmacs beta releases. WARNING: ---------------------------------------------------------