you might try a new user, not mess with your .c .g* files...My KB also issues ^[OQ when I press the F2 key by itself.
I am going to try another idea and get back to the list.
I am suspecting something in my
~/.gconf/
~/.gconfd/
~/.gnome2/
~/.gnome2_private/
-- Paul Cartwright Registered Linux User #367800 and new counter #561587