Ubuntu 11 in a VMWare server VM / Can't use some AltGr keys like |(bar) @(at) \(backslash)

Dear experts,

I successfully installed a Ubuntu 11(from a 8 iso) 64bits VM (VMWare Server on a Win2003 x64 bi-opteron 880 12GB)
The 2.6.38-9-generic AMD64 64bits kernel is up to date and working but a very annoying problem resists my fixing capabilities.

Most of the AltGr composed keys are not displayed at all.
# (AltGr-3) is perfectly working
| (AltGr-6) \ (AltGr-8) @ (AltGr-0) are not working.

setxkbmap -print returns:

xkb_keymap {
    xkb_keycodes  { include "evdev+aliases(azerty)"    };
    xkb_types     { include "complete"    };
    xkb_compat    { include "complete"    };
    xkb_symbols   { include "pc+fr(oss)+inet(evdev)"    };
    xkb_geometry  { include "pc(pc102)"    };

Select allOpen in new window

I used xev to check the keyboard mapping :
Entering "|" (AltGr-6) shows:

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x3c00001,
    root 0x102, subw 0x0, time 760491, (496,311), root:(497,364),
    state 0x84, keycode 15 (keysym 0x7c, bar), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1c) "?"
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1c) "?"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Select allOpen in new window

Entering "\" (AltGr-8) shows:

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x4200001,
    root 0x102, subw 0x0, time 428467154, (854,161), root:(857,272),
    state 0x84, keycode 17 (keysym 0x5c, backslash), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1c) "?"
    XmbLookupString gives 1 bytes: (1c) "?"
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Select allOpen in new window

In both case, the mapping properly detects the correct key (keysym bar or backslash)...but displays a weird "1c" ascii that renders as Null on tty, gedit or any applications I tried.

I am totally stuck on this one...please HELP !