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To change X configuration run (as root) the following command:
dpkg-reconfigure -plow xserver-xfree86
It should ask you several questions, including whether you want the mouse wheel enabled or not. If you're not happy with the settings you chose, you can always run the same command again to make changes. (Hint: If you don't know answers to all questions, you can mostly accept the suggested defaults and you can also leave some settings blank.)
What is the difference between selecting ps/2 and imps/2 ?
I don't know. The mouse protocol ImPS/2 appears to be newer than PS/2. Both should work OK, but if you've got a relatively new computer, ImPS/2 might be a safer bet. If you've installed mdetect (like I suggested in some earlier thread), you should be given the option to auto-configure your mouse protocol during "dpkg-reconfigure -plow xserver-xfree86". Now, if you've for some reason still got a 2.4.x kernel (do "uname -r" to find out), then macondo's suggestion is correct and ImPS/2 (or PS/2) mouse should be pointed to /dev/psaux, but if you've got 2.6.x kernel, then the correct device for an ImPS/2 (or PS/2) mouse is /dev/input/mice.
As long as your mouse seems to work, any of this is not such a big issue. Just do the "dpkg-reconfigure -plow xserver-xfree86" and enable mouse wheel. There's a well-known saying that is constantly recycled in the Linux world: "If it isn't broken, don't try to fix it."
Last edited by Dead Parrot; 07-29-2004 at 08:51 PM.
I'm not 100% sure, but I believe imps/2 stands for Intellimouse ps/2
R00ts is probably right, the ImPS/2 mouse protocol quite likely stands for Microsoft PS/2 IntelliMouse, but I've got a Logitech cordless optical PS/2 pilot mouse and it seems to work just fine using the ImPS/2 protocol.
Originally posted by R00ts I'm not 100% sure, but I believe imps/2 stands for Intellimouse ps/2
Intelli Wheel Mouse using the PS/2 protocol and the Im in ImPS/2 tells X you have a wheel mouse instead of just a PS/2 and it adds the "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" option to the mouse section in the file to make it work with supposedly two extra buttons when you (re)configure it.
Originally posted by Dead Parrot mouse should be pointed to /dev/psaux, but if you've got 2.6.x kernel, then the correct device for an ImPS/2 (or PS/2) mouse is /dev/input/mice.
That is not exactly correct it may be depreciated in favor of the /dev/input/mice but it still works with the /dev/psaux. I have never had a problem using it in the IIRC entire year I have being using a 2.6 kernel.
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