[SOLVED] How to disable trackpoint?

berndbausch · 05-01-2020, 08:57 PM

I have an ancient Dell Latitude E5500 laptop on which I installed the latest and greatest Debian Buster with KDE. Unfortunately, 80% of the time the mouse pointer automatically moves across the screen, either to the lower left or upper right corner. This is a hardware problem: It occurred when Windows was still installed.

The laptop has both a touchpad and a trackpoint. KDE settings allow me to disable the touchpad when a mouse is plugged in. Indeed, a notification to this effect popped up on the screen, and touching the touchpad has no effect.

However, the pointer keeps on moving, which confirms IMO that the trackpoint is at fault.

How can I disable or perhaps even repair the trackpoint?

ferrari · 05-01-2020, 09:33 PM

There's a couple of ways to go about this. One is a system-wide approach using a custom Xorg config file, the other is a user-specific approach, using and xinput to disable the device upon login to the user's desktop environment. Most DE's allow for an autostart script (or command) to be run for example. For a single user system, wither way is probably ok.

To begin with get the Xorg input device list using

Code:

xinput list

and report back.

The Xorg approach will require a custom config file eg /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/80-trackpoint.conf which uses the 'MatchProduct' identifier to match the device (as reported via xinput) and disable the device. So something like this...

Code:

Section "InputClass"
   Identifier     "Disable trackpoint"
   MatchProduct   "<trackpoint device>"
   Option         "Ignore" "on"
EndSection

with the appropriate matching hardware string substituted for '<trackpoint device>'.

berndbausch · 05-01-2020, 10:25 PM

That was quick.

xinput revealed that I have an "AlpsPS/2 ALPS DualPoint Stick". After adding this to xorg.conf:

Code:

Section "InputClass"
   Identifier "Disable trackpoint"
   MatchProduct "AlpsPS/2 ALPS DualPoint Stick"
   Option "Ignore" "on"
EndSection

I am now trackpoint-free. Thanks!

ferrari · 05-01-2020, 10:55 PM

Fantabulous!!!

Elie99374 · 05-06-2020, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrari

There's a couple of ways to go about this. One is a system-wide approach using a custom Xorg config file, the other is a user-specific approach, using and xinput to disable the device upon login to the user's desktop environment. Most DE's allow for an autostart script (or command) to be run for example. For a single user system, wither way is probably ok.

To begin with get the Xorg input device list using

Code:

xinput list

and report back.

The Xorg approach will require a custom config file eg /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/80-trackpoint.conf which uses the 'MatchProduct' identifier to match the device (as reported via xinput) and disable the device. So something like this...

Code:

Section "InputClass"
   Identifier     "Disable trackpoint"
   MatchProduct   "<trackpoint device>"
   Option         "Ignore" "on"
EndSection

with the appropriate matching hardware string substituted for '<trackpoint device>'.

i think i have the exact same probem,

i wanted to check this option but i'm such a novice i don't know how to do it,
i "nano"ed tihs file name and pasted the text with my input device name (which happends to be the same as the one in you'r text) it didn't stop the touchstick
can someone please explain it to as simply as possible?
sorry for being so stupid

ferrari · 05-06-2020, 02:19 AM

Hi Elie99374. In general, you're best advised to start your own thread to catch the attention that you require....especially as this is already marked as solved. I assume you did

Code:

xinput list

to get the relevant device first. Note that if you do create/edit such a Xorg config file, it will only rake effect the next time the X-server is started. (Obviously not applicable if using Wayland either.)