kernel 2.6 and Serial Mouse

comedy · 02-27-2005, 01:07 AM

Im running slackware 10 on an AT motherboard that only has a serial port mouse. The original kernel (2.4.26) worked perfectly fine with the serial mouse but when i upgraded the kernel to 2.6.10, the serial mouse stopped working. Now this must be a common problem for people but i haven't been able to find a solution for this on google. ive tried setting in the kernel as a module PS/2 mouse, Serial Mouse, Serial port line discipline, trying to load and unload the modules but still no dice. Im pretty sure its something really stupid that i missed but has anyone else encountered this problem?

Thanks,
-Eric

nowise · 02-27-2005, 07:36 AM

hi there,

It sounds like you're having the exact same problem I was having until about ten minutes ago...

In my case I had these:

Code:

Input device support --->
    <*> Serial port line discipline[*] Mice
        <*> Serial Mouse

but was missing this:

Code:

Character devices --->
    Serial drivers ---> (gots to hit return on it on it to bring up another menu screen...)
        <*> 8250/16550 and compatible serial support

This should get you the much sought after 8250 serial driver, which if I remember correctly, USED to be all in the same place with the serial mouse stuff in the 2.4 menus. You should find your mouse after reboot on /dev/ttyS0 if you use devfs still or /dev/tts/0 if you use udev. I saw a few others with this problem while googling - hopefully most of them are just suffering from this same small oversight and we will be restored to our former 9-pin glory in no time.

Hope that helps,
-Chris.