Hi,

I've got a Dell Inspiron 3800 with debian + Gnome. I've noticed that when I have an external mouse plugged into the PS/2 port on the back, the speed and responsivness of the built in touchpad is much higher. When the mouse is unplugged it's slow and difficult to use. Does anyone know why this is happening and how I can permanently increase the speed of my touchpad?

Thanks,

Are you using synaptics for your touchpad? /etc/X11/xorg.conf should include touchpad (as mouse) or synaptics plus 2nd mouse config. If you show us the X11 file maybe someone can help you. Ubuntu laptop forum may have this already covered. And linux-on-laptops may have ubuntu install notes covering touch pad plus 2nd mouse. Search LQ for Synaptics/touchpad may also serve you. Ask again here if still have problem. Cheers!

Hi, here is the contents of my xorg.conf file (minus the font and screen resolution stuff)

Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "dbe"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "evdev"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies, Inc. Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x"
Driver "ati"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies, Inc. Rage Mobility P/M AGP 2x"

*** Screen reslution stuff was here ***

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection


I also noticed that when the external mouse is plugged in my thouchpad allows tap-to-click as well.

... just as a side note, do the DRI and ATI settings seem okay to you? I've had a heck of a time trying to get 3D acceleration to work.

Thanks,

You seem to have touchpad and mouse configured separately as they should be but I can't explain the peculiar interaction you describe. Hopefully someone with your lappy model can contribute more help. Thanx for including the xorg file.
Check Ubuntu forum starter guide or their laptop forum for how to install fglrx to get 3D acceleration for your card.My pc with ati card uses fglrx for 3D but my distribution set it up automatically.
Another good source for help is linux-on-laptops where installers describe how they got linux setup on their lappy. I know a few describe installing fglrx for ati mobility chip on lappy with hardware like yours. Good luck

What distribution do you use? If it could get my ATI card to work automatically I'd be sold.

On one pc Xandros3.x on another Libranet3(not available) both configured the ati card for me. But linux-on-laptops and Ubuntu laptops forum should help you. Cheers.

Do you know if it worked with a Mach64 based card? That's the kind in my laptop and it's the reason I've been having so much trouble getting DRI to work as it's older and the new ATI drivers don't support it. Strangly the only distro that DRI ever worked with was Mandriva with a 2.4 kernel.