Hi all,

I upgraded to Linux Kernel 2.6.4 and found a '.config' file on the internet for my make of computer (a Toshiba SP6100). I built a new kernel using this config file and a lot of things are a lot better than they were but some things also broke.

One thing that surprises me is that now I do not have a /dev/mouse. There is a /dev/input/mouse0 however. Before the upgrade, there was a /dev/mouse. If I type:

ln -s /dev/input/mouse0 /dev/mouse

things works as they used to but I don't want to have to type this in every time I start the computer. Can anyone explain what has happened? I will provide more info if requested, not sure what info would be useful.

Muzzy.

When you make a softlink like that it should stay. You should only have to do it once and not every time you turn on your computer. Unless your deleting the link for some reason.

Adam

Thanks for the reply Adam.

Yes I thought that the link should stay too, but it doesn't and I don't know why. Could it be something in my shutdown or startup scripts that is somehow resetting the /dev directory or deleting the link? How can I find out when it is removed and what program removed it?

Muzzy.

Thats strange I have never had that problem. Sorry I can´t really help with tracking down scripts that could be removing it.

When you boot up go to the /dev/ directory and type as root:

rm mouse
ln -s /dev/input/mouse0 /dev/mouse

then type:

ls -l mouse

and note down what it tells you. Try starting x and using your mouse. If it works. Shutdown and restart the computer. Then go to the /dev/ and type:

ls-l mouse

Tell me how you get on.

Adam

The old /dev/mouse and /dev/psaux devices are deprecated and turned off in the 2.6.x kernels. You'll have to specifically enable them and rebuild your kernel if you want them.

You SHOULD be using: /dev/input/mice

That one driver aggregates all mouse input...useful if you have several input devices. Touchpad, trackball, and mouse can all be used at the same time.

For me, that parameter is set in the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file.

Here is a (hand-copied) list of everything I did, and the output received:

~$ su
#cd /dev
/dev# rm mouse
/dev# ln -s /dev/input/mouse0 /dev/mouse
/dev# ls -l mouse
lr-xr-xr-x 1 root root 17 Mar 23 21:22 mouse -> /dev/input/mouse0
/dev# exit
~$ startx
[Mouse works]
[Quit X Windows]
[Ctrl-Alt-Del]
[logon as user]
~$ cd /dev
/dev$ ls -l mouse
/bin/ls: mouse: No such file or directory
/dev$ startx
[Won't start unless I recreate the link]

Interestingly, I still have a 2.6.0 kernel on my system which I installed ages ago, and it still works. When I choose 2.6.0 from the boot menu, the mouse softlink magically reappears again even though I haven't typed the link command.

Something odd is going on that I don't understand!

I guess this must be something wrong with the kernel configuration, since everything else is the same. Perhaps I should try deleting the config I found on the internet and selecting all the settings by hand. So many settings....

Thanks for the help,
Muzzy.

Thanks wintermute, I will try to change my settings to use /dev/input/mice and see if that works.

Yes thanks - it works! I updated Xconfig and gpm to use the /dev/input/mice. I also tried plugging in my USB mouse and too my surprise it worked straight away without any reconfiguration! That never happened before... and the tracker thing still works at the same time. Amazing

I also get an message (unrelated to the mouse problem) when I start Gnome, that /dev/sound/mixer is missing. I wonder if the solution could be similar - that mixer is obsolete and I should be using something else? But maybe it's something else, I will have to look into it.

Thanks for the help,
Muzzy.

Great! Glad it worked!

I too had issues with sound at first. I had to make sure my modprobe.conf contained ONLY references to the ALSA stuff...somehow and old OSS driver kept preempting the asla stuff.

Best way to configure ALSA:
/usr/sbin/alsaconf (tho I think you need to run it as root, not sure...)
alsamixer (be sure to raise up and unmute both PCM and Master Volume)
alsactl store

(then, had check the modprobe.conf file for any old OSS drivers and remove them.