Mouse/Keyboard don't work.
 

I just installed the latest version of Debian Linux (stable). I'm not a Linux expert, so help me out :)

After about a week or two trying to get XServer to run, I finally got it to work. It booted, and I was able to login and see the Debian desktop for the FIRST time!


...but my mouse didn't work. I hard-rebooted the system, the login prompt (I think xdm or kdm?) came up and it appears to be frozen. I see a cursor on the screen, but it does nothing. My mouse doesn't move, and my keyboard doesn't type.

My question is: What is the problem?

Is there anyway I can get back to the console so I can try to reconfigure X? Maybe my mouse/keyboard is configured wrong.

Specs:
AMD AthlonXP 1600+ 1.4GHZ
1.5GIG DDR333 Ram
8 GIG Maxtor 5200 RPM (pretty old!)
Mouse+keyboard connected via PS/2 (usb doesn't work neither)

PS: My system can't be frozen, a screensaver just went on.

Try ctrl-alt-F1. That should return you to the console. If it does, you'll also know your keyboard in working. I suspect that you may not be able to type anything because the login box doesn't have focus. If that key combo doesn't work try ctrl-alt-backspace. That's the command to kill X and should only be used in emergencies.

There is a known random bug with kdm in Sarge. I have it on one box and not the other. This is associated with the way kdm is loading. In my case the keyboard is non-funtional. The fact that neither mouse nor keyboard is functional for you is a problem since you are stuck at the kdm login. You need to boot into the command line. I have an option on my grub menu to boot into safe mode. What I did on the box that is fixed now is to apt-get --purge remove kdm and the re-install it and that solved it.

Edit: I have just done a --purge remove and reintall of kdm on the second system and that has also cured the problem.

Hi. I had this problem, or one very similar when I installed the 2.6.8 kernel. Kernel 2.4.27-2 was ok, but initially with the 2.6 one X wouldn't start, and X's log complained about missing pointing device. Modprobe mousedev got X to start but the pointer was stuck. Modprobe psmouse fixed the stuck pointer, and I added both mousedev and psmouse to /etc/modules and no further problems. I admit that the keyboard was working ok, but it may be worth trying modprobe keybdev, and if that works add that to /etc/modules as well if it's not already there. Your problem may have nothing to do with this, but you never know. Nigel. aka farpoint.

Debian Woody 3.0r2 upgraded to Sarge and on stable repo.
Debian Woody 3.0r2 upgraded to Sarge and on testing (Etch) repo.

Kernels: 2.4bf2 (orig from cdrom). 2.4.27-2 (now with Alsa 1.09b). 2.6.8 (Alsa 1.04) . 2.6.11 (Alsa 1.08)

KDE3.3 using kdm

This highlights why I gave up Woody & esp. Sarge for desktop use. Servers all the way, but not on the desktop. Instead, I opt for a Debian based distro, currently SimplyMEPIS 3.3.

One of the advantages of SimplyMEPIS is that it uses the RH init level structure (Debian makes 2-5 identical). This in turn allows the addition of a simple '2' or '3' to the kernel parameters at the bootloader screen. You can even add CLI options to the boot menu. You can't do this (easily) in plain Debian. If you have set it up to go directly to X, then the best debugging mode you can get is single user ('S' or '1'). Your other choice is to have Debian boot to the CLI & then start X manually. After all the mouse, keyboard, & other problems are solved; you can change your boot to go directly to X, or re-write the level 5 scripts to mimic the RH structure. Since X problems can always come up, I think is probably best & easiest to always start X manually. Maybe this is unnecessary, but I hate not being able to get to a full bash console when I need it.

Thanks but I can't even get scroll lock to go on in my keyboard when KDM boots. I can't do ctrl+alt+backspace, or ctrl+alt+f1.. nothing happens.


I use Lilo to boot.. I tried putting in the debian CD and typing 'rescue', it boots, then suddenly it says 'kernal panic' and it says something about VPN (not exactly sure if that's right)

Is there any other method to get into the console? :Pengy:

When you get to kdm try unplugging and plugging the keyboard. That sometimes works for me when my keyboard freezes.

Tried it. I have a PS/2 to USB converter, so I'm rebooting now to see if that'll work..

No don't reboot. Just try it straightaway.

Tried it both ways.. doesn't work. :tisk: :Pengy:

Help? Anyone :(

Well you can try booting with a rescue/liveCD and disabling kdm. Just copy /etc/init.d/kdm to /etc/init.d/kdm.<whatever> and it wont start up. Then you can try TigerOC's suggestion.

Which debian discs are you trying? Which kernel are you running?

Not exactly sure what discs.. it's the latests stable. I decided to give Gentoo a try.. so no more Debian.. although I've learn a lot about it :)

I might also upgrade the harddrive in the computer.. not sure if I want to yet. Thanks anyway.. Hopefully I won't need help with Gentoo :P

try booting into a console, from lilo type linux 2 or something like this (I haven't done this in a while so please fill in the blanks) I don't know how to do the same from grub, but there should be a way.
from there try reconfiguring the mouse keyboard in X (suggest google it first, it's a common issue around)

Just as an aside, I think it is very unwise to unplug ps2 connectors for either mouse or keyboard.
If you find that you are still having the same problem with a different distro then you might have to
consider that the motherboard has got damaged from unplugging ps2 devices whilst switched on.
Unplugging with usb should be fine as its a hot pluggable technology, so if you only unplugged whilst
using a ps2/usb convertor then ignor this reply