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Old 07-27-2005, 02:42 PM   #1
daxumaming
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Registered: May 2005
Location: Baguio City, Philippines
Distribution: Kubuntu 7.04
Posts: 3

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Ubuntu 5.04, kernel 2.6.10, PS/2 mouse not working although it works with other OS


Guys, I can't seem to get my mouse working in Ubuntu. I already posted a message on the Ubuntu forums but I still can't get any replies or help concerning my PS/2 Genius NetScroll mouse to work with Ubuntu 5.04. I've been googling on this issue for so long that I even found an article regarding Linux Torvalds having some issue with mouse. Although he found a workaround, I still can't. I've ran out of options and quite desperate. I've also spent a lot of time reading those man pages for grub & xorg.conf but still no luck. Here's what I posted in the Ubuntu forums:
--------------
Hi guys. I'm having a problem here. I'm not sure if it's X, ps/2 mouse, or even grub.

After 3 hours of installing Ubuntu, I found out that the mouse doesn't work from the login to the desktop. I tried googling about this problem and found some solutions, tried all of them but didn't work.

From the desktop, which seems frozen, I did "Ctrl+Alt+F1" went to the command line, edited /etc/modules but I cant startx. So I reboot, logged in, mouse still not working, then "Ctrl+Alt+Backspace" from desktop, configured some files again and again until all the solutions I found has been exhausted. Anyway, here's what I did.

1. made sure "mousedev" & "psmouse" properly listed in "etc/modules"

2. "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" indicates no errors or failures

3. changed "psmouse" to "psmouse proto=exps" & "psmouse.proto=imps" in "/etc/modules"

4. for "/etc/X11/xorg.conf":

a. changed "Protocol" from "ImPS/2" to "PS/2" & "Auto"

b. changed "Device" from "/dev/input/mice" to "/dev/psaux" & "/dev/input/mouse0"

Unfortunately, none worked. Frustrated, I boot up the Vector Linux 4.3 CD and saw that I could boot up a linux partition from there. So at the prompt I typed in "linux root=/dev/hda3 ro" got into the Ubuntu login screen and to my surprise, my mouse started to work. I logged in just to check that my eyes aren't deceiving me. Lo & behold, everything is working like it should be. For the first time, I got to enjoy Ubuntu. My logic told me that the 2.6.10 kernel of Ubuntu isn't working properly with my machine. Vector has 2.4 kernel.

More determined than ever to find out the real cause of this problem, I booted up in recovery mode and tried scanning for any errors & failures, especially those referring to my mouse. The only error I got is when the machine is trying to sync the system clock. Then I found something. After 3 reboots, I got to list down this:

mice: PS/2 Mouse device common for all mice
input: ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse on ISA0060/seria01

Is it possible that Ubuntu has setup my mouse on the ISA bus instead of the PS/2. How do I fix this? Do I need to edit some file? I tried locating the grub.conf, maybe I could start from there but I just can't locate it. Can anyone help me out here? I've been working on this computer for 16hours now and I'm a bit depressed, frustrated, & tired especially since I wanted to work with Ubuntu. Any help is deeply appreciated.


Hardware: P3 733Mhz, 384MB SDRAM, 64MB for onboard Video. Asus Motherboard, Sis630. 20GB Seagate HDD. hda3=/ (2GB)ReiserFS, hda5=/home (2GB)ReiserFS, hda6=swap (1GB).Lite-On CD-RW.

***Updates: 26July2005 0305H***

Errata: Vector 4.3 uses the 2.6.7 kernel. Either way, would this help me with my problem?

I finally got to edit Grub, it's not /etc/grub.conf but /boot/grub/menu.lst, but one thing I really need to know, does the "initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.10-5-386" contain a line or something that points to my mouse, if so, is it safe to edit? If not, are there any other files that loads at boot up that I might need to take a look at?

I tried copying the vmlinuz-2.6.7-ide4 of Vector to Ubuntu and changed the line in Grub to 'kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.7-ide4 ro' and as expected, it didn't work. Well at least I'm not giving up on fixing this problem.

When I tried booting up Ubuntu using the Vector CD, I noticed that some lines had "fail" in them. I really can't see it well and can't pause it. But from what I know, it failed to load something in '/lib/...'

If only someone with a kind heart tell me what file I need to edit that loads this thing, then maybe, just maybe, I'll be very happy with Ubuntu. It doesn't matter if it crashes the whole system and need to reinstall Ubuntu, I am after all, still learning Linux, and one great way of learning real quick is if you do a lot reinstalling, trial & error, and even configuring & rebooting. And everytime I mess something up, I learn something new.

I will still try configuring Ubuntu, but it will save me a lot of time if someone with expertise in Ubuntu & Linux in general would give me a few pointers.

I also tried googling regarding this issue, none seems to work. I must say, I have a very unique issue. Imagine, a ps/2 mouse not working in Linux... Ha!

I also like to thank you for spending some time reading this.
--------------------------

I'm also not sure about this, but if only I could access or even know what file it uses to initialize bootup or commands, then maybe I could tweak it and get my mouse working. So if anyone knows what file I need to check on, please inform me. I'm really quite desperate & frustrated. I've been working on this for about a week now with no success and I haven't have time for anything else but this. Please help me.
 
Old 07-28-2005, 08:50 AM   #2
maroonbaboon
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Sydney
Distribution: debian
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I would try compiling your own kernel. With old hardware the configuration should not be too difficult. Most things you can just ignore. Just make sure CONFIG_MOUSE_PS2=y.

You can also experiment with the text-mode/console mouse gpm, where you can give the device on the command line.
 
Old 07-29-2005, 03:05 PM   #3
daxumaming
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2005
Location: Baguio City, Philippines
Distribution: Kubuntu 7.04
Posts: 3

Original Poster
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Quote:
I would try compiling your own kernel.
sorry, but compiling my own kernel is out of the question. 1st, i don't know how, maybe in the future, but right now I'm still learning the ins & outs of ubuntu and linux in particular. but thanks for the suggestions. it's just that i'm really tired of booting up ubuntu using the vector linux cd. any more suggestions?
 
Old 07-29-2005, 07:46 PM   #4
maroonbaboon
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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Sydney
Distribution: debian
Posts: 1,495

Rep: Reputation: 48
OK here are some more specific suggestions.

1. Boot the ubuntu kernel and get into a text console (as root).
2. Check if the console mouse is running with command 'killall gpm'. If it says 'no process killed' that means no console mouse. Either way, gpm is now off.
3. Try to restart gpm with 'gpm -m /dev/psaux'. Can you move the cursor around with the mouse? Yes? Great. Your mouse is installed on /dev/psaux and you can think about trying to configure X correctly.
4. If No from 3, try again with /dev/input/mice instead. If still No have a look in the /dev directory and try any other likely candidates until you find the mouse.
5. Still no console mouse? Sorry, I am out of ideas. Otherwise before trying to get X to work you might make sure the console mouse is off, as it has been known to interfere with X-windows. You should be able to prevent it starting by going to directory /etc/init.d and renaming the file 'gpm' to something else e.g. 'no-gpm'. That's if Ubuntu is like Debian.

For X configuration, if you are using Xorg, I don't know.
 
  


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