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-   -   Laptop typing problem (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/laptop-typing-problem-660483/)

d1l2w3 08-04-2008 08:54 PM
Laptop typing problem
 
My Compaq Presario 2100 -5+ years old- is having typing problems.
The cursor jumps around while typing.
I'll be typing then suddenly the cursor moves to a different line and begins inserting text there. It's doing it now as I type this. Does it also in Open Office, Thunderbird and kwrite.

Is it the keyboard?
The graphics card?
The screen
Or ????


I'm using Mandriva 2008.
Did a --auto-update last night... didn't help.

Where do I start looking?
Any help appreciated.

everest40 08-05-2008 12:37 AM
I'd guess that you're accidentally touching your laptop's touch pad as you type, which the computer then interprets as a tap or click. You might try touchfreeze as a solution.

BugZRevengE 08-05-2008 12:55 AM
I have had this problem under both linux and windows on several laptops... it tends to be the built in mouse device (touchpad, or whatever). As they get older, they often become more sensitive, and if you put any pressure on the palm-rest around the touchpad, it makes the mouse move and/or click.
Very frustating (Dell had an issue with a particular model, that was fixed by a bios update - so check to see if updating bios helps), otherwise I disabled the touchpad in bios, and used an external mouse (which I prefer for anything more then 5 minutes)

everest40 - nice find! It could be very useful!

elliott678 08-05-2008 04:00 AM
Syndaemon also temporarily turns off the touch pad when typing, it is included with the synaptics drivers, so no extra installation is needed.

I added this to my .xinitrc so it is loaded when X loads.
Code:
syndaemon -i 1.5 -d -t -K
Here are all of the options.
Code:
Usage: syndaemon [-i idle-time] [-d] [-t] [-k]
  -i How many seconds to wait after the last key press before
    enabling the touchpad. (default is 2.0s)
  -d Start as a daemon, ie in the background.
  -p Create a pid file with the specified name.
  -t Only disable tapping and scrolling, not mouse movements.
  -k Ignore modifier keys when monitoring keyboard activity.
  -K Like -k but also ignore Modifier+Key combos.

d1l2w3 08-06-2008 08:33 PM
Where is the .xinitrc file located?
I looked several places but did not find it.
I've never used the mousepad.

BugZRevengE 08-06-2008 09:05 PM
.xinitrc file is created in your home directory: /home/USERNAME/.xinitrc
if it does not exist, you can create it yourself...
However your .xinitrc is only read if you are logging in from the command line and running startx
If you log in from a gui X based login screen, then you will need to use the file .xsession again, created in your home directory

If you are not using the trackpad/mouse thing, then you would be best of to disable it completely... either in a BIOS option, or in your xorg.conf file looking at the synaptics pointer device.

masonm 08-10-2008 06:35 PM
The most likely cause of the problem is ghosts are messing with your touchpad. Touchfreeze will keep them from doing that.

dennisk 08-13-2008 09:24 AM
If your touchpad is a synaptics see the synaptics man page for the to turn off tapping and scrolling. This will prevent any stray taps from disrupting your typing.

dennisk


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