Complete newb needs help
 

I recently installed Mandrake 9.1 dual-boot with Windows XP. As far as Linux is concerned, I have really no idea what I'm doing, but I want to play around, and perhaps figure some stuff out. My problem, however, is that my USB devices don't work. I've searched through the forums, but I couldn't find any help. I'd like to configure my internet connection as well, but it's a USB cable modem, so no go there. Mainly, though, it's a lot harder to navigate without a mouse. My keyboard is PS/2, but my mouse is USB. I have USB legacy turned off in bios, because I read that it can cause problems with some distros, but that didn't help.

System:
Intel Celeron 1.7 Ghz
768MB PC133 RAM
Radeon 7500 64MB DDR
48x12x50 CD-RW Drive
ASRock PE Pro-HT Motherboard (I can post link as soon as I get 5 posts :/)
Random PS/2 Keyboard
USB Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse
USB Soundblaster MP3+ Sound Card
USB Motorola SB4200 SURFboard Cable Modem

I have Windows XP on a 20GB hard drive, and Linux on a 20GB partition of a 40GB hard drive.

Any help whatsoever would be appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Lets start off simple. Find your way into a command prompt. Find out what modules are loaded up by typing "lsmod"

Look for something like the following:

mousedev 5428 3
hid 21892 0 (unused)
input 5792 0 [keybdev mousedev hid]
ehci-hcd 19784 0 (unused)
usb-ohci 21320 0 (unused)
usbcore 78272 1 [hid ehci-hcd usb-ohci]

This is part of my lsmod listing, running with a USB mouse and keyboard.

It says:

lsmod

The specified command could not be run.

(Or something like that :)

Run it as root, or use it's full pathname: /sbin/lsmod

:)

I used /sbin/lsmod, and it didn't give an error; it did nothing.

Looks like for some reason the USB modules aren't being loaded. Rather, no modules are being loaded at all.

I'm not familiar with the Mandrake installation procedure, but did it ask anything about USB when you installed it?

No, although my USB mouse didn't work during the installation.

Ok, this is not a "solution" but will get you through your tough times. In the box with your USB mouse, there should have been a PS2 adapter thingie. Use it for now. Also, your USB cable modem. Does it also have an RJ45 (ethernet) port on it? If you've got a ethernet card in your computer, use that as well. That should get you a) mouse action and b) online with Linux. Then you can figure out why the heck USB isn't loading.

The box is long gone, and it didn't come with an adapter anyways. I just got a random USB Logitech optical mouse for another computer, and it DID come with an adapter, but even with the adapter, it didn't work. My brother was in town last weekend with a PS/2 optical mouse, and that did work. As far as ethernet though, I'm not sure that I even have a working ethernet cord :X

That certainly puts a kink in things.

Have you recompiled the kernel on this installation? It's just amazing to me that zero modules are loaded. A default RedHat installation has a good ten to fifteen modules loaded at any given time.

As root, try "insmod usb-uhci" and see what error it gives back (if any)

Go into your BIOS and turn Legacy USB Support on... I installed Mandrake 9.1 with it on and haven't had a bit of problem. After you do that the mouse should work fine... The modem is another problem for another user unfortunately.

insmod usb-ohci returned no errors. It didn't return anything, actually. I've tried with and without Legacy USB Support... same thing.

Also, what is "compiling the kernel?" Like I said, I am so newb to linux :(

IF I understood correctly, your brothers usb mouse worked but yours don't? If so, that might be the solution..buy the identical model. I am on a ps/2 mouse, and probably as newbie as you. Mine is supposed to be usb and it wont work even on a good usb pci card that works my digital camera and usb cdr/rw...sooooo. Go figure! BTW it is a logitech marble mouse type.

No, his is PS/2, mine is USB.

RH9 and USB mouse
 

As I found on the list you tried to help to properly install USB mouse on linux.
Could you be so kind as to help me to solve USB problem.
I installed fresh RH9 onn my laptop (COMPAQ Evo N1020v), kernel ver. 2.4.20-8 and both pointing devices were OK (touch pad and USB mouse). Then I recompile
new kernel (2.4.21 and then 2.4.22) and touch pad is
working correctly but ther's no USB mouse! I checked all
the kernel configuration options and this is OK (I recompile kernel on the base of original .config file).
However I found that lsmode | grep mouse gives me:
on 2.4.20-8
mousedev 5492 1
input 5856 0 [keybdev mousedev hid]

but on 2.4.21 and 2.4.22
mousedev 5556 2
input 5760 0 [keybdev mousedev]

Could you prompt me what should I do?