slack10.0, gnome, no mouse

Seiken · 02-13-2005, 04:52 PM

I just installed Slack10.0. Ran xorgconfig, and have tried "Auto", "PS/2", and "Microsoft" for my mouse. It is a Logitech cordless ball mouse (older one, before the MX models came out). Anyway, when I startx, I have no mouse. I have tried hitting various key combinations to see if any menus will popup, but there is nothing (then again, I don't exactly know what keys to try)...

Any suggestions?

PS: only reason I can post this now is because I booted from an Ubuntu Live CD (which was a bad burn, apparently, and gives me no panels! haha, what luck)

comprookie2000 · 02-13-2005, 05:47 PM

Hope this helps,from gentoo docs,works for slackware;

Code:

Configuring your Mouse

If your mouse isn't working, you will first need to find out if it is detected by the kernel at all. PS/2 mice are (device-wise) seen as /dev/psaux. Other mice (like USBs) are seen as /dev/input (or /dev/input/mice). In either case you can check if the devices do represent your mouse by checking the output of those files when you move your mouse. To end the session press Ctrl-C.

Code Listing 4.5: Checking the device files

# cat /dev/input
(Don't forget to press Ctrl-C to end this)

If your mouse isn't detected, verify if all the necessary modules are loaded.

If your mouse is detected, fill in the device in the appropriate InputDevice section. In the next example you'll see we also set two other options: Protocol (which lists the mouse protocol to be used - most users will use PS/2 or IMPS/2) and ZAxisMapping (which allows for the mousewheel (if applicable) to be used).

Code Listing 4.6: Changing the mouse settings in Xorg

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier  "TouchPad Mouse"
  Driver    "mouse"
  Option    "CorePointer"
  Option    "Device"    "/dev/psaux"
  Option    "Protocol"    "IMPS/2"
  Option    "ZAxisMapping"    "4 5"
EndSection

Run startx and be happy about the result :) Congratulations, you now (hopefully) have a working Xorg on your system. The next step is to remove this ugly lightweight window manager and use a high-feature one (or even a desktop environment) such as KDE or GNOME, but that's not part of this guide :)

Seiken · 02-13-2005, 06:47 PM

cat /dev/psaux revealed that my mouse was there instead of /dev/mouse, so I fixed my xorg.conf.

now if I could just get my scroll-wheel to work.

here's what I've got in my conf:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier	"Mouse1"
    Driver	"mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "PS/2"
    Option "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
    Option "ZAxisMapping"	"4 5"

I've restarted X, but the scroll still doesn't work. Would I need to restart the whole machine?

Thanks for helping me get the mouse working

comprookie2000 · 02-13-2005, 06:52 PM

Your welcome,you could try it like this
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Before you do it search here and google may find how someone has
got it to work,good luck

Seiken · 02-13-2005, 06:57 PM

yeah, after I posted here I looked around google and many sites said that if using a scroll-wheel you have to use IMPS/2 as the protocal. I changed it and it worked, then came back here to tell you and you suggested the same thing!

case closed.