wtf is EVDEV -dealing with Synaptics Touchpad 2.6
 

Im working on getting my synaptics touchpad working in mandrake 10 with kernel 2.6.3-7.

I've been basically going by this tutorial. Now I can do all the steps except #1 (i know that sounds stupid) but they barely break the surface on this.

I skipped over #1, just hoping that was already done. So I put the driver in the right spot and edited my XF86Config-4 just like the one there, but on reboot xfree fails and sets me at command prompt. When i type "startx" it gives errors about Mouse1 (or ps2 mouse).

So from the command line I just overwrote the file with my backup so i could startx.

Okay so I did some searching and found more stuff on "evdev". But every single site gives me the same thing,

" You may also need to load module evdev in your /etc/modprobe.preload file. "

Now what am I supposed to do there?

I opened that file up in kwrite but I have no idea what I'm supposed to type in it to Load module evdev.

I know this is pretty lame, but I cannot seem to find this. Thanks for any help you can provide me.

In kwrite open the file again, just do ctrl + F, type in 'evdev'. It should find a line that looks something like

/sbin/modprobe evdev

The line may have a comment by it. Just remove the # infront of it and restart your computer. If that line is not in the file, you can try to add it yourself by just adding this line somewhere:

Note: i am not really sure where your modprobe command is, but in my modules file, it has /sbin/modprobe.

hope this helps.

I've been having the same problems and I don't have an "evdev" module, I know the touchpad drivers work in kernel 2.4.26 but I upgraded to 2.6.9 and it no longer works.