My mouse died and I have a new basic mouse (not scroll wheeel) to install. I tested the mouse on a windows machine and it's fine. Linux does not detect anything new on a reboot. Using the "windows key" I can pop up the menu and open the Mandrake control centre. I cannot get to the 2nd option, Hardware. Is there a way to get to it without a mouse. I assume that's where I have to go.

Any help to install the new mouse is very much appreciated, thanks!

Thanks, Tom.

I use this box for backups using Samba and a home web server. If it was possible to uphrade the distro without stepping on them I woud be up for that if there was no other solution. Hoping someone can help me get back my mouse!

Try tab to change fields, and arrows, but I've a recollection that that may not work.

The file you need to change is /etc/X11/xorg.conf (for mandriva 10.2, 2005le and 2006.0)

and /etc/X11/XF86config in older versions, I think.

the section is the same in both files, mine is a ps2 mouse with a scroll button

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

Use Vim to edit it in cli mode before you start x.

You won't need a mouse to do that.

Vim short cuts(commands).........(back in a tic)

http://www.kcomputing.com/vi.html

Sorry I was away for a bit. Perfect. It is called XF86Config-4. Great I managed to edit that (ended up copying to windows first after fiddling with vi for a bit). My old setting was :

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/usbmouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

I messed up telling you though, it is a scroll wheel mouse. Would that explain why after a reboot your new settings had no effect?

Thanks a million, Tom.

To be honest, I don't know!

But I'm glad you solved that problem.

So is it working again or not
My data in the same file was
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
EndSection

and mine is a wheel mouse - on post 1 you said yours was not a wheel mouse and post one says it is?

Hey, is that post one or post 1?

Post 4 was meant. Did you need a whole post to state the obvious
Your signature takes up too much room
You could still get the same helpful info out in a third the room
Would have told you before but it wasn't worth a whole post