So, I finally got Slackware on my main rig after discovering that my nvme drive was the problem. Now I have a little niggling problem that send sporadic but happens after.

-The Setup-

I have a regular mouse made by Logitech, probably one of the most mass produced move in the world. So when installing, I selected the PS2 option for my mouse driver.

I also had issues with it when using Linux Mint and KDE Neon.

-The Problem-

That problem is that many times the left click button acts like the right click button. This will persist until I have seemingly clicked enough times that it remembers that it is a left button again, but sometimes that memory is very short and it begins acting up again.

-Solutions-

I was thinking about this and I realize I have had this mouse for nearly 5 years and since it cost something like $9 USD, perhaps it has reached it's end of life?

If not, I would rather fix this than have to go decide on a new mouse because I hate buying things when the options seem limitless and I have no idea why I would need a laser mouse with 164329000000 DPI tracking... Hehehe

If you guys think it is a hardware issue (as I sort of suspect) do you have mouse recommendations? I'm not a hammer, so it really should just be a basic mouse, though if I need a new one, I would like to buy something that will last until X-Day when Bob will rapture or souls. 😀

Hello and welcome to Slackware. I'm responding because I've used Slackware for 20 years and recently developed a similar problem. In my case it was because I had setup a fairly serious Logitech Gaming Mouse with a script based on the xinput command/utility and that gaming mouse did as so many do for gamers, the scroll wheel gears or alignment go bad and kaBlooey the mouse is done. I subbed a cheaper, somewhat generic backup Logitech mouse (M500) and it just can't quite handle the aggressive performance settings of my broken G403. It will work fine for awhile and suddenly go wonky. New mouse in my immediate future.

I doubt stock settings in any Linux are too aggressive for your generic Logitech mouse but there could be smoother, more stable settings. I suggest you go here (below) and look up your mouse's stats and adjust for your mouse's best settings. That should at the very least get you started and most likely impress you with the power of Linux, especially Slackware,, to fine tune.

Here ya go =====>> http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Set_up_Gaming_Mouse

Note: I realize your mouse may not be a gaming mouse but the guide actually applies if you know your own mouse's capabilities. If you are unsure of your Logitech Model number the "lsusb" command should solve that.

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That is really weird. Which logitech mouse is it? I've got a m705, and it worked out of the box, even the two side buttons. I don't remember what setting I chose for my mouse, honestly. (I think I clicked through the default without thinking.)

Mice are so cheap, I would probably just try a different one. I've never heard of that issue before, so my first guess would be that it's a hardware problem.

Also, nice job on the thread title.

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I have a Logitech 305 which has worked on multiple Slackware machines/laptops with no issue.

On my main machine, I use a R.A.T. gaming mouse (link goes to Amazon because that was the first thing Google vomited when I searched).

Thank you! It appears that I have a Logitech B100. After checking out what you've said, I am now really leaving hard towards this being a hardware issue. None of my changes to the xinput settings have helped or changed how the mouse works (or doesn't work). So it also appears that a new mouse is in my future.

It's a B100, long of the genetic mice. I think even government workers use nicer mice than mine. Hehehe

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So after the responses I have received so far I think it is probably a hardware issue, sooooo, I'll take suggestions.

What I would like is just a regular mouse, nothing fancy. It isn't because I can't afford a fancy mouse, but more that I just don't need anything looked that. A middle button and scroll wheel would be nice. It has been probably 10 years since I have even looked at mice, so I have no idea what's good.

Anyone have suggestions?

Goodwill. Salvation Army. That is where I get mine.

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I think I'll be going to Goodwill today. I was looking on Newegg and I am exhausted from all the dumb gaming options. I just want either a solid mouse or a cheap one. I've been thinking about getting a matching combo actually. I have a Corsair LED keyboard and I hate it.... Whatever happened to the just regular nice keyboard and mice from my childhood?

I have also given up on all those fancy options and went for a simple, no-nonsense Logitech MK120 combo.

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I'd spring for a new mouse, then. Mine was like $25, I think?

https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/m705?crid=7 No, $50, but I've seen it for sale on Amazon for less. It's a decent mouse, and I beat the hell out of my peripherals. (Like if you're looking for a good ergonomic split keyboard, my MS natural ergonomic keyboard has been going for a good 8-10 years, and I pound the keys when I type. If there were a clicky keyboard like the old IBM ones in an ergonomic pattern, I'd be quite happy.)

Can't help, but I can confirm that I've definitely had this problem.

Been using the cheapest $20 Logitech mouse for ages. No problems.

I *think* that on my install of Slackware, I selected "USB" instead of "ps2". Unless you've got a rather old computer, your mouse is most likely connected via USB. I wonder if this could be the source of your problem?

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This is definitely not an issue as modern UDEV combined with Xorg disables any previous mouse configurations from yesteryear such as in "etc/X11/xorg.conf". You can verify this in "/var/log/Xorg.0.log". You will see a line in that log where any previous config is disabled and ignored. Here's an example


followed about a dozen lines later by

Cheap mice can last a long time. Expensive mice can break rather quickly. This is true of basically ALL mice depending on usage and to some minor extent, luck of the draw. One area specific to expensive mice is multi-functional middle button/scroll wheel design. Naturally being so much more complicated increases the likelihood of failure.

I didn't mean to cast any doubts on the quality of my fairly simple and fairly cheap ($33) Logitech M500. For everything but intense gaming settings it is an excellent mouse. It handles games just fine for casual gamers which means it is built ruggedly and because it is simple, it has fewer failure points than some more expensive "bells and whistles" mice. It also possesses "a nice hand" in other words very comfortable with reduced wrist stress in long sessions. I am disappointed with my $75 G403 though. It, too is simple but the wheel is apparently not rugged a problem I had with Razer mice, too. I'm currently looking at SteelSeries for increased ruggedness combined with very high capability.