Distribution: Gentoo Hardware Environment: Dell Inspiron 8100 Laptop P3 1Ghz - 512 MB Ram Software Environment: XFree 4.3.0 Problem Description: With kernel 2.5.70 the touchpad worked fine in X. I'm using the same kernel config file with .75 as I did with .70. The input sections of the kernel config are turned on. Mouse Interface, Legacy psaux, Mice, PS/2 are all checked. dmesg provides some information about finding a Synaptics Touchpad: model: 1 Firmware: 5.7 180 degree mounted touchpad Sensor: 1 new absolute packet format touchpad has extended capability bits -> multifinger detection -> pam detection After starting X, the touchpad does not work at all like it did in .70. My first kernel bug report... I'll be willing to test any fixes, and help track down the problem if needed. Steps to reproduce: 1) install kernel 2) boot laptop 3) load X 4) try and use mouse
I tried the following patch: ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/akpm/patches/2.5/2.5.75/2.5.75-mm1/broken-out/synaptics-reset-fix.patch It has no affect on the problem.
I had the same problem, and my problem was caused by /dev/eventX that was not assigned to the same device. The touchpad is either assigned to /dev/event0 or /dev/event1. I'm not sure why the device is changed, but it seems to depend on attached peripherals (Ie. USB mouse). This makes it impossible to use the touchpad without a hassle. You should at least try to use the different event devices. Frank
After a lot more searching, I came across two workarounds: http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&selm=1zIn.3aq.45%40gated-at.bofh.it I have tried Option 1 successfully, and have yet to try option2. Explained by Vojtech Pavlik Option 1) Use psmouse_noext option on the boot command line. This will restore the previous behavior easily and immediately. Option 2) Get the Synaptics XFree86 driver for 2.5 kernels from http://w1.894.telia.com/~u89404340/touchpad/index.html This will enable additional features with the pad, like palm detection, multitap gestures and more. It will also make the pad work, of course.
The 2.5-kernel Synaptics XFree86 driver should be changed to be able to find the device based on the /proc/bus/input/devices listing. I'll ask Peter to do that?
I have tried the second of the two options that Ryan posts here and found success with neither of them on a Dell Inspiron 8000. After enabling the /dev/event interface, I was able to get the X cursor to respond to basic mouse movement with the userspace Synaptics driver -- but then my X session locked up after a few minutes. I use a drivers/input/mouse directory from a 2.5.72 kernel source, which does not have problems with Synaptics touchpad, and it works fine with 2.6.0-test1.
Synaptics driver from http://w1.894.telia.com/~u89404340/touchpad seems to work better in 2.6.0-test1. I had an old version of this userspace driver. I will test with 0.11p8 (most recent). Tap-to-click does not work. Probably a configuration error on my part? But I tried to read the README very carefully... (Glad to see userspace development of this driver)
Any updates on these issues with latest kernel?
I think this can be closed... I haven't had a problem in quite awhile. -r
Submitter not having problem with later kernels. Bug closed.