Touchpad doesn't work - Linux Forums

07-14-2009	#1 (permalink)
Hansenator Just Joined! Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 12	Touchpad doesn't work Hello, I just installed DSL on an old presario laptop and everything seems to work except the touchpad. When the screen comes up the curser is there but it disappears when I try to use it. A usb mouse seems to work but, since there's only one usb port, I'd like to get the touchpad working and would really appreciate any help. I'm still kind of a newbie to Linux configuration and am not really sure where to look to start troubleshooting so don't be afraid of dumming it down too much. Thanks Chris Hansen

07-15-2009	#2 (permalink)
saivin Linux User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bengaluru, India Posts: 294	You need to install 'synaptics' driver for touchpad to work. Don't know if apt-get thing works on DSL. As root try: Code: apt-get install synaptics __________________ A candle looses nothing by lighting other candles. - Khalil Zibran. Registered Linux User #490076

07-15-2009

#3 (permalink)

Hansenator

Just Joined!

Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by saivin

You need to install 'synaptics' driver for touchpad to work. Don't know if apt-get thing works on DSL. As root try:

Code:

apt-get install synaptics

Thanks for the tip. When I tried it I got this message. The explanation seems pretty straight-forward but I'm not sure what to do with the information.

HTML Code:

Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency tree... Done
Package synaptics has no available version, but exists in the database.
This typically means that the package was mentioned in a dependency and 
never uploaded, has been obsoleted or is not available with the contents
of sources.list
However the following packages replace it:
     tpconfig
E: Package synaptics has no installation candidate

07-15-2009	#4 (permalink)
coopstah13 Linux Guru Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NH, USA Posts: 1,756	that means run the command to install tpconfig instead of synaptics

07-16-2009	#5 (permalink)
Hansenator Just Joined! Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 12	I typed Code: apt-get install tpconfig and it installed stuff and a configuration wizard thing came up and I went through it and re-booted but it didn't work. I know it's possible for the touchpad to work because I've had a couple other distros of Linux on that laptop and it always worked.

07-20-2009	#6 (permalink)
vickey_20 Linux User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 493	Please post the o/p of Code: dmesg\|grep -i touchpad __________________ Only if I could understand the man pages Registered Linux user #492640 OS: RHEL4,5 ,RH 9,Ubuntu

07-20-2009

#7 (permalink)

Hansenator

Just Joined!

Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by vickey_20

Please post the o/p of

Code:

dmesg|grep -i touchpad

Thanks for helping.

I typed it in just like you wrote and nothing came up. I also tried just "dmesg" and a bunch of stuff scrolled past but the command you recommended didn't return anything.

07-20-2009

#8 (permalink)

saivin

Linux User

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Bengaluru, India

Posts: 294

Code:

dmesg | grep -i synaptics

or dmesg | grep -i tpconfig are better commands to try.

Btw, did you google to find more about it? I did a simple google search and found the following info on Linux tpconfig touchpad Driver

Quote:

How to use tpconfig

tpconfig is currently supported as a command-line configuration tool. The PS/2 port does not currently support sharing. Therefore the tpconfig utility will not work while any other mouse driver is loaded (gpm). This also means that you cannot use tpconfig while X Windows is running. The suggested use of tpconfig is to run it from a startup script ('touchpad' .. installed for run leves 3 and 5 and provided in the rpms) before gpm is started.

I usually run tpconfig from a start-up script which (on my RH system) goes in /etc/rc.d/init.d (and linked under various run levels as S84touchpad) to turn off the tap mode. Installation of this script and links for run levels 3 and 5 are now performed by the binary rpm.

Always make sure to give execute permission to the script whereever you put it.

__________________
A candle looses nothing by lighting other candles. - Khalil Zibran.
Registered Linux User #490076

07-20-2009	#9 (permalink)
Hansenator Just Joined! Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 12	I tried Code: dmesg \| grep -i synaptics and Code: dmesg \| grep -i tpconfig and both came up blank. I also exited to the command line and tried Code: tpconfig -x and it told me that the ps/2 port couldn't be opened. I did see the article you printed but, being kind of a noob, I'm not sure how to run it from a startup script or even how to run it at all.

07-20-2009	#10 (permalink)
vickey_20 Linux User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 493	Since there is no o/p coming from so many commands suggested, I think the installer didn't detect the touch pad at all ( May be it didn't find the suitable dirvers at all). When latop along with the model are you using? Myabe you can find the driver for it on the manufacturer site __________________ Only if I could understand the man pages Registered Linux user #492640 OS: RHEL4,5 ,RH 9,Ubuntu

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