touchpad not working..

i'm using ubuntu 8.04. my touch pad (notebook specs below), dosen't work at all!! if you move ur finger along the touch pad the mouse goes crazy!!! i have to use my usb mouse..
do i need to download any drivers??

 

You might need the Synaptics Touchpad drivers. Search in the package manager for them and install them.

Restart X ( log out then in again) and it should work fine, If not post back here as you may need to adjust your xorg.conf file to load synaptics. Even better post your xorg.conf here if it doesnt work. To do that open terminal, type "sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf" enter your root password and it should open a file, just paste its content on pastbin.com

 

ok downloaded the synaptics driver again but still didnt work...

so here's wat came wen i entered the command u mention in terminal...

 

ok i've been reading up on the ubuntu forums and apparetly this problems been faced by lotta ppl... still haven't found a fix though...

 

I modified your xorg file, the changes are in red.

Code:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
[B][COLOR="Red"]InputDevice    "Synaptics Touchpad"  "SendCoreEvents"[/COLOR][/B]
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
[B][COLOR="Red"]Load "synaptics"[/COLOR][/B]
EndSection

Modify yours to match the changes, then restart X again or try a reboot.
=====================================================

Also, your xorg file is pretty short, you sure thats it.

I suggest you do this in terminal

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.working

then do

sudo nvidia-xconfig

This should generate a more optimized xorg file

======================================================

 

ok i edited it as u said but still touchpad's acting crazy!! *sigh*

 

Your original xorg.conf should work, the problem is that there seems to be an issue with your laptop and others like the Lenovo R31, regarding a problem where anytime ACPI or APM events are polled, like when checking battery status, it causes the mouse to jerk around the screen clicking on things.

The way that others seem to have fixed this is to append a switch on the kernel boot command. Usually your kernel boot command under Ubuntu is contained in the /boot/grub/menu.lst file, and the relevant line in that file looks something like this;

Code:

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda2 ro quiet splash

To append the proper switch for this problem, i8042.nomux=1, you need to edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst file as root, or superuser, and change the line for your kernel boot command to this;

Code:

kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.12-9-386 root=/dev/hda2 ro quiet splash i8042.nomux=1

Good Luck..

 

Well his original xorg.conf wasnt loading the synaptics module, so I thought adding that section couldve helped.

But yea these kernel boot options can help.

 

ok i'm a newbie so pls bare wid me..

umm how do i enter the command as superuser??

 

Sorry I didn't mean to confuse the process. Basically to edit system configuration files you need to open them with the proper privileges. One way to do that is to use the sudo command like this;

Code:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

Once you make the changes you save the file. Then close the editor. Then reboot, and you can see if the fix works. If anything isn't clear post your /boot/grub/menu.lst file contents here, and we can be more specific.

Good Luck..

 

Damn, I'm trying to figure out to disable my touchpad in Kubuntu...

 

well there is the command line way : putting a # infront of synaptics in xorg.conf


or there is a guii way: install ksynaptics

 

Blackbird is right, it's pretty easy. You can even edit your xorg.conf and in the synaptics InputDevice section just add the following option;

Code:

TouchpadOff 1

However, I don't know why you would want to do that. Unless you mean you would like to disable the touchpad while typing, which is a common desire. As Blackbird pointed out, there's GUI programs which basically do all the editing of the config files for you including, gsynaptics for Gnome, and ksynaptics for KDE, although reading there seems to indicate that the ksynaptics project is dead. If anyone reading the thread is curious about all the options for the synaptics driver under Linux, they can read more about the Synaptics touchpad driver and X server driver configuration at least at the following URLs;

Synaptics TouchPad driver for XOrg/XFree86
Gentoo Wiki - HARDWARE Synaptics Touchpad
synaptics(5) - Linux man page
syndaemon(1) - Linux man page

Good Luck..

 

Yes, while typing, it drives me crazy....I use a BT mouse, but keep a small backup usb mouse in my bag...if a desktop user can do without a touchpad, so can I...thanks for the replies jas and blackbird....helpful

Thanks, I edited the xorg.conf and in the synaptic section added:

Option "TouchpadOff" "1"

It be gone.......whewww!! I hate that thing! I'll remember how to turn it back on should need arise, which I doubt....

EDIT: I went ahead and disabled it because it would screw things before I hit a key on the keyboard, by merely going into the typing position.

 

I move my laptop around so having the touchpad at hand is necessary. Hence I leave it enabled in my xorg.conf (as its a pain to keep editing it when needed) file and control it via Ksynaptics.

Thinking about it Ksynaptics isnt even necessary as I can just hit the disable touchpad key combo on my keyboard to disable it and enable it when needed. Doesnt your lappy have that?

 

I'm going to check out Ksynaptics....but I doubt I'll ever need the touchpad....it's always on a table/desk 'somewhere'....

 

I've got a disable touchpad key....but for me it's better to leave it off I think....it will screw with me first, then I'll use the key Not sure if it works in Linux though....can't remember trying it ?

 

Most keyboard combos are not os depended, as some just activate/deactivate devices not launch something. (hot keys perhaps are).

 

ok here my /boot/grub/menu.lst contents.. i'm trying out linux mint elyssa (beta) now.. same problem of touchpad acting crazy.. can u tell me wat i have to edit??

Code:

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
#            grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
#            grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
#            and /usr/share/doc/grub-legacy-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default		0

gfxmenu=/etc/grub/message.elyssa

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout		10

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line)  and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
#      password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title		Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root		(hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader	+1
#
# title		Linux
# root		(hd0,1)
# kernel	/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
##      kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/sda7 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,6)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
##      alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
##      lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
##      lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
##      altoptions=(recovery mode) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
##      howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
##      memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=/dev/sda7 ro quiet splash
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title		Linux Mint, kernel 2.6.24-16-generic (recovery mode)
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=/dev/sda7 ro single
initrd		/boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-16-generic

title		Linux Mint, kernel memtest86+
root		(hd0,6)
kernel		/boot/memtest86+.bin

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title		Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda3
title		Windows Vista/Longhorn (loader)
root		(hd0,2)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda5
title		Microsoft Windows XP Embedded
root		(hd0,4)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader	+1

and thnx again for being so patient..

 

Edit line 126;

Code:

kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=/dev/sda7 ro quiet splash

and change it to;

Code:

kernel		/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-16-generic root=/dev/sda7 ro quiet splash i8042.nomux=1

Save the file. Then reboot your computer and see if your touchpad works better under Linux. If it doesn't fix the problem then your solution lies elsewhere, and you should remove the i8042.nomux=1 option from the kernel boot command line.

Good Luck..

 

thnx jas.. entered the command in ubuntu... touchpad working now!!!
much appreciated.. +1 rep..

 

Had to disable my touchpad again because I restored my xorg.conf ...and the darned touchpad almost narf'd my edit job....lol