User Feedback :: COM Port Mouse on DSL?



For that I've done a dangerous thing:
I've disabled autodetection at start.
In /etc/rc1234560S
and modified some scripts.
To save serial mouse config add

ln -sf /dev/ttyS0 /dev/mouse

to your /opt/bootlocal.sh
or just type dsl xsetup at the boot: prompt
although some people seems to doubt about it, a problem with serial mouse in DSL does exist.

I can tell because I have a non-working serial mouse (in an old i486 computer) and I have reviewed the forum in depth, finding many posts

I have tried everything that is suggested in the forum without success:
i.mouseconfig
ii.the script for X configuration xsetup (at boot or later)
iii.creating the symbolic link (ln -s /dev/ttyS0 /dev/mouse) and adding it into /opt/bootlocal.sh; also trying ttyS1, ttyS2, ...
etc.
nothing.

I tried directly Knoppix in this computer and the problem was still there (everything was slower but I could use the X). Then I went to the original source: I installed Debian (Sarge and Woody) in the same computer and... everything works!
including the mouse... It is currently running with Debian Woody in a similar fashion to DSL (although it's very large)

I am not an expert but there seems to be something wrong with Knoppix derivatives and some serial ports (on old computers?)...
Quote (Guest @ Mar. 27 2005,17:09)
although some people seems to doubt about it, a problem with serial mouse in DSL does exist.

I can tell because I have a non-working serial mouse (in an old i486 computer) and I have reviewed the forum in depth, finding many posts

I have tried everything that is suggested in the forum without success:
i.mouseconfig
ii.the script for X configuration xsetup (at boot or later)
iii.creating the symbolic link (ln -s /dev/ttyS0 /dev/mouse) and adding it into /opt/bootlocal.sh; also trying ttyS1, ttyS2, ...
etc.
nothing.

I tried directly Knoppix in this computer and the problem was still there (everything was slower but I could use the X). Then I went to the original source: I installed Debian (Sarge and Woody) in the same computer and... everything works!
including the mouse... It is currently running with Debian Woody in a similar fashion to DSL (although it's very large)

I am not an expert but there seems to be something wrong with Knoppix derivatives and some serial ports (on old computers?)...

I agree... there is definitely a problem with DSL/Knoppix and serial mice, and I suspect it has to do with the chipset used on the motherboard.  I have two old Pentium systems I've been trying to resurrect, a 100MHz with 32MB of ram and a 120MHz with 48MB of ram.  The 100Mhz system works fine with DSL, but although the 120MHz system detects the serial mouse, the mouse cursor remains frozen in the middle of the screen, and it is unresponsive to button clicks.  Like you, I tried all of the suggested remedies without success.  I tried DSL 2.0 and 2.1rc2.  I also tried changing all sorts of things in BIOS but that had no effect either.  I finally installed Puppy Linux, which works fine.  If anyone has a clue where in the DSL source to look, the failing system is running:

Award BIOS v4.50PG 08/31/95
08/02/95-TRITON-2A59CB09C-00

This is a Biostar MB-8500TEC Model 3 motherboard with an Intel Triton FX chipset.  I am using the built-in serial ports.  There must be a difference between drivers being used by Knoppix and those used by other distributions which have no problem with this hardware.  I'd love to see a fix in DSL.
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