Laptops :: Touchpad on a Compaq Presario 1200

I've just started using DSL, and I'm very happy with its speed on older computers. But I can't do anything in the GUI because I can only move the pointer from side to side.

When X first starts, I can move the pointer around, but right after that the pointer goes straight down and stays at the bottom of the screen. This laptop is a Presario 1200 and I believe this is a synaptics touchpad.

I've tried xsetup.sh, but without any luck. Any suggestions?

xsetup: did you try both usb and ps2 ?

Alternatively you can try the full XF86 server.

I tried every combination with xsetup, and I'm sure ps/2 is the right one as it's the only one which gets any input from the touchpad. I do have a USB mouse plugged in at the moment which is working fine, but I'd really like to make the touchpad work.

If I can't do it with xvesa, how do I go about getting the full X server? This laptop doesn't have a built-in NIC, I'd have to burn the files to a CD.

If you have a USB mouse plugged in, it could be interfering with the touchpad - apparently in 2.4.x, only one device can reliably use /dev/psaux so you would need the USB mouse on /dev/input/mice instead.

You could try using XFree86.dsl from the repository and maybe this post could be useful - "http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=10;t=16143;hl=alps" but put protocol "auto-dev" instead of "alps"

I did a write-up on putting DSL on a Compaq 1610 (similar computer), http://www.jb4x4.com/linux/CompaqWriteup.htm

Yes, you do need the XFree86 extension to make the touchpad work. Also, when I did the write-up, I used XFree86.dsl. We now have XFree86.unc in the UNC area, which is a lot easier on resources if you choose to install Frugal.

You can find the extensions here, http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/damnsmall/mydsl/
JB

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