USB mouse not working after HD install

Forum: HD Install
Topic: USB mouse not working after HD install
started by: theGuy

Posted by theGuy on Nov. 07 2006,11:25

I'm having trouble with my USB mouse. Although it works fine when I'm running DSL from the liveCD, it doesn't work when I'm running my fresh hard drive installation.

cat-ing /dev/input/mice gives me output when running from the livecd, but nothing from my HD install. Inserting the usb modules doesn't change this, so I don't know what's going on. Could someone help me out here?

Btw, I don't know if it matters or not, but my mouse is wireless. Also, the mouse is very laggy and choppy under knoppix, but works fine with DSL (liveCD, of course).

Posted by roberts on Nov. 07 2006,14:14

Assumiing that you are using the standard DSL X server. What is the difference between /home/dsl/.xserverrc from the liveCD versus the HD install?

Posted by ggallego on Nov. 07 2006,20:42

Thank you roberts, I had the same problem with a USB mouse after HD frugal install.

As a DSL (and linux) newbie, I was looking for some /etc/X11/xorg.conf but in DSL there as no such file!

The /home/dsl/.xserverrc in Live CD was pointing to /dev/psaux, and the frugal install was pointing to /dev/input/mice!

For some newbies like I am, the problem:
- After the frugal install, the machine will boot by the HD;
- If your usb mouse doesnot work, you have a problem: the installed /home/dsl/.fluxbox/keys doesnt have a hotkey to access the menu or a hotkey to console (well, after some hours googling I didnt found);

For some newbies like I am, the solution:
- reboot the machine by the CD;
- mount the partition where you create the /home (in my case hda2): mount /dev/hda2 /mnt/hda2
- edit the /mnt/hda2/home/dsl/.xserverrc and change the /dev/input/mice to /dev/psaux
- reboot by HD

Thanks again,

Glauber

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Nov. 07 2006,20:56

I thought the standard was:
USB mice: /dev/input/mice
PS2 mice: /dev/psaux

Are you sure you have a USB mouse? Usually running xsetup.sh is easier though (maybe you did and that's why it was pointing to /dev/input/mice)

Posted by roberts on Nov. 07 2006,21:06

Ctrl Alt BackSpace will allow you exit X windows and then type xsetup.sh. Then navigate to select serial mouse which will write a proper .xserverrc file. Typing startx to go back into X windows.

Or if using frugal grub you can enter 'e' to temporarily edit the boot append options and add xsetup option. There are many ways to accomplish the task.

Posted by theGuy on Nov. 08 2006,01:58

I checked the file you mentioned and it's the same when booted from the liveCD and the HD. Both files point to /dev/input/mice. As I said before, the problem is that nothing registers on /dev/input/mice when booted from the HD.