Trackpad not working on Compaq Presario 1800


Forum: Laptops
Topic: Trackpad not working on Compaq Presario 1800
started by: JLA
Posted by JLA on Feb. 08 2009,17:44
We have done an installation on a Compaq Presario 1800 and the trackpad is not working properly.

When going through xsetup selected PS/2 mouse and everything boots fine.  When using the trackpad it moves left to right but as soon as any up/down input is applied then nothing at all.  Connected a USB mouse and it works fine.

Not sure if this is a broken hardware (trackpad not functioning) or a compatiblity issue with the OS and the Presario 1800.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Posted by WDef on Feb. 08 2009,19:50
Google: your laptop seems to use a Synaptics touchpad:

< http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg....9020d18 >

Therefore install the Synaptics driver in the repo:

< http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub....modules >

Note you need to install and configure the XFree86 extension first.

Touchpad settings can be precisely configured in the xfree86 config file.
Posted by JLA on Feb. 08 2009,20:43
Quote (WDef @ Feb. 08 2009,14:50)
Google: your laptop seems to use a Synaptics touchpad:

< http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg....9020d18 >

Therefore install the Synaptics driver in the repo:

< http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub....modules >

Note you need to install and configure the XFree86 extension first.

Touchpad settings can be precisely configured in the xfree86 config file.

Thanks for the info.  So to clarify, I would need to do the following:

1.  Click on the MYDSL icon on the desktop

2.  Search for the Synaptics driver and click install in the MYDSL Browser

From there, how would I configure this properly.  I assume that there is no GUI to do this and a file would have to be edited using the file manager (as root).

Thanks again for your help.
Posted by WDef on Feb. 08 2009,21:02
Download the synaptics driver from the link I posted.

XFree86.dsl can be downloaded via the MyDSL browser I believe.

Configuring XFree86.dsl: can be a pain.  If you want the easiest way, download and boot a Knoppix livecd .  It will autoconfigure XFree86 (or Xorg) and set up a config file which usually works, or at least is a good starting point.

Copy that config file to your hard drive or a usb stick.  Then use that in dsl within the XFree86 extension.

If you search the forum you will find instructions to do this, also other ways of configuring.  

Xorg and Xfree86 config files, though differently named, are almost identical, except one uses "kbd" and the other "keyboard" or something totally mind-numbingly idiotic like that - google for info, I can't recall the precise details.

Some synaptics touchpads (like the one I'm using now) work out of the box with dsl, some don't and require the driver and XFree86.  It's surprising that yours only works in one direction.

Again - make generous use of the forum search capability.
Posted by JLA on Feb. 19 2009,19:40
Quote (WDef @ Feb. 08 2009,16:02)
Download the synaptics driver from the link I posted.

XFree86.dsl can be downloaded via the MyDSL browser I believe.

Configuring XFree86.dsl: can be a pain.  If you want the easiest way, download and boot a Knoppix livecd .  It will autoconfigure XFree86 (or Xorg) and set up a config file which usually works, or at least is a good starting point.

Copy that config file to your hard drive or a usb stick.  Then use that in dsl within the XFree86 extension.

If you search the forum you will find instructions to do this, also other ways of configuring.  

Xorg and Xfree86 config files, though differently named, are almost identical, except one uses "kbd" and the other "keyboard" or something totally mind-numbingly idiotic like that - google for info, I can't recall the precise details.

Some synaptics touchpads (like the one I'm using now) work out of the box with dsl, some don't and require the driver and XFree86.  It's surprising that yours only works in one direction.

Again - make generous use of the forum search capability.

Thanks for the response - laptop is already gone so guess will address this next time around.

Appreciate it.
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