XFree86 and PS/2 mouse [solved]

[scragz]

For reasons I won't get in to, I switched to a PS/2 mouse and keyboard instead of USB, and now I have a problem starting XFree86. I switched the mouse device to /dev/psaux like I thought I was supposed to, but the first time I run `startx`, I get an error about initiallizing the core pointer with the below ending up in the log:

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(**) Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
(**) Mouse0: Protocol: "ExplorerPS/2"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) Mouse0: Core Pointer
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/psaux
        No such device.
(EE) Mouse0: cannot open input device
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Mouse0"
(II) UnloadModule: "mouse"
(WW) No core pointer registered
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "NVIDIA Event Handler" (type: Other)
No core pointer

Fatal server error:
failed to initialize core devices

When reporting a problem related to a server crash, please send
the full server output, not just the last messages.
This can be found in the log file "/var/log/XFree86.0.log".
Please report problems to submit@bugs.debian.org.

Subsequent runnings of `startx` work fine, it's just on the first attempt.

Any ideas on why it works the second time and what I can do before the first one to get it to work then?

[alcatraz52]

(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "NVIDIA Event Handler" (type: Other)

That line looks interesting, to me it looks like XFree adding a line that doesn't stay after reboot...

[carl0ski]

can you get into X with a working keyboard??
open this file /etc/X11/XF86config-4

the startup config for X change the mosuse/ keboard device.


lol do you still have the USB keyboard/mouse???
because if you have 2 monitors linux lets you use 2 monitors with 2 independant keyboards like 2 computers.

[scragz]

(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "NVIDIA Event Handler" (type: Other)

That line looks interesting, to me it looks like XFree adding a line that doesn't stay after reboot...

That could turn out to be a lead, but I'm going to continue discounting it for now since I've had this same problem before I installed the nVidia drivers.

can you get into X with a working keyboard??
open this file /etc/X11/XF86config-4

I can get into X with working KB and mouse fine on the second try, it just sucks to have to do it twice after every reboot. And I generally do changes to XF86config-4 while not in X so they can be tested more easily.

the startup config for X change the mosuse/ keboard device.

Change them to what though? I'm pretty sure that /dev/psaux is the right device for PS/2, right? Below is the same part of the log from the subsequent loads when it works:

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(II) Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
(II) Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
(II) Initializing built-in extension XTEST
(II) Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
(II) Initializing built-in extension LBX
(II) Initializing built-in extension XC-APPGROUP
(II) Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
(II) Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
(II) Initializing built-in extension XFree86-Bigfont
(II) Initializing built-in extension RENDER
(II) Initializing built-in extension RANDR
(II) Initializing extension GLX
(II) Keyboard "Keyboard0" handled by legacy driver
(**) Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
(**) Mouse0: Protocol: "ExplorerPS/2"
(**) Option "CorePointer"
(**) Mouse0: Core Pointer
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" # notice that /dev/psaux is working now
(**) Option "Buttons" "7"
(**) Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
(**) Option "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
(**) Mouse0: ZAxisMapping: buttons 6 and 7
(**) Mouse0: Buttons: 7
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Mouse0" (type: MOUSE)
(II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "NVIDIA Event Handler" (type: Other)
(II) Mouse0: ps2EnableDataReporting: succeeded

lol do you still have the USB keyboard/mouse???
because if you have 2 monitors linux lets you use 2 monitors with 2 independant keyboards like 2 computers. :)

They're the same physical devices, just plugged into different ports. I like Xinerama-style multiple monitors better anyway.

[RabidPenguin]

I don't think this matters but you might try changing Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2" to Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"

[tomdkat]

I run XFree86 4.4.0 at home with a PS/2 mouse and it works flawlessly. I'll post my config info when I get home (if I remember to do so... )

Peace....

[tomdkat]

Ok, here is the part of my XF86Config file that configures my Logitech PS/2 trackball:

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# **********************************************************************
# Core Pointer's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier   "Mouse1"
    Driver   "mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "PS/2"
    Option "Device"      "/dev/mouse"

# When using XQUEUE, comment out the above two lines, and uncomment
# the following line.

#    Option "Protocol"   "Xqueue"

# Baudrate and SampleRate are only for some Logitech mice. In
# almost every case these lines should be omitted.

#    Option "BaudRate"   "9600"
#    Option "SampleRate"   "150"

# Emulate3Buttons is an option for 2-button Microsoft mice
# Emulate3Timeout is the timeout in milliseconds (default is 50ms)

#    Option "Emulate3Buttons"
#    Option "Emulate3Timeout"    "50"

# ChordMiddle is an option for some 3-button Logitech mice

#    Option "ChordMiddle"

EndSection

I'm also running gpm:

tom@linux:/etc/X11$ ps ax | grep gpm
802 ? S 0:43 gpm -m /dev/mouse -t ps2
27460 pts/2 S 0:00 grep gpm
tom@linux:/etc/X11$

Hope that helps!

Peace...

[scragz]

Hmmm ... I don't have that device:

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$ ls /dev/mouse
ls: /dev/mouse: No such file or directory

[GNU/Ben]

/dev/mouse is usally a symbolic link to /dev/psaux

[scragz]

Solution:
I had to add the following lines to /etc/modules

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psmouse
mousedev

I guess they were being autoloaded or something when X attempted to start the first time, just not in time (?).