serial mouse problem after upgrading to ubuntu 9.04

[Fitch]

Ok, I used "sudo"

Every time I switch on, I now go CTRL ALT F1, log in, type in:
"sudo inputattach -bare /dev/ttyS0", then CTRL ALT F7
and the mouse works.
Shall I just use one of the ideas above to make it automatic?

P.S. As luck would have it, the NIC died, which was why there was no internet. I can now gladly tell you that I'm typing this using the "errant" computer with new NIC installed.

Almost there....

[agharbeia]

I had the same problem.

Below id my /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fdi file in case it would be of help. You may need to replace "IntelliMouse" with "bare". but try it as is first.

Remember to save it using root power.

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<deviceinfo version='0.2'>
  <device>
    <match key='info.capabilities' contains='input.mouse'>
      <merge key='input.x11_driver' type='string'>mouse</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.Device" type="string">/dev/ttyS0</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.Protocol" type="string">Intellimouse</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.Emulate3Buttons" type="string">true</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.CorePointer" type="string">On</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.ZAxisMapping" type="string">4 5</merge>
    </match>
  </device>
</deviceinfo>

[Fitch]

Hi again.

I loaded root, but don't know how to use it.
I'm really stuck in that I can't save the file to \etc\hal\fdi\policy
After a while I managed to save it to my home directory, but it has a padlock on it and will not go where needed.
I still dont have file permissions.
As I said earlier, I'm a complete newbie, so have no idea of how to get around Linux at all.

[agharbeia]

Sorry for not being clear.

I'll assume that you created the file 10-mouse.fdi in Windows and saved it to a USB to transfer it to Ubuntu.

After booting Ubuntu, copy the file from the USB to the proper location:

sudo cp /media/usb/10-mouse.fd /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fd

where /media/usb/ is the path where your USB is mounted.

Issuing: ls -l /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fd should return:
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 627 2009-05-31 14:15 /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fdi

if not, then fix ownership by issuing: sudo chown root:root /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fd
and fix mode by issuing: sudo chmod 644 /etc/hal/fdi/policy/10-mouse.fd


If you're using the emergency repair terminal then you're already logged in as root and don't have to use "sudo", but it won't hurt.

[Fitch]

Cheers for that!

Well, I'm learning, be it ever so slowly...

I've sent Julie off to find an idiot's gude to Linux - aptly named.

But at least the mouse works!!

The only change was from your "Intellimouse" to "microsoft"
1 annoyed Julie ('cos I took so long), and we need another jar of coffee.

Thanks for that.

Unfortunately for you, I may be using this forum quite often....

[agharbeia]

Savour this feeling! You'll soon be missing it once you've become an expert.

[beren]

Hi,

due to fortunate circumstances I was in the opportunity to reinstall Ubuntu 9.04 last Sunday - and today again. This is on a desktop that I use for trying out some new functionality - and I then do a clean install.

However - to the point of this topic - last Sunday my mouse was not recognised for the first 10 minutes. After trying out some older PS2 mice and USB mice, suddenly the USB mouse worked in the PS2 socket with an adapter.

After the reinstall today - this does not work. I have been trying for 30 minutes now.

And while typing this reply on another computer, the mouse started working - problems solved (for now anyway).

Beren

[Fitch]

OK, I do know hardware, so I suspect a dodgy plug or cable. Have you tried a newer ps2 mouse - can you borrow from another computer?