Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Hello. I'm trying to install some 32 bit puppy on an old laptop running Windows XP. The machine is a COMMODORE KE-7000 MB

The touchpad is unusable, at the minimum touch the cursor goes to one edge and start to open windows and apps like recognizing clicks.

When I open the flSynclient using the keyboard, I get the message "Couldn't find synaptics properties. No synaptic driver loaded?"

Tried xorgwizard, rebooting, changing the mouse again from that wizard, all with the same results.

Tried 3 different puppy distros, all with the same result, so I assume the problem is "hardware related" , something not recognized.

Tried: Lupu 525, Tahrpup 32, Bionicpup 32, and an older puppy 4 that didn't boot.

I've read about similar issues but I didn't find a solution yet.

...

Any ideas ?

If, it has a USB port, can you use a USB mouse to navigate around?

Could try Xenialpup 7.5 the 32bit version.

In Puppy Package Manager (PPM)

Do a database update.

Do a search for synaptic.

What you want to install is one that is identified something like this:
xserver-xorg-input-synaptic- (some version) synaptic touchpad driver for x.org server

After installing.

Reboot making sure save is updated.

Now try to use the touchpad setup in mouse/keyboard wizard.

Thanks very much.

I can add a usb mouse to navigate and setup the system, but without the touchpad feature the machine is not very useful...

I'll try with Xenialpup.

Any reason to use Xenial instead of trying to install xserver-xorg-input-synaptic- (some version) synaptic touchpad driver for x.org server in tahrpup for example?

The machine is running Windows XP, so pretty old hardware.

The driver must be compiled against the kernel source from the kernel that is installed in the OS you are using.

The kernel source must match the kernel. Find and download the correct driver source code and compile it in the target system while the kernel source SFS is loaded. You will need the devx SFS for Tahr (or Xenial).

I suggested Xenialpup 7.5 because it has better hardware support than Tahrpup or Lucid Puppy.

I assume this tochpad does work in Windows XP?

Look in Pup-Sysinfo -> Devices -> Input -> Complete

If it gives any information about the touchpad.

Post the info so we can see what exact hardware it is.

Hm. Interesting....

Just as an aside - a slight 'red herring' - research would appear to indicate this was a South American exclusive.....apparently built for that market and nowhere else. I've found several references to purchasing one of these - all several years old - and without exception, text is always in Spanish or Portugese, and prices are always in pesos.....

(*shrug*)

Back "on topic!"

Mike.

mikewalsh wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 9:01 am

Hm. Interesting....

Just as an aside - a slight 'red herring' - research would appear to indicate this was a South American exclusive.....apparently built for that market and no where else. I've found several references to purchasing one of these - all several years old - and without exception, text is always in Spanish or Portugese, and prices are always in pesos.....

(*shrug*)

Back "on topic!"

Mike.

Yes, probably some rebranded Intel model. The XP label at the bottom says "Windows XP Home Edition EM ULCPC Commodore". The battery is labeled "SMP Model QB-A4BT2000F"
The rest of the labels are not legible.

bigpup wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 6:14 am

I suggested Xenialpup 7.5 because it has better hardware support than Tahrpup or Lucid Puppy.

I assume this tochpad does work in Windows XP?

Yes, touchpad and its 2 buttons work fine in XP.

bigpup wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 6:18 am

Look in Pup-Sysinfo -> Devices -> Input -> Complete

If it gives any information about the touchpad.

Post the info so we can see what exact hardware it is.

Thanks.

Input devices listed are (it sees a Mouse, but I don't have a mouse connected to the computer)

Power Button
Lid Switch
Power Button
VideoBus
AT Translated Set 2 Keyboard
PC Speaker
HDA Digital PCBeep
HDA Intel Mic
HDA Intel Headphone
PS/2 Generic Mouse

Complete Mouse description is:
Bus=0011 Vendor=0002 Product=0001 Version=0000
Name="PS/2 Generic Mouse"
Connected to: isa0060/serio1/input0

Checking the Puppy Package Manager I see the package "xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.8.2" is installed

@fernan :-

Mm. Yep; that's as expected, TBH. Touchpads almost always show up as a "PS/2 mouse" interface.....at least, that's been my experience. Certainly with older touchpads, anyway; the kind of generation we're talking about here (XP-era).

(PS/2 refers back to the 2nd series of IBM PCs - Personal System, 2nd series - which were released back in 1987. The PS/2 mouse and keyboard interfaces were introduced with this release, superseding the older RS-232 serial interface and making it far simpler to connect said peripherals to any compatible machine of the time.)

I can't speak from experience with newer touchpad variants. Never used one. But if that touchpad works under XP, then it should be possible to get it working under Linux...

Mike.

This post may be the answer:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=282680

Thanks very much.

I'm not sure about what modules to block. I tried to blacklist the psmouse module, editing the /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf file but the module is still loaded, and when looking at the blacklist.conf file again, the module is not present after a reboot.

And the touchpad still not responding.
Actually, the cursor moves but in an unpredictable way. But it's not completely dead.

Then, tried adding this command to the boot commands at Grub, with the same result:

psmouse.blacklist=true

Try disabling it this way.

Menu -> System -> Boot Manager -> Modules -> Blacklist module

I'll try that way. I need to get an USB mouse to do that, I don't have any.

Well, I connected an USB mouse, blacklisted the psmouse module (actually puppy did the same I was doing manually, adding the module to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf file), and after a reboot the result is the following:

USB mouse working
Touchpad completely dead, no reaction from pad or buttons (with the psmouse module installed, it was reacting)

I get this message from FlSynclient:

Couldn't find synaptics properties. No synaptics driver loaded?

Puppy Package manager shows xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.8.2 as installed.

Any more ideas? Thanks very much !