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Bug 71100 - Mouse moves erratically over the screen, brings up menus and is mostly useless
Summary: Mouse moves erratically over the screen, brings up menus and is mostly useless
Status: RESOLVED INVALID
Alias: None
Product: Gentoo Linux
Classification: Unclassified
Component: [OLD] Core system (show other bugs)
Hardware: x86 Linux
: High major
Assignee: Gentoo X packagers
URL: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.ph...
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2004-11-13 15:44 UTC by Michael Avrukin
Modified: 2004-11-16 14:03 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Package list:
Runtime testing required: ---


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Description Michael Avrukin 2004-11-13 15:44:52 UTC
When ever you startx the mouse moves properly for the first second or so and then jumps all over the place.  It stops responding, or just flies to the opposite side of the screen at the slightest mouse move.  Also, random menus are brough up as though the right mouse button is being clicked.  

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install X.Org and configure the standard file
2. startx
3.

Actual Results:  
As described above

Expected Results:  
Move the mouse around normally
Comment 1 Edward Glen 2004-11-16 09:21:00 UTC
I've experienced similar behaviour while using fluxbox.  However, the random action does not happen for me just after starting X.  If I ONLY use the mouse the erratic behaviour never occurs.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Continue from parent Description
2. Type characters on the keyboard while at the same time moving the mouse
3. After about 5 characters (perhaps more) the mouse will begin moving erratically (Sometimes this happens with just one keypress as well - ex. Hold down alt and try to drag a window around in fluxbox)
4. If you continue moving the mouse, the erratic behaviour will continue - Left and Right button clicks as well as scroll wheel motion will occur without touching those controls
5. Stop moving the mouse for a full second (sometimes two) and control will return to normal.

Additional Information:
Keyboard: PS/2 - Fujitsu
Mouse: Classic USB Logitech Wheelmouse - Using USB -> PS/2 Adapter
relevant XF86 Config:
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier  "Keyboard0"
	Driver      "kbd"
	Option	    "XkbModel" "pc105"
	Option	    "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option	    "Protocol" "Auto"
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
	Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Also of Note:
When using the mouse in the USB Port, this behaviour DOES NOT occur.  However, I have been unable to get the mousewheel working while using the USB mode.  (And I've tried a whole ton of mouse config options to get it to work).  I was previously using Redhat 9 with a similar configuration on this box and never encountered these problems.
Comment 2 Donnie Berkholz (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2004-11-16 09:42:51 UTC
I found myself in a similar scenario with my old IBM mouse when using the USB-to-PS/2 adapter. About all you can do is try some different protocols or just use the plugin that works. Some things to try include PS/2, ImPS/2, ExplorerPS/2 and Auto.

As for the buttons problem, try in your xorg.conf's mouse section:
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Comment 3 Edward Glen 2004-11-16 11:27:59 UTC
Well that's the odd part.  
The mouse works with the scrollwheel while using the ps/2-usb adapter.  
No matter what I try, I can't get the scrollwheel working when it's plugged into a USB port (see all my attempts below)

Unfortunately, the erratic behaviour only occurs while it's plugged into the ps/2 port.

So right now I'm trying to work around the erratic behaviour because the use of the scrollwheel is more important to me :)

In order to try and get the scrollwheel working, I have tried all sorts of combinations (gleaned from many sites).  Here is the list of options I've tried at various stages.  The currently uncommented lines are what works with the PS/2 adapter in use. (And what cause the erratic behavior)

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "mouse"
	#Option	    "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
	Option	    "Protocol" "Auto"
	#Option	    "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
	#Option     "Protocol" "PS/2"
	#Option	    "Device" "/dev/mouse"
	#Option	    "Device" "/dev/usbmouse"
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
	Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
	#Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "6 7"
	#Option	    "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
	#Option	    "Buttons" "6"
	#Option      "Buttons" "5"
EndSection
Comment 4 Donnie Berkholz (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2004-11-16 14:03:33 UTC
Try a different mouse if you can. Some mice may have broken output. Also check whether it works without a KVM switch, if you happen to use one.