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problems with touchpad and AVLinux

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:23 pm
by ZestieBumwhig
So, I think this isn't really the best forum for this question, but I'm running out of options...

I'm using AVLinux 2018, and, since I installed it (maybe nine months ago?) I've never had a properly working touchpad. It is only recognized as "PS/2 Generic Mouse," which means, ie, two-finger scrolling doesn't work.

On this same laptop, I used to run KXStudio. I've also live-booted the current Debian 9 Stretch, Linux Mint, and KDE Neon. All have normal, proper touchpad functionality - also, I can then determine that it's actually "ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad."

Thinking it was a kernel issue, I've tried other kernels, but still no luck. I believe I'm now using the same kernel now as the current vanilla Debian (4.9.0-8-amd64). I asked on LinuxQuestions, thinking it was Debian-wide, but apparently it's AVLinux only. I asked on the AVLinux forum, but it's pretty quiet over there.

Has anybody here encountered (and overcome) this problem? I've wondering if I should move to a stock distro + KXStudio repos... but I've really got my system where I like it, if only the bloody touchpad worked properly.

prior threads of mine:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/question ... 175646128/
http://bandshed.net/forum/index.php?top ... n#msg24998(this is someone else with the same issue)
Thanks.

Re: problems with touchpad and AVLinux

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2019 10:38 am
by Musicteacher
Hi,

I am not a linux guru who would be able to help you out with exact commands and so on.

But here are some general ideas.

1st : On my Lenovo Ideapad l380 the touchpad works with advanced features only inside the desktop-environment (in my case: KDE). If I use pure X instead, I only get mouse movements and klicks via the buttons, not tapping, and no 2 finger scroll.
Conclusion: There might be features that need to be unlocked by some kind of software. In KDE there is a settings-panel for touchpads. Which desktop environment is used by AV Linux?

2nd: If this is not a software issue but a driver issue, then it would be a good idea to find out which driver (kernel module) is loaded for your touchpad.
Boot into a linux version where your touchpad works.

Code: Select all

lsmod
gives you all loaded modules.

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lsmod |grep touch
might give you the module for you touchpad (in case it has the word "touch" in it). If not, you will have to search through the output of lsmod yourself. In my case I got hdi_multitouch.

Then with

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  modinfo hid_multitouch 
(or whatever module is loaded for your touchpad) you will get exact information on the loaded module (esp. the exact version).

Then you can check if in AVLinux this version is present / is missing / whatever.

Summary: Find out which module is loaded when the touchpad works, then check the difference on AVLinux where it does not work.

Note that the exact version matters. Usually the newer the better, sometimes you have a regression where a newer version won't work.

Good luck!

PS: If you have all else working and don't get the touchpad sorted out, I would rather plug in a mouse than install everything new on a different distro ...

Re: problems with touchpad and AVLinux

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:30 am
by ZestieBumwhig
Great plan, thanks! I'll try it soon and report back...

And yes, I have been using a plug-in mouse. And you're probably right - it's probably not worth the pain of a fresh install just to have some convenience when I'm on a bus.

Re: problems with touchpad and AVLinux

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:21 pm
by ZestieBumwhig
I know everyone's been on pins and needles waiting for my results.

Well, I can't figure out why it works in vanilla Debian (and everything else) but not AVLinux. When I do lsmod on both versions (Debian, AVL), I *assume* the mouse/touchpad is psmouse (I don't see anything else that looks right, and I get nothing with " | grep touchpad".) The modinfo for both is the same.

I don't think it's environment-specific, because I'm using XFCE with both AVL and vanilla Debian.

I sure wish it could work. True, and I can and do use a USB mouse sometimes... but the touchpad (and keyboard) is actually kinda terrible on this laptop, and every extra little bug just makes it that much worse!

Re: problems with touchpad and AVLinux

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:53 am
by Musicteacher
Did you figure out the exact kernel + module versions on both systems?

Did you figure out which module exactly is used for the touchpad?

It seems likely that your touchpad uses the same module on both systems but there is a bug in one that was fixed on the other. But that's a shot in the dark.