Serial mouse does not work in FC4

snowkrash · #1 20th June 2005, 11:35 AM

My generic 2-button serial mouse doesn't work in FC4 (in both the text-based console and in X). My mouse used to work perfectly on FC1, FC2, and FC3 without needing any special configuration.

I've tried doing "cat /dev/input/mice" and "cat /dev/input/mouse0" and then moving the mouse but there is no output. Even "cat /dev/ttyS0" and "cat /dev/ttyS1" gives no output.

When gpm starts, it tries to also run inputattach which gives an error of "can't set line discipline."

My hardware is sure to be working OK because I tried booting from a Knoppix LiveCD and my mouse worked just fine.

Any ideas?

xzolian · #2 7th July 2005, 03:22 AM

I'm having the same issue. Anyone have some insight?

crackers · #3 7th July 2005, 05:10 AM

Spend $10US and get a "real" mouse?

I'm only partially kidding - I think you'd have a lot less hair-pulling if you got a mouse built in the last 5 years or so...

Thetargos · #4 7th July 2005, 07:39 AM

Word!

Though "real" mice (not too long ago either) ran exclussively off serial ports, with the advent of USB, both serial and PS2 mice have been rendered pretty much obsolete. USB offers too many advantages over the old UART interface (still some devices need such an interface)... Plus they're pretty cheap nowadays, you can even find some around a price tag of roughly $5 USD!!

xzolian · #5 7th July 2005, 01:36 PM

the machine im trying to put fc 4 on is an old rack. No ps2 or usb. Just serial.

crackers · #6 8th July 2005, 03:30 AM

Then I'd suggest just forget the mouse and not even bother with a GUI install (or use the keyboard). Either that or use a distribution that's targeted more towards "older" hardware (VectorLinux comes to mind).

madvikas · #7 8th July 2005, 10:03 AM

even mine one is dead .............real one doing great......but R7D is going on the serial one

bitrain · #8 8th July 2005, 10:34 AM

Is reinstalling fc3 an option?

newbie2fedora · #9 10th July 2005, 09:38 AM

Hey wait! I too had a serial mouse that won't budge after installation. So i edited the xorg file and after many tries it worked. I dont know if this will help u or not but lets hope it does.
I changed my xorg file to look like this:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
EndSection

Remember to include "Microsoft". If ttyS0 does not work try ttyS1 and REMEMBER its capital S and the number zero 0 and NOT the letter O.

BladeMelbourne · #10 10th July 2005, 10:31 AM

I just took my M$ USB scrollwheel mouse off my FC3 box and plugged in an M$ serial scrollwheel mouse. This is what I can remember doing...

At a console, run kudzu (it detects hardware, and I have this service off be default).
At a console, run system-config-mouse. Select your mouse.
Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and put in /dev/ttyS0 for COM1 or /dev/ttyS1 for COM2.
Restart X (Shift-Alt-Backspace?)

Thetargos · #11 10th July 2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie2fedora

Hey wait! I too had a serial mouse that won't budge after installation. So i edited the xorg file and after many tries it worked. I dont know if this will help u or not but lets hope it does.
I changed my xorg file to look like this:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "Microsoft"
Option "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
EndSection

Remember to include "Microsoft". If ttyS0 does not work try ttyS1 and REMEMBER its capital S and the number zero 0 and NOT the letter O.

Does your mouse have a scroll?? If it does, does it work? I've previously seen this very same construct with a Genius Serial Scroll Mouse (running FC3), the problem was the wheel never worked (nor did the third button).

bmvbab · #12 14th July 2005, 10:07 AM

I had the same problem...
I did these things....
1. edit the /etc/sysconfig/mouse file and set
DEVICE=/dev/ttySn - n corresponding to ur com port where mouse is. usually ttyS0
2. run the mouse-test proggy and as follows
mouse-test /dev/ttyS0
find out what ur mouse is. if it is say mouse man - ul get as mman
3. run /usr/sbin/inputattach -mman /dev/ttyS0 & --------backgrounding
mman is for mouse man...there are more options
just type inputattach and ul get the list of options.

reboot the machine and ur mouse should still be working.

I may have made some unnecessary steps

but this worked.

bullterick · #13 4th August 2005, 10:56 AM

Hi. Where do i do this? During the installation? Thanks!

bmvbab · #14 4th August 2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullterick

Hi. Where do i do this? During the installation? Thanks!

after completing the installation, boot into linux, then open a console say xterm or konsole
then type out there.

fataldata · #15 5th August 2005, 02:27 AM

Thanks bmvbab,
I was having the same problem and your post helped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmvbab

I had the same problem...
I did these things....
1. edit the /etc/sysconfig/mouse file and set
DEVICE=/dev/ttySn - n corresponding to ur com port where mouse is. usually ttyS0
2. run the mouse-test proggy and as follows
mouse-test /dev/ttyS0
find out what ur mouse is. if it is say mouse man - ul get as mman
3. run /usr/sbin/inputattach -mman /dev/ttyS0 & --------backgrounding
mman is for mouse man...there are more options
just type inputattach and ul get the list of options.

reboot the machine and ur mouse should still be working.

I may have made some unnecessary steps

but this worked.