Touchpad on ASUS X750LN notebook doesn't work on Ubuntu

[dirk]

The touchpad on my ASUS X750LN notebook (modell R751LN-T4102H) doesn't work on Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS.
It seems to me, that the touchpad is not recognized by linux. It works completely under Windows 8.1. An USB mouse works fine under linux.

The keyboard Fn key also doesn't work on linux.

On Windows I found this information, which may be helpful. It is not the original text since I translated it from german.

Manufacturer: ASUS
Location: plugged into PS/2 mouse port

Hardware-IDs:
ACPI\VEN_ETD&DEV_0108
ACPI\ETD0108
*ETD0108

Compatible-IDs:
*PNP0F13

BIOS device name
\_SB.PCI0.LPCB.PS2M

Driver:

C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\AsusTP.sys
C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys
C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-36-generic 3.13.0-36.63
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-36.63-generic 3.13.11.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-36-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: dirk 1677 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: dirk 1677 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Thu Oct 9 19:15:05 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=906c18c8-0871-4d8a-b7f6-35aaca3eb005
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-10-08 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2)
MachineType: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X750LN
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-36-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=b3e6e618-b559-412b-b8bd-f6357930fb03 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-36-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-36-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.7
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/19/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 201
dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: X750LN
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr201:bd02/19/2014:svnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:pnX750LN:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnX750LN:rvr1.0:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: X750LN
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.17 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.17-utopic/

[dirk (d-saster)]

'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'

I've tried the latest upstream kernel, as it is described in the link above. Unfortunately the mainline kernel does not fix this bug.

I don't know if it is important, but with the upstream kernel I had no wlan - even when I boot the 3.13 kernel. After I remove the upstream kernel the wlan works again.

Thank you for your efforts.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

dirk, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel ?

Please provide a direct URL to your e-mail to the mailing list once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[dirk (d-saster)]

Christopher, just to prevent misunderstandings, the latest upstream kernel did not fix the problem. Are you sure it is a upstream issue? I'm asking because I do followed the instruction on https://wiki.ubuntu.co/DebuggingTouchpadDetection, which told me to report the problem here.

Regards Dirk

[penalvch (penalvch)]

dirk:

>"Christopher, just to prevent misunderstandings, the latest upstream kernel did not fix the problem. Are you sure it is a upstream issue?"

That would be the precise definition of upstream.

[Joseph Holt (jholt0130)]

For anyone still having an issue with an elantech touchpad, I was unable to find any working solution for an ubuntu base. I recently made the switch to full arch and FOUND A FIX! Two-finger scrolling is active and multi-finger tap works as well. If someone wants to make it work for Ubuntu I'm sure they could as this patch is from aur and pulls in code from github.

Here's the link:
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/elantech-asustouchpad-dkms/

-Enjoy

[Joseph Holt (jholt0130)]

Just found this solution in another bug here on launchpad. Just thought I would post it here. Fix is listed in the last post.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/967399

[George Moutsopoulos (gmoutso)]

Description of my bug is mouse does not work at all. Device is elantech ETD0108. Laptop is Asus TP500LN. Dmesg gives "lost sync at byte 6" messages. Mouse does work with proto=imps parameter but no two-finger functionality. If this is the same with you, after sudo su try
echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio4/reg_07
(or serioX?)
and see if it fixes the issue.

For at least asus TP500LN a kernel patch is under consideration
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=84491
https://www.marc.info/?t=142731893400011
Many thanks to Ulrik de Bie!

Perhaps you can post on bugzilla that it affects your laptop too.

[Халид (halidrauf)]

I know this question has expired, but since I searched around and found the solution I thought I'd share it for those who are still searching. I know it's not the best way, but it works.

To enable the Touchpad you'll need to do the following from terminal:

1. sudo nano /etc/rc.local
2. Add the following line before the exit command. (sudo bash -c 'echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio4/reg_07')
3. press CTRL+O then press Enter.

this will enable the touch-pad on start-up but it might stop working when suspended and/or hibernated. a workaround for this is:

1. sudo nano /etc/pm/sleep.d/sr-enable

and copy the following to the file

#!/bin/bash

case "$1" in
    suspend)
        ;;
    resume)
       sudo bash -c 'echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio4/reg_07'
        ;;
    *)
        ;;
esac

3. press CTRL+O then press Enter.

4. sudo nano /etc/pm/sleep.d/ht-enable

5. again copy this

#!/bin/bash

case "$1" in
    hibernate)
        # executed on suspend
        ;;
    thaw)
        sudo bash -c 'echo 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio4/reg_07' # executed on resume
        ;;
    *)
        ;;
esac

6. press CTRL+O then press Enter.

7. then (sudo chmod +x /etc/pm/sleep.d/ht-enable && sudo chmod +x /etc/pm/sleep.d/sr-enable)

8. then issue the following command ( sudo update-initramfs -u -k all )

[penalvch (penalvch)]

dirk, could you please test for this via the latest mainline kernel (4.0) and advise to the results?

Халид, just to advise, this bug report is not a question, and it has not expired. Also, a WORKAROUND is not a solution. However, it will help immensely if you filed a new report via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

Please feel free to subscribe me to it.