[Asus X550LA] The trackpad is not recognized

[Ben Lansdell]

The trackpad is not recognized on my ASUS D550MA-DS01. xinputs --list shows no trackpad, and running synclient returns 'Couldn't find synaptics properties. No synaptics driver loaded?'. resort to using an external USB mouse, and run 'sudo modprobe -r psmouse' after booting to prevent random/unpredictable input occurring when I brush against/click the trackpad.

WORKAROUND: Use kernel boot parameter:
psmouse.proto=bare

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: linux-image-3.13.0-32-generic 3.13.0-32.57
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-32.57-generic 3.13.11.4
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-32-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: lansdell 2153 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: lansdell 2153 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun Nov 9 18:05:14 2014
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=76ad838b-370f-4814-968c-1d39350caebb
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-13 (180 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
MachineType: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X550LA
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.13.0-32-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=601d4a6e-da5a-4f6f-95c1-3412f4278552 ro quiet splash psmouse.proto=bare vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.13.0-32-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.13.0-32-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.127.7
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/11/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: X550LA.502
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: X550LA
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrX550LA.502:bd02/11/2014:svnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:pnX550LA:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnX550LA:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.name: X550LA
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

[Ben Lansdell (ben-lansdell)]

Hi Chris,

the update did not change any symptoms for me.

Booting the kernel without the option 'psmouse.proto=bare' results in the trackpad not working just as before. The only response it will produce when you touch the trackpad is (on rare occassions) it might instantly jump to a random part of the screen, it might disappear, it might result in random keyboard input. Without being touched, every 2 seconds or so, the cursor will drift 50 or so pixels to the left of the screen. I used to fix these by running 'sudo modprobe -r psmouse' and using an external mouse.

Booting the kernel with the option 'psmouse.proto=bare' makes all these symptoms go away and basic functionality of the trackpad work.

Here's the output you requested:

lansdell@juneau:~$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
[sudo] password for lansdell:
X550LA.509
06/26/2014

In the process of flashing the BIOS to the latest (509) I did learn one thing: the model of my laptop (ASUS X550LA-DH51) differs from what was advertised by amazon when I purchased it (ASUS D550MA-DS01). This is strange, and was a surprise I only learnt from the trouble I had flashing the BIOS with the latter's BIOS files instead of the former's. Mainly its relevance here is that the title of my bug report lists the wrong model.

Let me know how else I can help.

Regards,
Ben

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Ben Lansdell, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available from the very top line at the top of the page (the release names are irrelevant for testing in your release) following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue.

If the test did not allow you to test to the issue (ex. you couldn't boot into the OS) please make a comment in your report about this, and continue to test the next most recent kernel version until you can test to the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

where VERSION-NUMBER is the version number of the kernel you tested exactly shown as:
kernel-fixed-upstream-3.18-rc4

This can be done by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon next to the word Tags located at the bottom of the bug description.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-VERSION-NUMBER

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug's Status as Confirmed. Please let us know your results. Thank you for your understanding.

[Ben Lansdell (ben-lansdell)]

Hi,

I tried the following kernel:

3.18.0-031800rc4-generic

Which does have different behaviour, though I do not know whether to count it as a 'bug exists upstream', or 'fixed upstream' change.

I no longer need to boot with psmouse.proto=bare to get basic touchpad functionality. xinput now returns:

xinput --list
⎡ Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
⎜ ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ PS/2 FocalTech FocalTech Touchpad in mouse emulation mode id=13 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ Logitech Unifying Device. Wireless PID:400a id=9 [slave pointer (2)]
⎣ Virtual core keyboard id=3 [master keyboard (2)]
    ↳ Virtual core XTEST keyboard id=5 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button id=6 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Video Bus id=7 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Sleep Button id=8 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam id=10 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Asus WMI hotkeys id=11 [slave keyboard (3)]
    ↳ AT Translated Set 2 keyboard id=12 [slave keyboard (3)]

Which shows the touchpad recognized as 'FocalTech Touchpad in mouse emulation mode'. This appears to just provide basic touchpad functionality, however, as I'm still unable to use any touchpad specific features like two finger scrolling.

Please advise how to update the status.

Thanks!
Ben

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Ben Lansdell, the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem to the appropriate mailing list (linux-input) 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.

[Mathias Gottschlag (mgottschlag)]

Duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1372609 (same touchpad), try the patches/debs in the comments from that bug.

[Ben Lansdell (ben-lansdell)]

@Christopher
I mailed the report as instructed to linux-input. Here's the URL to my email:

http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-input/msg34574.html

[Ben Lansdell (ben-lansdell)]

@Mathias

I've tried a number of the kernels on that bug report's comments. They all give the same behaviour: the trackpad no longer works, although going to System Settings->Mouse & Touchpad shows touchpad specific settings which have been absent up until now (Two finger scrolling, Tap to click, etc). xinput --list will show:

⎡ Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
⎜ ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ FocalTechPS/2 FocalTech FocalTech Touchpad id=12 [slave pointer (2)]

This is the case, for instance, when compiling and installing either from

https://github.com/mgottschlag/linux/tree/focaltech2

and

https://github.com/mgottschlag/linux/tree/focaltech3

As well as a number of the pre-compiled debs.