Synaptics tap-and-drag not functioning by default

[Tiberiu Ana]

My laptop is a Fujitsu S2010 with a Synaptic Alps touchpad.

After upgrading to Breezy the tap-to-drag feature doesn't seem to work anymore.
I read the xorg-driver-synaptics README and added the options to my xorg.conf
but they didn't seem to produce any change.

Any other functionality, like side scroll or corner tap was not enabled by
default in Hoary and it is still not present.

[Tiberiu Ana (txberiu-deactivatedaccount)]

Created an attachment (id=4356)
xorg.conf

"synaptics" device options added from xorg-driver-synaptics README.

[Tiberiu Ana (txberiu-deactivatedaccount)]

Created an attachment (id=4357)
Xorg log

[Mirza (mirza-seznam)]

Same here, ALPS touchpad on Acer Aspire 1310 notebook. After upgrading to 5.10,
dragging using touchpad is not working. When I double-click on something, mouse
cursor changes to drag cursor for a little moment (frame or two) and then
imidiately returns to normal (non-dragging) cursor.

[Tiberiu Ana (txberiu-deactivatedaccount)]

Double-tap-to-drag fixed with `echo options psmouse proto=exps >
/etc/modprobe.d/psmouse.modprobe` (gotten from ubuntuforums).

[Mirza (mirza-seznam)]

Comment #4 works also for me, it should be added to updates.

[Ben Collins (ben-collins)]

If possible, please upgrade to Dapper's 2.6.15-7 kernel. If you do not want to
upgrade to Dapper, then you can also wait for the Dapper Flight 2 CD's, which
are due out within the next few days.

Let me know if this bug still exists with this kernel.

[Ankur Kotwal (ankur.kotwal)]

This is still a problem with Dapper Flight 4 on ALPS touchpads. The suggested fix `echo options psmouse proto=exps > /etc/modprobe.d/psmouse.modprobe` does resolve the problem.

[Carthik Sharma (carthik)]

Confirming this bug as multiple users seem to have the same issue.
The solution suggested in this report seems to work for most of them too.
Has this already been fixed using the suggestion that is given in this thread?

Thank you.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Beginning with the Hardy Heron 8.04 development cycle, all open Ubuntu kernel bugs need to be reported against the "linux" kernel package. We are automatically migrating this linux-source-2.6.15 kernel bug to the new "linux" package. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this transition. Also, if you would be interested in testing the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release, it is available at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing . Please let us know your results. Thanks!

[Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara)]

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

[RainerT (tr-ml)]

This is the only bugreport I found which only deals with tap-to-drag - all other seem to include scrolling and tap-to-click.

HW: Dell Latitude E6500
ALPS Touchpad

Tap-to-drag does not work.
All other touchpad functions are fine.

Ubuntu 9.04 x86_64 fresh install with latest updates.

What other info is needed that I can supply?

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Unassigned from Ben Collins.

RainerT,
      If you are consistently able to reproduce this, could you run: apport-collect -p linux 23251

That will post logging to this bug.

Thanks in advance,

-JFo

[Neil Perry (nperry)]

Closing this bug report as no further information has been provided. Please feel free to reopen this bug if you can provide the information asked for. Thanks!

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

This bug still exists in Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS:

For me, Xorg.0.log reports AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint, using synaptics driver, although psmouse is the kernel module. The suggested fix also works for me after

sudo modprobe -r psmouse
sudo modprobe psmouse

However, scrolling breaks and the Touchpad tab from gnome-mouse-properties disappears. gsynaptics refuses to start (message about SHMConfig). I will try to use apport as requested.

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.21.
AplayDevices:
 **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC262 Analog [ALC262 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC262 Analog [ALC262 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: sam 1279 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xd4240000 irq 19'
   Mixer name : 'Realtek ALC262'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0262,104d1400,00100100 HDA:14f12bfa,104d0200,00090000'
   Controls : 16
   Simple ctrls : 10
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100816.1)
MachineType: Sony Corporation VGN-TX3XP_B
Package: linux (not installed)
PccardctlIdent:
 Socket 0:
   no product info available
PccardctlStatus:
 Socket 0:
   no card
ProcCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.32-25-generic root=/dev/sda2 loop=/hostname/disks/root.disk ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_GB.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-25.44-generic 2.6.32.21+drm33.7
Regression: Yes
RelatedPackageVersions: linux-firmware 1.34.1
Reproducible: Yes
Tags: lucid kconfig regression-release needs-upstream-testing
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-25-generic i686
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 05/09/2006
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: R0021N3
dmi.board.asset.tag: N/A
dmi.board.name: VAIO
dmi.board.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.board.version: N/A
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Sony Corporation
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvrR0021N3:bd05/09/2006:svnSonyCorporation:pnVGN-TX3XP_B:pvrJ001WG6A:rvnSonyCorporation:rnVAIO:rvrN/A:cvnSonyCorporation:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.name: VGN-TX3XP_B
dmi.product.version: J001WG6A
dmi.sys.vendor: Sony Corporation

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport information

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

apport seems to have spammed excessively :S

I'm rather surprised to find that after removing the modprobe configuration file and reloading the module again I have both working tap and drag and working scroll/touchpad settings. I'll have to see if it survives a reboot.

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

This is still working after a reboot with no config in /etc/modprobe.d/ so I can't rule out poor dexterity as the cause. I tried many many times to tap-and-drag on the default install and it didn't work. Now seems easy... Anyone else still have the problem on 10.04 (or later)?

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Sam,
    I prefer you open a new bug versus opening a previously closed one. Much has changed from the timeframe that this was reported and we want to approach your issue from a fresh perspective.

~JFo

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

Jeremy, whilst much has changed, this bug was used for several different releases already (from Breezy onwards). Moreover, the fix suggested in 2005 also continued to work... is it really necessary to open another bug, thus making the information spread out as well? Launchpad has the ability to track bugs against multiple releases, no?

[Woland (wolandtel)]

Provided suggestion actually enables the tap-und-drag gesture but it disables multitouch on my HP ProBook 4520s. Also it makes cursor movement slower.

[Sam Brightman (sambrightman)]

Problem, workaround, and side-effects of workaround remain absolutely identical in 11.10. I feel there is no evidence of this being a different bug, and no value in scattering the information around - marking Confirmed.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Tiberiu Ana, this bug was reported a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue? Can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .

If it remains an issue, could you run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please do not test the kernel in the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. As well, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested.

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', and comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it.

Please let us know your results. Thanks in advance.

[TJ (tj)]

I am closing this bug as "Won't fix" since it is caused by a bug in the hardware+firmware of the PC, whereby the device identifies itself incorrectly.

The workaround

echo "options psmouse proto=exps" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/psmouse.conf

manually tells the driver to use the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer protocol (PSMOUSE_IMEX). Without this the device detection identifies it as a standard Intellimouse (PSMOUSE_IMPS) during auto-detect.

Device detection works through a list of protocols, starting with the most basic (safest) and working through to more sophisticated protocols. The order of detecting these protocols is fixed in the driver since probing for an incorrect protocol can cause the device to lock-up if it receives commands it does not understand.

drivers/input/mouse/psmouse-base.c::psmouse_extensions() is responsible for detecting the connected device by calling a series of device-specific detect() functions. The order of detection is:

Lifebook ("lifebook")
Kensington ThinkingMouse ("thinkps")
Synaptics TouchPad ("synaptics")
Cypress TrackPad ("cypress")
ALPS TouchPad ("alps")
OLPC HGPK touchpad ("hgpk")
Elantech touchpad ("elantech")
Genius mouse ("genius")
Logitech PS2++ ("logitech")
Trackpoint ("trackpoint")
TouchKit PS/2 ("touchkit")
Finger Sensing Pad ("fsp")
Intellimouse Explorer PS/2 "(imex")
default: Intellimouse PS/2 ("imps")