Synaptics Touchpad driver cannot be loaded in xorg

[Auke Latour]

Binary package hint: xorg-driver-synaptics

On my Acer Aspire 3610, the Touchpad scroll-button (middle) can't be used. Below some information that may be usefull:
- Output from dmesg
- /proc/bus/input/devices:dmesg
- /var/log/Xorg.0.log ---> reports problems
- xorg.conf

Output from dmesg:
--------------------------
[17179602.948000] Synaptics Touchpad, model: 1, fw: 6.2, id:0x12a0b1, caps: 0xa04713/0x204000
[17179602.980000] input: SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad as /class/input/input1

cat /proc/bus/input/devices:dmesg|grep Synaptics
------------------------------------------------------------------
I: Bus=0011 Vendor=0002 Product=0007 Version=0000
N: Name="SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
P: Phys=isa0060/serio4/input0
S: Sysfs=/class/input/input1
H: Handlers=mouse0 ts0
B: EV=b
B: KEY=6420 0 7000f 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B: ABS=11000003

/var/log/Xorg.0.log:

(II) Synaptics touchpad driver version 0.14.3
Synaptics Touchpad no synaptics event device found (checked 10 nodes)
Synaptics Touchpad The /dev/input/event* device nodes seem to be missing
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
(**) Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
Query no Synaptics: 6003C8
(EE) Synaptics Touchpad no synaptics touchpad detected and no repeater device
(EE) Synaptics Touchpad Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware.
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Synaptics Touchpad"
(II) UnloadModule: "synaptics"

xorg.conf:
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
 FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
 # path to defoma fonts
 FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "i2c"
 Load "bitmap"
 Load "ddc"
 Load "dri"
 Load "extmod"
 Load "freetype"
 Load "glx"
 Load "int10"
 Load "type1"
 Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
 Driver "synaptics"
 Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
 Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
 Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
 Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver "wacom"
  Identifier "stylus"
  Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option "Type" "stylus"
  Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver "wacom"
  Identifier "eraser"
  Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option "Type" "eraser"
  Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver "wacom"
  Identifier "cursor"
  Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option "Type" "cursor"
  Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller"
 Driver "i810"
 BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "Generic Monitor"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Intel Corporation Mobile 915GM/GMS/910GML Express Graphics Controller"
 Monitor "Generic Monitor"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1280x800"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
 InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

[66dny9r02 (66dny9r02)]

See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportMachinesLaptopsAcer for how I enabled it on my Acer 3630 laptop, or just copy this to /etc/X11/xorg.conf at the right place.

Section "InputDevice"

Identifier "TouchPad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "AlwaysCore"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
Option "RightEdge" "5300"
Option "TopEdge" "1700"
Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
Option "FingerLow" "25"
Option "FingerHigh" "30"
Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.09"
Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18"
Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"

EndSection

[Auke Latour (auke-public)]

The synaptics driver is unloaded because /dev/input/event* device nodes are missing.
I tried the suggestion above, but that does't work. It probably just changes the configuration of a driver that can't be loaded.

I examined the behaviour of the live-CD, and the Touchpad works OK there. I installed Kubuntu on my notebook with the alternative CD. I am not sure, but I think the Touchpad worked normal for a while, until I updated my system with adept-update.
I think my problem is caused by the updates (new kernel? new X?)

[ferd (fschinagl)]

I've noticed the "Synaptics Touchpad no synaptics event device found" in /var/log/Xorg.0.log as well while I was trying to get the Synaptics mouse pad on my Toshiba Satellite 5200 to work properly (it seems that after having upgraded to Feisty - in beta as of today - the mouse pointer on my machine likes to jump nine times out of ten like it used to in earlier Edgy versions whenever my finger touches the pad too far off center - the direction it jumps on the screen corresponds with the offset of my finger from the pad center which can drive you crazy).

I've uninstalled KSynaptics after attempts it would help me fix the jumpy mouse pointer had failed and my mental sanity was endangered. Ksynaptics kept reporting annoying error messages about missing SHMConfig setting despite it's included in my /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "InputDevice"
  Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
  Driver "synaptics"
  option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
  option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
  option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
  option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
  option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

Since it's been around for a while I strongly suggest to have this bug/feature looked at. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Ferd

[Patrick Kilgore (patrick-kilgore)]

Are you still experiencing this bug in the current release?

[Auke Latour (auke-public)]

I reported this problem when I used Kubuntu 6.06. In the next 4 releases of Kubuntu I didn't experience this problem.

[ferd (fschinagl)]

Hi Patrick,

8.04 still has the problem - see below lines taken from the attached
log file (/var/log/Xorg.0.log).

Please let me know if you need further information.

Thanks,
Ferdinand

(II) Initializing extension GLX
Atom 4, CARD32 4, unsigned long 4
(II) Synaptics touchpad driver version 0.14.6 (1406)
Synaptics Touchpad no synaptics event device found (checked 18 nodes)
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
(**) Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "0"
Query no Synaptics: 6003C8
(EE) Synaptics Touchpad no synaptics touchpad detected and no repeater device
(EE) Synaptics Touchpad Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware.
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Synaptics Touchpad"
(II) UnloadModule: "synaptics"
(WW) Configured Mouse: No Device specified, looking for one...

On 6/7/08, Auke Latour <email address hidden> wrote:
> I reported this problem when I used Kubuntu 6.06. In the next 4 releases
> of Kubuntu I didn't experience this problem.
>
> --
> Synaptics Touchpad driver cannot be loaded in xorg
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/54457
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Jayson Rowe (jayson.rowe)]

Since it's been a very long time since any additional info was added to this bug, I'm just checking to see if this is still an issue, and find out what additional work should be done on this bug.

[ferd (fschinagl)]

I believe you can close the bug.

Ferdinand

On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM, JaysonRowe <email address hidden> wrote:
> Since it's been a very long time since any additional info was added to
> this bug, I'm just checking to see if this is still an issue, and find
> out what additional work should be done on this bug.
>
> --
> Synaptics Touchpad driver cannot be loaded in xorg
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/54457
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Jayson Rowe (jayson.rowe)]

Closing per reporters recommendation.

[Nicolas Albert (nicoa380)]

I just upgrade jaunty > karmic and I have the same bug :

(II) Module synaptics: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
        compiled for 1.6.4, module version = 1.1.2
        Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
        ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 4.0
(II) Synaptics touchpad driver version 1.1.2
SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad The /dev/input/event* device nodes seem to be missing
(**) Option "Device" "/dev/event7"
Query no Synaptics: 000000
(--) SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad: no supported touchpad found
(EE) SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad Unable to query/initialize Synaptics hardware.

I don't want to do a fresh install !

I have a minimalist Xorg.conf :

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Default Screen"
        Monitor "Configured Monitor"
        Device "Configured Video Device"
        DefaultDepth 24
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "Configured Video Device"
        Driver "nvidia"
        Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Thanks,
Nico

[Nicolas Albert (nicoa380)]

After karmic update and restart, my running kernel was jaunty's kernel (2.6.28) !

Grub didn't update automatically, but after update and restart with karmic's kernel (2.6.31) it was ok :)

Sorry !