Mouse pointer freezes in Dell Dimension E521 / nForce 430
Affects | Status | Importance | Assigned to | Milestone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Linux |
Invalid
|
High
|
|||
linux (Ubuntu) |
Fix Released
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
linux-source-2.6.15 (Ubuntu) |
Won't Fix
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned | ||
linux-source-2.6.17 (Ubuntu) |
Invalid
|
Undecided
|
Unassigned |
Bug Description
On a Dell Dimension E521 (AMD x2 processor, nForce 430 chipset) the mouse pointer freezes after a short time (few minutes) of correct activity. If two mice are plugged in, when the first one freezes the second will still move the pointer for a short while (comparable to the first), until it also freezes.
Unplugging and replugging a mouse makes that mouse work again; other mice that were also plugged in will remain frozen or active irrespectively and, if frozen, they would need their own replugging to come back to life.
While the pointer is frozen, the keyboard keeps working, and the screen is updated.
Mouse and keyboard are USB units. PS/2 connections are unavailable, as Dell has already dispensed with them (as well as with serial, parallel, and non-SATA IDE). I have tried with Dell's own mouse as well as a Logitech wireless combo and a Logitech wired mouse with a real rolling ball and it makes no difference.
The problem does not seem to be Xorg related because:
a) If X is forced to restart using ctrl-alt-backspace when the mouse is frozen, it remains frozen when X comes up again.
b) I've seen reported in the forum that the gpm mouse in the text console freezes just the same.
The problem affects Dapper in any of its kernel versions I have tried (i386 or K7, SMP or not). In Edgy it seems worse, as the live CD opened Xorg with the mouse already frozen every time I tried, and replugging achieved nothing, which pretty much made it impossible to install it to hard disk.
I have tried installing Debian Etch, and I believe it has the same problem, but I have not given it intense test. The pointer did freeze, but I don't think I did a good installation.
I have also seen reported in the forums that the Knoppix flavor of 2.6.17 works OK.
No messages appear in dmesg output at the time the pointer freezes (I should really say "when the mouse freezes" because the pointer is not actually frozen, a second mouse can still move it). When the mouse is unplugged, the action is logged in dmesg. When the mouse is plugged back in, it is detected and installed as a new mouse and given a higher ID. This action is also logged in dmesg, and yesterday I saw it reache mouse number 20.
It is evident, but I state that this makes Ubuntu Dapper or Edgy unusable in this Dell machine, and possibly in any machine with nVidias nForce 430 chipset.
description: | updated |
Changed in linux: | |
status: | Unknown → Confirmed |
Changed in linux-source-2.6.15: | |
status: | New → Incomplete |
Changed in linux: | |
status: | Confirmed → Invalid |
Changed in linux (Ubuntu): | |
assignee: | nobody → computerdumb15 (whickey15) |
Changed in linux-source-2.6.15 (Ubuntu): | |
status: | Incomplete → Won't Fix |
Changed in linux: | |
importance: | Unknown → High |
I have the same problem with a Dell E521 using a microsoft trackball optical and the dell mouse.
I am using Edgy fully upgraded running -generic kernel, i have tried with a fresh install using nv driver, nVidia-glx from repos, and nVidia Beta 9625. All three video drivers made no difference.
Both mice work fine on my AMD64 3200+ running edgy -generic kernel.
If i unplug the moue it will begin again just like stated above. dmesg shows the unplug and reconnect. No information at time of freeze. The freeze occurs at random times and random lengths between freezes.