Comment 1 for bug 96598

The touchpad in an HP 500[1] doesn't function in 2.6.17 (nor, apparently, feisty?). The problem appears to be with the i8042 kernel driver - it doesn't find the psaux port on the ps2 controller (and thus never the touchpad). There is a crude fix and a description of the problem, as affecting several users in the thread Juan linked to above.

dmesg reports:

PNP: PS/2 Controller [PNP0303:C1A4,PNP0f13:C1A5] at 0x60,0x64 irq 1,12
Failed to disable AUX port, but continuing anyway... Is this a SiS?
If AUX port is really absent please use the i8042.noaux option.
serio: i8042 KBD port at 0x60,0x64 irq 1

There doesn't appear to be an upstream fix for this (or at least according to google), and the problem is reported as affecting Fedora Core 6 here:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions//showthread.php?t=523181 (similar patch available there).

Regards,

Matt

1. http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=3264343&lang=en&cc=us&jumpid=hpr_R1002_USEN