[Dell Inspiron 17R SE 7720] Synaptics touchpad recognized as PS/2 Generic Mouse

[Robert van G.]

My Synaptics touchpad is detected as a PS/2 Generic Mouse on Ubuntu 12.10 on my Dell Inspiron 7720 (17R SE).
It only has the functionality of a generic mouse (movement, left clik, right click) and no scrolling or multitouch.

$ lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 12.10
Release: 12.10

I will attach other relevant info to this bugreport in a sec.

More info on hw: http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201202-10606/components/

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: xorg 1:7.7+1ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-25.39-generic 3.5.7.4
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-25-generic x86_64
.tmp.unity.support.test.0:

ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
CompizPlugins: No value set for `/apps/compiz-1/general/screen0/options/active_plugins'
CompositorRunning: compiz
Date: Mon Mar 4 10:36:49 2013
DistUpgraded: Fresh install
DistroCodename: quantal
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus: psmouse, 3.5.0: added
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0166] (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0578]
 NVIDIA Corporation GK107 [GeForce GT 650M] [10de:0fd1] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0578]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-02-18 (13 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 7720
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.5.0-25-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/18/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A12
dmi.board.name: 04M3YM
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA12:bd12/18/2012:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron7720:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn04M3YM:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 7720
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
version.compiz: compiz 1:0.9.8.6-0ubuntu1
version.ia32-libs: ia32-libs N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.39-0ubuntu1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 9.0.2-0ubuntu0.1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental: libgl1-mesa-dri-experimental N/A
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx 9.0.2-0ubuntu0.1
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6.1
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev 1:2.7.3-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.99.99~git20120913.8637f772-0ubuntu1
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.20.9-0ubuntu2
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.2-0ubuntu3
---
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: dex 2352 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDmesg:

DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=bf562d52-52b6-4bb6-8caa-373e97da0914
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-02-18 (229 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Dell System Inspiron 7720
MarkForUpload: True
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.11.0-11-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-11.17-generic 3.11.3
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: Daemon not responding.
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.11.0-11-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.11.0-11-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.116
StagingDrivers: rts5139
Tags: saucy staging
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-11-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to saucy on 2013-10-06 (0 days ago)
UserGroups:

dmi.bios.date: 05/17/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A15
dmi.board.name: 04M3YM
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA15:bd05/17/2013:svnDellInc.:pnDellSystemInspiron7720:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn04M3YM:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Dell System Inspiron 7720
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

cat /proc/bus/input/devices

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

xinput --list

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., as per http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-17r-se-7720 an update is available for your BIOS (A15). If you update to this, does it change anything?

If not, could you please both specify what happened, and provide the output of the following terminal command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date

Thank you for your understanding.

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

Hi Christopher,

I've updated the BIOS to A15, but without any result.

Between opening this bug and now, i updated to 13.04 and I just did an update of the kernel:

$ cat /proc/version
Linux version 3.8.0-27-generic (buildd@roseapple) (gcc version 4.7.3 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.7.3-1ubuntu1) ) #40-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jul 9 00:17:05 UTC 2013

Your requested output:
$ sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
A15
05/17/2013

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., could you please confirm this issue exists with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ . If the issue remains, could you please run the following command in the development release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal), as it will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report:

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

Also, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available following https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds ? It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Please do not test the daily folder, but the one all the way at the bottom. 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. For example:
kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.11-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. As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

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

As well, please remove the tag:
needs-upstream-testing

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, please comment as to why specifically you were unable to test it and add the following tags:
kernel-unable-to-test-upstream
kernel-unable-to-test-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.

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

apport information

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., could you please test the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12-rc3-saucy/ and advise if this is reproducible?

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

I'm unable to install http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12-rc3-saucy/linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3_3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835_all.deb

root@laptop:~# dpkg -i linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3_3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835_all.deb(Reading database ... 234241 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3 3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835 (using linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3_3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835_all.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3 ...
Setting up linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3 (3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835) ...

root@laptop:~# dpkg -i linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic_3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835_amd64.deb
(Reading database ... 234241 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic 3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835 (using linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic_3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835_amd64.deb) ...
Unpacking replacement linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic ...
Setting up linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic (3.12.0-031200rc3.201309291835) ...
Examining /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d.
run-parts: executing /etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms 3.12.0-031200rc3-generic /boot/vmlinuz-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic
ERROR (dkms apport): kernel package linux-headers-3.12.0-031200rc3-generic is not supported
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.12.0-031200rc3-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-304/304.88/build/make.log for more information.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., would you have the same install issue testing the latest mainline kernel via http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.12-rc4-saucy/ ?

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

Hi Christopher,

No, 3.12-rc4 installs without errors.

As far as my issue concerns, my touchpad is still recognized as a generic mouse.
Scrolling and/or multitouch are not working.

Anything else I can do to help you guys?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., did this problem not occur in a release prior to Quantal?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

Sorry, i did not see your question after i saw the updates in the tags.

I started with 12.10, haven't tried anything prior to that.

I did try with 3.13-rc5 just now, but the problem persists there

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., the issue you are reporting is an upstream one. Could you please report this problem through the appropriate channel (would check in with linux-input) by following the instructions _verbatim_ at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel#KernelTeam.2BAC8-KernelTeamBugPolicies.Overview_on_Reporting_Bugs_Upstream ?

Please provide a direct URL to your post once you have made it so that it may be tracked.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

There's a duplicate there: http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-input/msg27046.html

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Robert van G., thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, Jason O. sent a quite sparse e-mail, not following the kernel.org format, forcing folks to dumpster dive into his other reports which doesn't have the information they would be looking for either as per https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel#KernelTeam.2BAC8-KernelTeamBugPolicies.Overview_on_Reporting_Bugs_Upstream . Hence, his e-mail would more than likely be ignored, and wouldn't be considered a duplicate of any kind. If anything, it would be considered spam.

Despite this, it would be best if you e-mail the list following the kernel.org format previously provided so that the necessary information is presented as desired by upstream, and maximizing your chances of getting upstream to review your problem.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Robert van G. (r15n)]

Ok will do